Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-16

light looked its last at the dun earth. a
front Of her there was nothing to be seen
but the road. She looked back-and dis.
covered the milestone.
A rough stone wall protected the land
on either side of the road. Nearly behind
the milestone there was a gap in this
fence, partially closed by a hurdle. a
half-ruined culvert, arching a ditch that
had run dry, formed a bridge leading
from the road to the field. Had the field
been already chosen as a place of conceal.
ment by the police? Nothing was to be
seen but a foOt-path, and the dusky line OF
a plantation beyond it. As she made
these discoveries, the rain began to fall
again; the clouds gathered once more: the
moonlight vanished.
At the same moment an obstacle pre-
sented itself to her mind, which Iris had
thus far failed to f~oresee.
Lord Harry might approach the mile
stone from three different WAYS: thati is to
say-by the road from the town. or by the
road from the open country, or by way of
the field and the culvert. How could she
so place herself as to be sure of Warnino
him, before he fell INTO the hands of the
police? To watch the three means of ap-
proach in the obscurity of the night. and
at one and the same time, was impossible.
A man in this position, guided by rea-
son, would in all probability nave wasted
precious time in trying to arrive at the
right decision. A wOman aided by love.
conquered the difficulty that confronted
her IN a moment.
Iris decided on returning to the mile
stone, and on waiting there to be discov-
cred and taken prisoner by the police,
Surprising Lord Harry To be punctuaI to
his appointment, he would hear voices
and movements, as a necessary cOnSe.
quence of the arrest, in time to make his
escape. Surprising him on the other hand
to be late, the police would be on the way
hnn- p Thn four TTf .fhas. l.
would find no one at the milestone, and
would leave 1T again in safety.
She was on the point of turning, to get
back to the road, when something on the
dark surface of the field, which looked
like a darker shadow, became dimly visi-
bic. In another moment it seemed to be a
shadow that moved. She ran towards it.
1t looked like a man as she drew nearer.
The man stopped.
The password" he said, in tones eau
tiously lowered.
Fidelity" she answered, in a whisper.
1t was too lark for a recognition of his
features; but Iris knew him by his tall
stature-knew him by the accent in which
he had asked for the password. Errone-
Ously judging of her, on his side, as a
man, he drew back again. Sir Giles
MOuntjoy was above the middle height;
the stranger, in a cloak, who had whis-
pered to him, was below it. You are not
the person [ expected to meet" he said.
'WhO are your"
Her faithful heart was longing to tell
him the truth. The temptation to reveal
herself, and to make the sweet confession
Of her happiness at having saved him,
would have OverpOWered her discretion,
but for Il sound that was audible on the
road behind them. In the deep silence Of
the time and place. mistake was impossi-
bic. IL was the sound of footsteps.
There was just time to whisper to Kim:
"Sir Giles hats betrayed you. save your
self"