The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-27
CHAPTER l.
uiDDEN.

"a
a .,oa but like dusky shadows in the murky
~ A storm was brooding overhead, men
81 "a and the WISE ones had all fastened to
81 'sbslter of their rooftrees. But, needless
81 u, tho Gloom, aawonfan, carrying what to
" on1sarsd to boa heavy burden, was hur-
- about II o elock down the steep and
= - halfway which led from the rocks
IA the shore. She went with bent head and
q ,-,,cbjng gait, as those who 90 IN stealth
& ~ socret. thankful to have left the lights
4 = .bo village behind her, and believing
h ..o, No one had seen her pass through it on
q '7 :. bs5 rained heavily during the evening"
n - the biz drops pattering on the pavement
n aod cleared the old fashioned and irregular
+ s,roat through which she had been forced to
~ An, her way to the sea She looked up to
4 the darkling sky more than once as she
went on, and the lowering clouds seemed 10
\ w. ike welcome friends. They would
Ir;ro any loiterers indoors, she thought,
ond save her from prying or suspicious eyes
n M hoatmen in the bay she knew, by this
t;,ne would he all gone, and the boats high
and dry upon the sand. She would soon
-asch Il and if she met no one as she went,
II .Sa aces we're she would certainly find
"
q no one there.
trd she encountered not a living soul
Tho tide was sweeping slowly in, but so deep
,ycs the gloom that she could only hear, not
n soc the waves break when she got to the
shore Keeping close to the foot of the
d lifts she now almost ran until she came
4 ragr the center Of the wide circular bay,
Il on1 then paused to breathe. Once more she
& Logged M to the sky and then around, peer
+ inc anxlouely into the darkness; and having
.of,sfad herself that no one was near, she
a hastily laid down the burden which she had
Fl carre3 beneath her cloak-a strange bur-
a d,.-a ionq box, rolled and swathed in d
Il wouan's black gown.
To this box was tied small spade, the
= string Of which her trembling fingers now
q uafesteeed. With this spade she began
digging vigorously in the sand. Unused to
+ toll, her little hands yet gripped tae imple-
meit with a strong and nervous grasp. She
81 work more like man than slender girl,
II so powerful was the impetus OF her will, SO
Il intense her desire to end the bitter task she
n lad begun.
suddenly vivid flash of lightning
q cleaned across the sky, and for an instant
81 1t UP the strange scene. Then a loud peal
Of thunder broke overhead, and the girl
& stopped IN momentary terror and crouched
h down The storm had begun in earnest,
Il and heavy rain commenced to fall. Another
fash, another peal, and with a sort of des-
3 leration the girl once more raised her head,
"A and fore herself to begin her work anew.
VI Digging deep in the shifting sand, the
Il lightning now showing the narrow trench
and glnting on the steel of the spade, GU
n she toiled. Her brow was wet with dew.
n her face white with terror, but her hands
Il and feet failed her not. Behind her the
B sullgn waves came creeping nearer, but she
. did not turn 10 look. Sac had but one
h thought-to bury her burden deep enough
n that it might lie hidden until the sea gave
up its dead, and the secrets of all hearts were
Il bare
Would it do now, she asked herself, look
n Ing down into the hollow she had made.
h Not yet, and again she began TO throw up
4 tie sand. 1t was half an hour and more
before size was satisfied with the depth of the
pit which sue had dug. When this was so,
a with q kind Of shuddar she again lifted the
y b.ack-covered box, and carried it to the
b edge Of the grave-like trench and, after g
n mome-t's pause, after something between a
Il gasp and sigh had passed her pale lips, she
81 lowered 1t down into the hole, and began
n hastily to cover it up pausing not until the
q SAID abJ 1t was level with tho rest.
ole knelD down ana with her hands fat
t7azd il; the gleami e lights darting
& at1Har, the SKY, one second showing her
n h-ate plainly aud the next vanishing
n away. Then the fight above grew fercer
Il tie s,orm-clouds warning in their wrath,
and the lightning leaping out in its wild
n pay A moment later and the world
seemed ablaze. In an instant the girl, kneel-
4 ng cn the sand, with her face now turned
ward The sea, saw as in vast panorama
4 iha whole scene around her; the brown
Shaggy roche n aloft. ha gs,on &c
4 venture between their crests; the rents and
4 Hits On the huge blocks.
Tie next all was darkness, and a crash so
4 loud so terrlble. that the earth seemed ia
s-ahe feu on the listeners appalled, ears,
"Ao uttered a cry of terror and covered
nef lace. Then she sprang to her feet, and,
overwhelmed with fear, fed homeward.
IN, on, stumbling, terrified, she went: on
Until she reached tue steep path cut through
q 'ue rocks, by which she had descended to the
o1Als lie path was precipitous, almost
Il dangerous on night like tins, the rain
pouring down In torrents over the slippery
a.ota But the woman, whose feet were
winged with fear, never paused on her way.
y After the first fight of steps there was a
4 ,e'ei space, and then steps again, and so on
~ 'ls mead OF the cliffs. And just as she
agLaGlel Tie topmOst fight another binding
. la9n Oh lightning showed plainly every
'uuS around. 1t showed the girl, rain
4'e"chel, wnlte-faced, with rigid features
Gnu woe olen terrified eyes, to n man
wrapped IN a military cloak, who was walk.
~ l5Suftly, considering the weather, along
I' pam al The head Of the cliffs. He was
\ AIHB cigar, carrying an open umbrella
.is uahl, and looking as cool and calm
. as d" Ine SKY mad been star-lit. But when
-'' eye' ieii on ths face Of the girl as she
A go s.lSl Ihe steps, the lightning for an in
J''' disclosed her features and figure 50
ah9iIlctly, he wisely started his expression
s a- my changed; lie flung away his cigar,
IRON b, lips 90 '''>'
w4sln N' 10 anu SeO IL
\ III uf sad these words in a sort of Kissing
GNper, as II he could not believe the EVIL.
800 u Dis own senses. Then he began
gir lily 70 follow the flying figure Of the
o1'oI MN. She had seen him, but not
fsll@'u MIN, as ne was few yards apart
i., ," le' Just as her feet had mounted the
H. ~ anu the umbrella was partly over
a. '9e. but she SAW someone. and this
before. 'eu on even faster thau
sra .,'I.lS 'ha cliff path she ran at topmost
w.. -l aAa behind her tue man also nearly
,i,a,i'e ne ia not wish 10 oVertake her
s .,.L'y 70 watch where she went. SO that his
f'pp. ,''us might be set at rest or con
g-no, an 10 tue end Of the walk, and then
w. 'ito the village Of Headfort Tbi,
barraly.5 'I',l ,1shioned, struggling place, with
4 that. oNIiu close on the coast and from
y,Ii.lt as it Was called, the name OF the
lo1g w. "aS supposed to be derived Ont
eti9sr',' WYE street occupied its midst. on
sat.it,s"'le " which the principal inhabit.