Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-03-15
WOMAN AGAIN8Y WOMAN.
BY MRS. M. E. HOLMES.
CHAPTER XIV.-Continued

a small harvest on her own account.
THAT will do" she answered: 81
will help you. Listen. 1t is growing
dusk, in another hour it will be dark.
You are now in the Abbey ruins. will
return to you by that time. In the
meantime plait up your hair, take Off
that white robe, put on this dress-lt
, belongs to my daughters your own
cloak will do. You will find water in
that ever. Be very quiet in your
movements. [ will give out that you
are asleep-you understand? Then we
will creep out together to the back of
the ruins, and you must walk alone to
either Nestley or the town on the other
side of Moreton."
Alice seized the old woman's hand
and pressed her lips to it.
God bless you,' she said brokenly;
CT can never thank you enough. Only
let me get away from this horrible
place and [ shall breath once more"
The old woman drew away her hand,
and sIOuched away chuckling.
Alice, left alone fell on her knees
and uttered q brief prayer Of thankful
ness. AS vetShe scarcely realized the
full meaning OF her POSITION but the
glimpse OF Count Jura's face had filled
her mind with horror and dread that
grew and grew until it became al most
q mania.
Her brain was clearing now. She
recalled the night before the dinner,
Roy's admiration and words, her sue
cess. the Counts villany, and then
Valerie S visit to her room.
After that, try as she would, she
could not rCcOllect what had hap
pened.
II must have been carried away in
nv sleen, and yet | should have awak-
ened during the Journey. This is in
the Abbey ruins; it is q long distance.
All, [ remember-h handkerchief
the strange OverpOWering smell. They
drugged me-"
She covered down in horror and
shiyered Then she thought of Dame
Burden, and her coming deliverance
reused her.
She hastily set about her prepare
lions with beating heart. She cOiled
up her mass Of golden hair, plunged
her face into the refreshing cold water,
and cast Off her wrapper of white silk
for the dingy brown gown.
AS she did this she suddenly remem-
bered Frank Meredith and the two
cards he had given her.
She searched her pockets, and her
heart fell-they were not there.
Who had taken them? What was
she to do once she was free? To whom
could she go?
TO return to the Castle was impossi-
ole, for she felt with agony that dis
grace must have touched her name.
She drew her cloak on. and pulled
the hood over her head, then sat down
to think till the old woman came back.
As the moments drew nearer to the
hour of her escape, her excitement
Of 70 10, ,i,,lN l all n4l p,
feelings.
What did it matter once she was
free of these horrible vaults?
Would the woman keep her promise?
She grew pale with dread If not,
she would try to creep out alone, or
else she would die of fright.
But even as she was thinking this,
Dame Burden came back She was
covered with q cloak, too, and held
out her hand.
Now dearie.' she said in hoarse
whisper, I'm ready: the coast is clear"
'Oh, thank you-thank you Why
are you so gOOG to me-" Alice muir
INJURED family.
Because I've got daughter my
self?' the old woman replied hypocrit-
ically. Now. como on. Stay, here s
Il sovereign, you have no money with
YOU. know; hold it tight. There, you
needn't thank me: amt done nothing
40 shout out about
''Nothing!' whispered the girl, you
are saving me from worse than death.'
She slipped thin white hand into
the Old woman S one, land glancing fear
fully around, was led out of the vault
into the outer one.
All was still as death; to Alice the
whole place was terrible She could
+l,.D |,
sounded strangely in her ears.
Dame Burden lifted her hand to pull
aside the curtains, and Alice saw Tor
the first time the gljttering ring on
her thick brown finger: 'eeling that
she recognized it came over her, even
in her fear, hut she could not remem-
Der rightly.
They passed through the curtains
into the stone passage: the dim light
vanished, they were in utter darkness;
save for the touch of the old woman's
hand, the sound OF her heavy breath
ing, Alice could have imagined it was
some hideous dream.
At last they stopped, a guest of fresh
air greeted them from round corner.
and Us Dame Burden moved on again,
Alice saw, to her intense JOY, the
branches of trees waving to and fro in
the night-wind.
In another moment they had mounted
the steps, and Alice was free.
She spread out her arms as if to en-
brace the sweet air of Heaven, and
Leaved a great sigh of gladness.
Nov wait just one instant, while |
see if the coast is clear. Come, sit in
this corner"
Alice followed obediently.
Il pray you may not suffer for my
sake" she whispered earnestly. SIS
Count-wili that man be angry with
your
Dame Burden chuckled.
Il amt afeard." she answered.
"Now just creep into this shadow, and
don't move until [ come to YOU"
Alice nodded: she moved softly be-
hind the pieceLof ruin indicated, and
stood quiet, as the old woman stole