Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-03-30

dog, Bruno, trotted placld,y behind.
She could think In these peaceful drives,
and there was somber satisfaction In
brooding once In a while over the past.
This especial day Edna prolonged her
drive beyond It's usual limits. She
drove clear to and beyond the next viii
lage, and only realized that she would
have difficulty in reaching home again
before dusk, when she looked up from
n sad reverle to find that the short after
noon was waning fast,
The sight of flaming bush OF va
rlety quite rare In tho vicinity Of the
Blake farm attracted her attention,
however, and she alIghted from tho
phaeton.
Mrs. Blake had a hobby OF pressing
pretty leaves, ana Edna remembered
that she particularly treasured this
variety. Here they seemed to grow in
profusion, and she decided to gather
quite an armful OF them.
She kept wandering through the little
wooded stretch where they grew, allured
by the distant sight OF n still prettler
clump OF bushes, until, fairly loaded, she
looked up, intent on retracing her way
to the phaeton.
"Dear!" she uttered with little start,
where Is the roadY"
She penetrated the brambly jungle in
two directions with no success, noting
with slight thrill OF dismay that dusk
was fast approaching.
Where was the road, the phaeton and
Bruno? Once she called the name OF
the latter, but she decided she must be
quite distance from the spot she had
started from, for the usual prompt APP
pearance OF the faithful animal In re-
Spouse to such call was lacking.
Throwing down her leaves she ran
through the bushes straight ahead,
came to a high stone wall, and catch
ing sight Of the towers Of pretentious
structure beyond it, lined the moss
covered barrier until she came to a
broken gate set in the wall
All was silent and forbidding about
the old structure, but there was evil
dence of occupancy in the curtained
windows, and she fancied she caught
the gllmmer Of q dress on the lawn
some distance away.
Il will find some one about the house
and inquire my way to the road, re-
aected Edna, tlmorously.
She picked her way across an uneven,
ill-kept garden, once so nearly falling
into trap with great extending jaws.
evidently set for tramps or thieves, that
she shook with apprehenslve terror.
"Oh! there is lady. l see her now.
l will ask her. Mercy"
On the verge of some pit or eXcava-
ton in the garden, Edna wavered, tried
to draw back, and then, losing her bal
ance, plunged forward.
She fell fully fifteen feet. Her head
grazed the board side Of the pit, and
half stunned her Dimly realizing that
the hole, covered over with branches,
was trap for intruders, she looked
blankly up at the top with shudder,
compromising that she could never
scale the steep.
Help! help! help!"
Thrice the cry rang out, with all the
strength of her bell-like voice.
Hopefully Edna looked up as the
branches overhead were parted.
"Who is there?" spoke woman's
voice
al have fallen here" cried Edna;
please help me, Mercy! 1t cannot
| be-"
Her gasplng ejaculation died to a hol-
low, frightened murmur as she peered
at the face that looked down upon her.
For It's fair, false owner was-Beat-
rice Mercer!
no BE CONTINUED.