Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-07-13

| imagination. ..
paid my bill without word; then
told my host what had seen.
"Dear me, SIR" said the excited land
lord But they're on his track; they'll
| soon secure him."
Landlord" said, as drew on my
! gloves, sis it far to Arch hall?'
'Arch hall, sir? Squire Ackley's?
Only about two miles by the footpath
through the woods-six by the high
| road"
l waited an instant. Bright and,
warm the summer morning sunshine
streamed in upon the floor; softly the
breeze stirred the creepers that trailed
over the porch pillars. L thought of
Sultan, already overwearied.
Il have half a mind to walk, and let
| you send Sultan after me this after
| noon," said.
cts just pleasant walk, sir" said
mine host, rubbing his hands and smil-
ing. Squire Ackley an old friend of
yours, sir2'' .
"Yes-no; have never seen him.
He was my brothers friend"
The landlord looked at the mourning
band on my hat, and nodded. :
Are you expected, sir?"' he asked.
81 suppose So" replied :;
Other questions no doubt my land
lord would have asked, but I checked
them by inquiring the exact way, and
set forth.
1t was a lonely path, lying through a
solitary glen. The trees were yet
drenched and dripping from the storm
of the night before, and, as l pushed
my way through overhanging bushes
the drops drenched me with miniature
| showers: but I cared not.
was picking my way over the stones
that lay across a rivulet directly in the
path, when, looking up, met the gaze
of pair of dark eyes
A man, wearing little SLOUGH hat,
and with his hair and clothing sprinkled
with bright drops, stood before me.
He must have sprung down the steep
hillside with almost incredible agility.
Pale, with dark eyes, and wet, matted
hair pushed away from his high white
forehead he seemed to me to bring
back the scene of the night before
the wooded wilderness and the blue
white CLEAN of the lightning.
II wish you good -morning, SIR" he
said, pleasantly. 81 confess 1 didn't
expect to meet strangers in this out-of-
the-way place"
1 returned his salutation somewhat
stifly.
He glanced at my dress, which prob
ably bore the impress of my journey
of the night before.
"Ah," he said, loosely, ''soyou were
out in the rain last night?"
Was only giving vent to my suspic-
ions, or was the crafty cunning of mad
ness in his eye as he looked at Inc, as
if to sound whether l remembered him
or not2
looked him steadily in the eye as
answered.: Eyes, and you were, too"
He started, and his eyes suddenly
fell before mine--a deep crimson spot
burned an instant in each cheek and
left them paler than before.
"You are mistaken, SIR" he said.
Iresolved to humor the within of the
instant, more particularly as 1 caught
. sight of the CLEAN of silver mounted
revolver in the inside pocket of his
coat
VI Truly this was no pleasant predica
ment, to be alone in the woods with {
:, mailman, and an armed mailman, too
l had faced death, undaunted. hac
lain in fever trance and heard thu
physicians whisper of me: There i:
not the shadow of hope for him." We
h never before had felt such sicken
d; ing thrill of terror, such an appalling
e. nearness of death, as now came owe
me. What should do? where SHOULD
turn? resolved to conciliate him a
d. far as possible.
# "A lonely place." 1 said, trying t.
h speak composedly.
}, Eyes"
d; l could see that he was watching m
o intently as we walked along, neve
fo1y off nd
re, ran cold at the glitter of that unnatuI
s. ally brilliant eye.
Are we far from the high road?"
W. asked.
S, about half MILE" he said.
a / dropped little back; with on
spring he was ut Ey side.
If The path is narrow" I apologizeG
g. land"
e. .'Wide or narrow, prefer walkin
lg side by side" he said, sternly, with
ct downward glance at the weapon lyin
r, against his breast, and'a menacing loo
IS at me.
,h Certainly" stammered, "cel
"a; tain ly."
Id But what had been half defined dout
as before, became open apprehension nov
ed 1 felt the full peril of my position
w Should be murdered in this solitar
IL glen, with no human aid near. no mo
tai ear to catch my dying cry? N
n one could prophesy how or when tn
ne fearful malady of my unwelcome con
IL panion would bursE into open fury!
Ut did not like the expression of his fac
ce- nc 7 Glanced sideways at Il. ventrre
In no moro questions. The cold prespir
ton stood on my forehead; the bloc
d. seemed congealing round my vitals;
le' every step felt as if my limbs mu
cy give way beneath me.
1 stopped an instant ostensibly
re-, fasten the lace of one of my boot
ne which had become loose-actually
no rest a moment. When I rose up aga
OF was alone in the green, shifting ligl
hg of the shadowy glen!
zen My companion had vanished!
lde looked around, half expecting
sty see some rift in the messy grou1
II. l.. I. \