The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1894-10-17
CHAPTER II.


The horse was all but walking. Swinging
into On easy, but rapid, trot, he soon caught
sight of the vehicle again. .
Taken up with each other, the lovers
failed to notice the man with set, determined
face and vigilsnt eye following in the rear;
close beside the woods that bordered the
road where the shades were darkest, keep
ing out Of their sight, yet always keeping
them in his.
Luck seemed to favor him, There was no
traveller in view on the road. But, unex-
pectedly, an old peasant, bending beneath Q
bundle of fagots, came out OF the forest
and, as soon as the carriage had passed,
turned around, with the usual rural curios-
ity, to look after it. So he did not observe
the figure that plunged into by-path
among the trees and, a few moments later,
emerged at point some distance beyond.
.'Those servants" reasoned their pursuer,
"can't possibly get out of sight, while I'm
among the. trees, because the road is per-
fectly straight for some distance on, yet;
and they're going slowly, too"
What was his disnay, then, on emerging
from the wood, to see no carriagel
In establishment, he glanced up and down
the road.
Nothing was in sight, except the old
peasant, still toiling on with his bundle OF
fagots and, far beyond the latter, in the
distance, Q shepherd, driving . flock Of
sheep. ..
whittier could they have Disappeared
They, certainly, had not gone on ahead.
On the other. hand, he had been especially
careful to glance in the direction from
which they had come. 1t was, therefore,
equally certain that they could not have
turned back, unless-here there came over
him dim recollection Of certain, half-con-
cealed woodpaths, or lanes, leading into the
forest.
It was some distance from his present
position to even the nearest Of these lanes.
He was very much out Of breath, and by
the time he reached the first, darkness
would be rapidly falling. Still, he pressed
on. AS he hurried past the flock Of sheep
the shepherd started aftcr him, evidently
amazed at tho sight Of gentleman running
along the public road.
He soon came to a wood-path on his left.
The sheep had nearly obliterated the wheel
tracks from the highway, but he was posi-
ave ULdU Il6 u6UCCutu 1dluu anu
fresh ruts running into this lane.
Onward he plodded, in logged, deter
mined trot So dark was it among the
trees and so dense the growth Of weeds and
grasses along the path that 1t was quite i'm
possible to discover whether or not the We
hicle had, once again, turned from its course
down this lane into one of the numerous and
still smaller by-lanes that led into 1t on
either hand.
With patience he still pursued the path,
until 1t began to ascend abruptly, and ended
OF last in clearing.
A broad, grassy plot lay stretched out be-
fore him Beyond 1t was huge mass Of
table-rock. Then there seemed to come 3
seoep precipice.
He walked to the cliffs edge.
Was it fancya Or did he hear carriage
wheels crashing over the stones belowi
Surely, that was laugh that smote upon
his e3r, Just now. Hc listened intently.
But, no! he could hear nothing, except the
wind, signing through the pines, and the
splashing waters of brook, babbling in the
vale below.
The moon had now arisen in all its silvery
splendor For miles and miles around he
looked over level valley, watered by
streams and dotted with lakes that glittered
In the moonbeams.
At his feet, several yards below, was q
broad terrace that seemed to fringe the side
of the precipice It's entire length, and to
form the basis Of rough carriage-road.
On the terrace, directly beneath him, lay
something glittering in the moons rays. 1t
attracted his attention and aroused his curl
osity. Slowly, he lowered himself from
rock to rock, and, arriving on the terrace,
started in surprise; for this time he was
not mistaken. Here was tho distinct and
fresh mark of wheels. His heart beat more
| quickly.
Going to the spot where he had first seen
the sparkle, he found jewel-handled
palette knife lying in the grass.
With the inspiration of man whose mind
was on the alert, he saw all at a glance.
Here it was she had been painting Those
wheel-tracks wero made by the wagon that
had escaped him. This was her palette
| knife which the careless servants had
dropped, or overlooked. He wiped the dew
from the bright blade and put the knife in
his pocket.
Following the wagon-tracl1s towards the
| left, he found, not much farther on, % dainty
lace handkerchief.
"Lucz has at last come to me-" he said,
aloud, putting the handkerchief in his pocket
with the knife.
Then it occurred to him her name might
be upon it. He looked again ut it. In the
clear light of the moon he could distinguish
an en- woven dehcatcly in the center. n
For what did n. stand! Nora, Nancy, Nan
ME, Nettie, Nelly, Nataliel He racRed hi
brain for all the names beginning with Il
but none so pleased him as Natalie Ia hi!
excited state, this name would not away
from him, and kept fitting through hi'
brain, as he passed rapidly down the road
that now descended. The brook, that he haC
heard in the vale below, came nearer. HI
had no doubt this was the stream thu
fed the pool where first he saw her. TCrn
ing sharply to the right, the brook then fol
lowed the winnings Of the principa
thoroughfare. Walking brisly along, tn
man, as he expected, soon came to the well
remembered pool.
Yes here it was that she had stood be
side her horse; there was the stone 81
which she had slept, VIII n roGolrttng hin
two hours before; and yoader, The c.urlp o
bushes that had concealed her UnsUsPecto'
observer.
He stopped to drink, for he was thirsty
and feverish with excitement.
As he rose something fell from his poke
into the water. 1t was the p2-cttc-i-n21l
Eagerly ho snatched it from the grasp Q
his friend, the brook. saying;
''Not so fast, master brOo'lct- VIC boz