The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-09-21

any horse In the neighborhood. But suddenly
Zoe's words, "You snail not come JUSTIN"
sounded strangely loud in my ears. and again
| stood mOtionless, drawn by two forces OF equal
power. Now 1t was that some mysterious voice
prompted another course. l caught The whisper,
and quicker than thought ltSef. almost, L
FASTENED 10 obey.
II was to disguise myself as a groom overtake
Higgins, who would naturally be nearly quar-
ter OF mile behind The patty, send him back
and follow the pleasure-see ers as their equerry.
Would II look as II l was distressing Zoe and
was spying her movements? Oh, how silly such
a thought! 1t would add to their In rriment,
and pictured 10 myself how Zoe, with sweet
moue would cry out:
"Huggins, dismount and arrange my stirrup.
Higgins. fall back to your place. Higgins,
don't sit your horse like wood n man."
With a leap and bound was at the stables,
where, with tile aid of one of Tue men. speedily
transferred myself INTO suit OF higgins livery.
Sealskin shot out OF lie yard like bow from an
arrow. But my joy was snOrt-iyed, Tor when
reached the open Highway became conscious
for the first time of the rapid progress The storm
was making. The rumble OF the thunder was OF
that deep and booming kind which always fore
tells violent storm, aud IN the western sky,
now black as night Itself, The lightning was zig
tagging with a luIid hue.
l knew the course tile party was to take, and
in few moments pulled up alongside of Hug
gins. Algernon had nettled me one day by tell
ing me that looked like Higgins, and believe
II now, for that man actually turned pae as his
eyes rested upon his double. He told me- after
ward that be took me for his ghost, and had felt
his hair stiffen with fear OF DEATH
i slipped "a sovereign into The fellows hand
and told HIM TO turn bride and put for the hall.
He thrust his tongue into his check, gave me a
sly wink and Obeyed.
Inc ali had thIckened so now that could
scarcely see The figures OF the riders ahead of
me. was quite certain that i knew their in-
tent. Ii was to gain the club sheds on the road
TO the clffS, ana take shelter there III the rain
was over. But l saw that they would not be able
40 accomplish their purpose, for The storm was
upon Us. Ii came with that sudden and trc-
mendOuS violence which seems to shake the very
earth TO its center. Expected, 1t yet startled,
stunned, appalled,. II was more ike a storm IN
the tropics than one in our mIlder-mannered
temperate zone. Tie thunder pealed and the
lightning flashed with terrifying force and vivid
ness; aud then the ram came down In very
sheets of huge and melting drops, whereby the
flFulets were swollen to rivers, and the
rivers became unmanageable torrents. Sealskin
turned his beautiful head toward the play OF the
mad tbuHderb0ltS IN the western sky and snOrted
nervOuSly but the touch OF my h nd and a
few words of encouragement he quleted down
and bore himself like rdtiOual being.
had pulled up TO within about hundred feet
OF the others, for there was 4 dull and heavy
pam about my heart, and 1t seemed almost inn
possible Tor me to get nv breath. Suddenly a
long, LOUD, shIil SCREAM OF terror rang out above
the noise of the swlrling wind and the rattle OF
Tie thunder. The cry cut my heart Ike knife.