Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-04-06
Grace sprang up, shaking of Hal


cyone's touch.
"And you would have me marry
man whom l could never love, simply
because he is rich?'' said she.
"Other girls do it. And you are
very poor--you can hardly support
that old bed-ridden father of yours IN
the home in New York. You see, !
know all about your affairs, Grace
Olmerr -
81 am not what you are pleased to
call 'other girls. As for my father
there is no disgrace in his being IN
home, as long as pay his way.
"Grace, listen" Halcyone's voice
grew flexible and coaxing. "You and
I both had offers to-day to go to the
new shirt factory in Whitesdown. l
must remain here, because my father
and mother want me to remain near
them. But-you will go, wontyou|
"I have no intention of going" " said
Grace, calmly.
"But at least promise me, Oracle
dear Gracie-that you will not dance
with Aleck Dale at the party to-
night" pleaded Halcyone.
"Halcyone, you are very strange
girl" said Grace Olmer. ''If you
really care for this man-who has not
as yet expressed a preference of any
kind-the lists are as open to you as
to me. No, l will pledge myself to
nothing?"
Halcyone Marden was tall girl,
with an abundance of yellow hair, a
rose-bright complexion, and hazel
eyes, shot through and through by to-
paz CLEANS.
Although of New England birth, she
possessed many of the characteristics
of tropical cline. Her grandfather
had been Portuguese ship captain,
exiled from his native land through
some political disturbance.
She made a quick step forward.
"And you dare take him away from
met" she exclaimed, the topaz eyes
glittering strangely.
"He must take his own choice
"But, Grace, you are as calm as
moonlight and as cold as snow. Tc
you there are plenty of others be-
sides this man. while to me he is al
the world. You will give him up?" ri
'Re must choose for himself. wal
the low reply.
Halcyone flashed one wrathfu
glance at her vival, and rushed out o
the cabin, letting the nail-studded
door bang behind her, and the mex
moment Grace could hear her fyins
footsteps crash down the tall brier
and thick growing hazle bushes oil
the path below.
She sprang to,her feet.
"Halcyone Halcyone!" she cried
waving her handkerchief through tn
narrow. slit-like window, which wa
nearly on q level with her eyes
"Where are you going? Wait TO
) me, Halcyone.
For one second the other gl1
paused. She saw that the door ha,
settled heavily down into the logs o
the threshold. and that Grace Olme
was captive in the old witch's cabin
A sudden exultation throbbe
through her heart-a half-forme
piece of strategy.
"Why not?'' she asked herself
''Does it not serve her right, the cold
passionles-, hinty-hearted thing? LIE
her stay there until she comes to he
senses! One night on Mount Buckl
: won't hurt her, and the coast will b
free for me i"
1t was not for some time that Grac
Olmer realized that she was a prisone
in this wild spot-that her individuf
strength would not suffice to stir tn
| heavy door that had settled SO solidl
down into the mouldering logs OF tn
: threshold, and that the one windo'
y was far too small to afford any egress
In the west the sun was setting IN
T, crimson blaze over Buckle Lake;
low wind rustled the rose briers out
o side; and faint sweetness rose u
s from the crushed violets in her lap.
She drew quick, shudderin
t breath; then she tried to laugh.
r II must be patient, she thought
"Some one will surely come along,
y 1 only wait long enough. There mus
Q be some woodcutter on the mountai
e -7or perhaps boy, digging sassafrs
. roots '
But she waited and waited, and tn
deep red sunset faded into purple an