Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-05-31

/ waste and the cotton and heaped them
on the standard gas lamp which light
+ cl She room, thus SCATTERING the globe
B and cxtinguishing the light
slc ru,hcd 10 the opposite side Of the
room, and, throwing couple OF the
ppc',cts OF cotton where she had been
standing, 40 as 10 make Reuben Cor
ringc think she was hiding on that
silc. she ran quickly and softly TO the
door from the side where he would not
expect her To her intense relief she
/ found the key without difficulty and
hal turned It and opened the door be-
/ fore Gorringe had reached her.
Just as she was rushing out of the
room she felt his hand on her arm.
liut she tore IL away from him, and,
ptiling the door after her with all her
strength. crushed his arm and caused
the hand TO relax its hold. Then she
Oct rapidly through the next room,
which was the outer and larger Office,
nnd sped odt into the darkness Of the
iai'
Sia had formed plan in thought;
namely, to try and make her way TO
window overlooking the lane which
ran along one end Of the mill-one of
tno.c by which Tom had been accused
a. h.cating into the place. To reach
tlis. however. she would have TO pass
through long room filled with spin
ming machines, down flight Of stone
steps, through the blowing.room and
ncrpss one Of the smaller weaving
ehr.ls which was close 60 that.
Another plan she had was TO rush
away to the top OF the building and
hide where she could till morning
came. Her anxiety TO get away from
the place, however, made her prefer
Tie former.
iut the chance OF carrying out any
dsnuite plan seemed very remote, for
the girl heard Reuben Gorringe hurry
ing after her. She determined TO hide,
therefore
She ran on as fast as possible, stop
ping an instant TO tear off her boots
with nervous haste, and then with
noigclcss tread crossed the first OF the
worls-rooms. Remembering that in
the second there was heap OF baskets,
she rushed TO the spot and crouchcd
down beside them.
She could hear Gorringe moving, and
once or twice his voice, calling her by
name, reached her ear She could tell
by tho sound that he was at the far
end of the first room; and she held her
breath TO listen for what he was doing
and In what direction he was moving.
IL was brilliant night, aud the rays
Of the full moon flooded through the
many windows of the place, bathing
the whole in n white light. Int this
light mndc her escape much more per-
iluus pnd she was afraid to move lest
she should be found.
The latter fear prevailed; ana find
ing, after some minutes Of absolutely
intulcruble suspense, that the sounds
Of Gurringc's movements came no
nearer, she rose and moved as silently
o. u ghost across the forest OF machn.
cry IN the direction where she Judged
Gorringe must be
just when she was reaching the d.
vision between the two rooms, some
wclghty thing fell with n huge clatter-
ing noise, close tn the spot where she
stood IL raised such IA clang in the
weird stiffness of the night that she
started violently and could scarce re.
frain from screaming out She checked
herself with II great effort, and In her
panic tried to dart back to her hiding
place by the baskets.
She had scarcely moved three PAGES,
however before she heard the rush of
footsteps through the room adjoining.
aud Reuben Gorringe stood by her side
with the light of brilliant lantern
turned full upon her white, terror
stricken face.
You cannot escape me-" he said.
1T is useless to try" lie laid n hand
on her arm and held the girl In n firm
grasp, and led her back to the office.
"What do you wish me to do?" she
said, In n faltering tone.
Its too late to think of that now"
his voice was sad and low; "you gave
me your answer. II we cannot live to-
gethcr, at least we can die together
In death you cannot hate me, as in
life you cannot love me."
DO you mean to murder me?" cried
the girl
~ could not bear TO see you an
others wife" he answered, In the same
calm, dcspuiring monotone. Then
aftera moments pause he i,a,hcd out
into sudden passion. "ly Heaven,
the mere thought of II Is hell to me.
To know that another would have the
right To take you in his arms, to press
your heart to his, To shower his kisses
upon your checks, your hair, your lips,
and to feel your carcsscs answering
to his own? by --, | would kill
1t Is no time for talk. Come"
Ito chcalsed the outburst of feeling
aud led the way in the direction of the
Office.
"llavc you no mcrcyP" asked the
girl when they reached the room.
pleading with him. "Will nothing
move your"
Yes, II Is mercy that makes me act
thus he answered, with grim, short
laugh, "Mercy for myself-aye, and
mercy for you. You cannot be afraid
to die. You have wrongcd no one in
the world; your life has been full of
goodness and kindness. You will but
be In Heaven fingers length before
your time"
You forget. II die you will con-
denim an innocent man to shameful
death, for alone can prove Toms In.
nocence."
"rhat is curious plea TO put to me, -
answered Gorringc, frowning. "But
even that is nothing, viii tell you
now, he is innocent, and his innocence
can he proved without you You may
be easy ON that score,' he said, with a
snCcr.