San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-15
CHAPTER II.
CONCLUSION.

1874. The following day, Saturday,
broke calm, clear and warm. Elmer
awoke early, carefully looked out of
crack in his window curtain, and found
that the chimney builders room was
empty.
"The enemy has flown. 1 wonder if
Alma is up?"
He uncovered small telegraphic arma-
ture and sounder standing on the window
seat, and touched it gently. In an in
slant there was a response, and Alma re-
piled that she was up and dressed and
would soon be down.
She met him in the library, smiling,
and apparently happy.
sob, Elmer, he has gone away. He left
a note on the breakfast table saying that
he had gone to New York, and that he
should not return till Monday or Tues
day"
CHATS very good; but I think it means
mischief"
Just here the breakfast bell rang. The
door and listened. There came no sound
of horses feet. She went in, laid the cloth
and set the table for tea. The clock moved
on to 8. She grew anxious. She listened
at the window, at the door, out
in the road. She went in again.
No sign or sound of Prent She
sat at the window and watched. 1
need not tell you how she fretted and
feared. The hands of the clock moved
slowly round. 1t struck 8 at last. Still
no sign or sound. She got up, took the
spoons and forks, unlocked the iron safe
and put them in. The safe was Uncle
Clitton's when he had the old store at
Lindesley). She meant to start south if
Prent did not come before long. She saw
that the doors were fast, shut the blinds,
Strengthened things up little, put on her
shawl and went out. She leaned over the
gate and listened.
She had stood there a long time. She
turned to lock the front door; she could
not wait longer. But she stopped. What
was that It's gone now. No-there it
is again. 1t dies away; then bursts out
again with clearer clamor. Trample,
trample, trample, trample. Louder and
nearer every moment-the regular patter-
ing, scurrying tramp of horse at wild,
free run. A quick pain shot through
Nell's heart. She knew that was not the
tramp of horse under guidance of man.
She knew that he carried an empty saddle
as certainly as if she had heard the flying
stirrups rattle and clank. She ran along
to the barnyard gate, threw it wide open,
caught up long pole, and stood across
the road
The flying horse came on, trample,
trample, trample. Round the bend now,
along the orchard fence, past the house,
and close upon her, head down, and
running wild. She shouted, flourished
her pole, struck at the horses head. 1t
swerved and leaped through the gate.
She knew it was not Driver. She shut
the gate. The horse ran round the yard,
then slower, then trotted, head up, snort
ing and stepping high. Then she stopped
at the barn and looked around. Nell
went up. The mare drew off at first, but
Nell coaxed her, and got her hand on the
bride after minute or two. She patted
the mares smooth neck and head, talked
to her: 800, Nancy"
Nell led her up to the house, where the
light shone out from the window. She
knew the mare-Brame's roam, Skylark.
The squire had driven her over only last
week Saddle and bride she knew, too;
knew them and trembled with a horrible
fear. They were Prent's? There was the
rent in the skirt that she darned two days
ago. There was the new stirrup strap on
bride.
She hitched the mare to the gate, went
in, put out the light and locked the door.
She opened the gate, flung over the off
stirrup, stepped up on the gate, and
leaped on.
Past the house and the garden. Under
the shadow of the orchard trees. trotting
faster and faster. She has the mare well
In, &c 1,N1xy fIn,, yht in,
her mind-to get to Brame's. She calls
to the mare, and breaks her into run.
From that it is one long hurting flight all
the nine gathering miles. Along the
clear high road, by fields and orchards,
level and slope. Down through Treacle
Hollow mile long tunnel of gloom,
through over arching trees. Up again
out through the hillS-out with q rush,
and away. Hill and level, dip and rise,
straight stretch and winding curve, no
break or halt, horse and rider as one, fly
ing, flying, flying. The painting mare
stopped at the tavern door.
"HallOa!' she called. "Quick, there
halloar'
The squire came out with frightened
face He Knew the voice. He saw his
mare, Skylark He looked in Nell's face.
He knew what it was.
"Ain't you seen him, Nell?"
She shook her head. She stepped upon
the piazza. What shall do?''
He slipped his hand under the saddle.
He came close to her and whispered:
''The moneys hereunder the saddle.
They can't have hurt him. He wouldn't
fight when he knew the bonds were safe.
Don't fear, girl"
81 must find him, Squire Brame," she
said. ''You will help me, won't you?"
"Wait bit, he said. "We'll go to-
gethern