Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-05

beyond, bounded by an old moss
grown, red.brick wall, Ia the centre Of
which was high, narrow, opea-wotk
iron gate.
"Whst to do?" thought Gladys,
throwing the torn msnuscript-avillage
story IL had been labor Of love to
write--into the waste-paper basket. II
had not only been more congeninl, but
more practicable than any other work
able as she was to do 1t in the Odd
hours when not attending upon her
mother. But it would have TO be
given up, she was telling herself, uoless
she could succeed in supplying the new
demand. you have served an APP
premiership in giving up, my desr," she
murmured, with little half smile and
attempt at a jos. with herself. You
ought to be quite az adept in the noble
art Of doing without by this time, you
know"
She crossed the room. pushed the
wiDdow wider open, and passed on to
the balcony, resting her arms upon it
as she stood gazing at the quiet scene
before her. a.. Truth Of character
real men and women Yes; evident
ly what want is to see life. Not still
life. you know; nodding condden-
TALLY to her old familiar friend. the
walnut-tree on the lawn. " Think OF
my never having been five miles from
the rectory. Why, seeing life must
mean rushing about to exhibitions and
theatres and concerts and balls, and
meeting hosts Of people Here every
thing goes on in exactly the same way
day after day, week after week, and
month after month. 0ne knows what
all the the people are going to do and
say and think. and nothing ever hap
pens Old Tommy Venus prosy
maunderiDgs about his wrongs will
never lead to any thing. No he's no
use. If quarrelsome, notwithstanding
Mrs. Greer would 90 just little fur
Their we might have dramatic situa-
ton, but she won't; and have used
her up, as far as she goes AS to
Alice Newton's love story, I've got
all / can out Of that.-three versions
already"
The balcony was in shadow and part
Of the lawn, but the road beyond,
winding down through the village, aud
the rising ground opposite, terminating
in wave of hills, lay white in the
moonlight. The bells in the old church
tower were haltingly Ginning the hour
Of l., with what was understood IN tho
village to be a few bars Of the " Old
Hundfedth," and dog in some neigh
boring farm-yard was bowling its dis
approval, when the thread of the young
girls thoughts was suddenly snapped
ssunder. She bent curiously forward,
her gaze directed toward bend in the
road some hundred yards or so distant.
Was something going to happen at
last:
A woman had come into view, and
was running with fleet steps toward the
Iectory, looking back every now and
again as she ran. Gladys stood gazing
wonderingly at the advancing figure.
In quiet, sleepy Greenthorpe people did
not run about at night, aud in that wild
way.
On she came. until she reached the
yectory gate. Then she stopped, tried
20 open it, and, finding i. locked, shook
it with both hands, as if in dcspeTa-
ton.
What did she want: Had she come
there for assistance? Something dread
ful in the villsge--an accident-ire?
Gladys hurriedly turned to descend,
then paused, standing motiOnless, With
one foot on the step. She had heard
other sounds hurrying footsteps and
raised yoices-and now behsld three or
four men and woman running round
the bend in the road. The woman had
also heard. She pushed something she
bad been carrying between the iron
bars. and, o moment before the others
came in sight, climbed the high gate
feat of no small difficulty and
dropped into the rectory grounds,
crouching low among the laurels.
She was trying TO escape from the
others What had happened? Gladys
ran down the steps and across the
lawn toward the woman, who had turn
I'd a few yards to the left, out Of sight
from the gate. AS she drew nearer the
woman crOucbed lower, endeayoring
apparently to escape notice; but, find
Ing she was seen, sprsng up again, and
calculated in an excited whisper,
Don't give me up--don't give me up,
or they will"
| ono, no." hurriedly put in Gladys.
do not fear. You are safe-no harm
can come to you here. What were
hey going to"
The woman raised trembling tinger
10 her lips. The pursuers we're close
upon them now-peering through the
bars Of the gate Oh to the Lawn, part Of
which was bright with moonlight and
part in deep shadow.
"Do you think it is likely" said
one.
mo 1T is locked, you see," trying
the gate, land she could not elmo II.
~ don't feel so sure" doubtfully
said another, in voice which sounded
familiar to Glsdys's cars, although she
vas at the moment too much absorbed
to give more than a pas sing thought to
il. 81 know what can be done in that
way on emergency"
Impossible !" decidedly.
"On, then, or she will catch the
night mail and escape us, after sll !! "
The woman clutched Gladys's arm
with tighter hold and stopped lower,
although they could not be seen where
they were from the gate. There were
the sounds Of running footsteps again,
and as they died away Gladys muir
INJURED, beginning to look little doubt
fully at the other:
"What has happened? Why were
they running after yeu:"
81 was afraid-so afraid" hest
tatingly and absently murmured the
woman, as though still listening.
Why"
"Becsuse-they are desperate men,
and--and | am only = woman, and
alone. DO you live here?" peering
with eager scrutiny At Gladys in the
dim light.