Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-08-05
WHEELING REGISTER SUNDAY AUGUST PAGES

push was sufficient to roll him over
again. With his hands fastened behind
his back, he was utterly defenseless.
At length his time came. De was
dragged face downwards to the centre
OF the floor, and then told to stand.
But he rebelled against that, kicking
and struggling, resisting SIS best he
could every effort TO place MIN In an
upright posture.
Suddenly an extraordinary change
came over him. He stood up staring at
the window, with strange, wistful,
wondering look in his eyes, aud his lips
quivering with the cry which had al
most escaped them.
For outside among the bushes was
scared young face-as white as death
the face of Hattie Duke.
He saw I, but for q moment. The
moose was being placed around his neck,
aud he had TO continue the deperate
struggle, life being more than ever
precious to the lac now, even though II
could be prolonged only for few min
utes of agony. But he fought against
fearful odds. At the touch OF the rope
he shuddered and his strength deserted
him.
At least he could die with her name
on his lips. So he cried ieebly:
Hattie. nv love. Hsttie!"
There was bright flash and deaf
ening report, filing the kitchen with
its din, windows rafting in their frames.
the lantern clatterihg upon the floor
George staggered back and nearly fell
He,could not understand what mad hap
pened. But be was free for the moment
that much ne knew. BY the moon
light which struggled through the
dusty panes be could dimly see the tall
red figure OF his executioner, bent as
in sudden pain, one hand pressed to
| his side.
The sight, incomprehensible though
it was to George, thrilled him with
hope. Tied as he was, he made leap
/ for the doof, opened It with his foot,
! for it was not latched, and sprang out
Into the dark passage. IL was but q
moment before he was pursued. He
| heard hoarse shouting behind, the
clash of q sword, the sound of hurrving
| footsteps. In his terror he expected
every instant TO feel tne rope round
| his neck.
But he knew tho house well and,
turning sharply aside in the darkness,
! stood as If OF q sudden he had been
transformed into stone, never moving a
muscle, never breathing, until his pur-
| suer had rushed by. Then, propped
! against the wall, he waited little, Tor
his legs trembled so that they could
| scarcely carry mis- body. 1t was awful
work deciding what ne should do next,
| for wrong step meant death. Finally,
he crept back the way he bad come.
Back in the kitchen he saw with
amazement that the window was open,
while outside. In the moonlight, stood
a white fgure--a girl-Hattie! She
| beckoned frantlcally TO him and whis-
pered:
Quick! quick! George! Georgew
He ran towards her aud struggled
| out, she pulling at him With both hands.
Then she softly closed the window and
, drew him aside among the bushes.
I He scarcely wondered how she came
| to be there or whether ii was Hattie at
ALL He only know that he was outside
the horrible house, though fear still had
! the mastery in his mind, for the mad
man could be plainly heard raging along
the dark passages. When be came TO
notice things more, he saw on the
ground d pistol, his own pistol which
had been flung through the window,
and he vaguely graSped the fact that
Hattie had fired it and saved his life.
But be Gid not thank ner-there was
no room for gratitude in his mind yet
and she did not appear 20 eIasct y.
latte was clad in loose white
wrapper. From the pocket she pres
emily drew small pair OF scissors and
with them, after much labor, she cut
the rope which bound Georges hands.
"Can you walk now, George" she
whispered. "Come, I'll take your arm. "
So she guided him through the
bushes, and swiftly, yet often giancing
back fearfullY, they made their way to
| the gate.
(To BE Continued