Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-22

lie Graspe0 the StOrekeeper's Hand.
why! having him around after what he's
supposed to have done. He acts just as il
nothing had happened"
Mrs. Warren went to the door.
Nicholas" she called.
He came slowly back to the house and
asked what she wanted, standing at the
moment just outside the door in full view of
Mrs. Newcomb.
This dear" answered his wife, and she
put her arms around his neck and kissed
him. THAT was ALL
ITS great deal, Martha, he whispered,
giving her an affectfonate hug. Il under
stand, and he contentedly returned to mis-
work, almost rejoicing in the trouble that had
so demonstrated his wifes loyalty.
Mrs. Newcomb was not so thick-skinned
that she failed to have some comprehension
OF this scene, and she guessed she'd have to
get back to her baking.
Not all the visits were as disagreeable as
this, but they sufficiently SO to wear
mother and daughter sadly. Out in he
garden Mr.. Warren had frequently to pause
m his wedding operations to assert that he
had done nothing for which he was not pre-
pared to answer to the law. No one excited
his temper as the committee of three had
out they kept him In Partially resentful
state that was very annoying to his neigh
5ors. Shortly before noon Sam Springer
came.
See here. Nick" he said. you needn't
tell me thing. I've heard nothing all day
but your trouble, and forty-'leven accounts
of 1t, too. I've just left the store long
enough to tell you that don't care a durn
what you've done; I'm ready to helm Won
out You know I've got the fastest horse
In the township. If you want to light out,
she's yours. Shall send her up to your
barn?'
Mr.. Warren stepped forward and grasped
| the storekeeper by the hand.
You meant that as a kindness. SAM" he
responded, land I'm much obliged, but I'm
not going to run away"
"All right, Nick, only remember that
sometimes what's this, Ell? oh, discretion,
| amt it? is the better part of valor"
And SO the fore noon dragged along. At
dinner Gran'pa Kirk was the only one who
did any talking. Something had stirred his
"reminiscences of half-century-old politics,
and he related garrulously something about
| a great pole raising in an adjoining county.
He was still running on about it when he
went for his after-dinner nap in the
| OF chard.
IN do the dishes. Elsie" said Mrs. War
| rem. y need the exercise, l guess Seems
as if I'd feel better for having my hands in
| hot water"
1t was 1890, a long half hour before It
would be time to go to meet Win. Elsie
couldn't wait.
win is coming pretty soon," she ex-
planned, land I'm going to cross the mead
woods
That's good" said her mother. run
along and be happy, DEAR
Elsie tried not to hurry. That half hour
must be passed somehow, and she preferred
to pass it in the open air, strolling across
the tntervale to sitting idle In the house
and watching the clock.
The beginning Of the meadows was of I'M
even ground, and, in fact, hillocks were
scattered all over their extent, with here
and there few clumps of trees and young
willows She had not gone more than a
few rods before the house and the road
we're completely hidden from view by a
series of knobs.
She went sauntering along a family
marked path, swinging her hat in her hand,
aSf md fhara
was little wind stirring, and her heart
seemed to grow lighter until of sudden,
as she rounded the base of a low mound, it
seemed to stop beating as completely as her
feet ceased to move.
Seated on the ground, not twenty feet in
front of her, in the shade of a small tree,
was Wansa, the black man, upon whom
she and Will had come in their walk down
the mountain the evening previous. His
white companion was not in sight, but he
was not alsne. He was playing with
snake, that coiled and uncoiled itself
around his waist, and rubbed its head
against his sleeve. while Wanga crooned to
1t in inarticulate but musical accents.
He did not look up until Elsie had stood
for at least a second, too Mortified to
scream. her blood chilling and her limbs
Quivering, but her eyes fastened unshak-
ably on the strange spectacle. When he
saw her fierce CLEAN came into his eyes.
He slowly uncoiled the snake from his
wrist and put 1t in an inside pocket Of his
Jacket, all the time keeping his eyes fast
eneu upon Elsie s.
She wanted to run, to scream, but her
limbs failed her and her lips grew heavy.
1t was as II she were suffering night
mare, and articulation were impossible.
The black man cautiously arose and
came toward her, slipping his feet along
the grass without raising them, his body
undulating, his outstretched fingers trem-
bling slightly. Not once did his eyelids fall
and SO for an instant shut off the steely
glitter that told of a deadly purpose quickly
formed, and upon which he was concen-
trating all the forces of his being.
Elsie shrank as he drew near, and light
sob escaped her. but she could not cry out,
she could not offer resistance. All the
evils pictured by her apprehension and all
the vague fears awakened by the events OF
the past eighteen hours were embodied in
this black man, who seemed, indeed, the
fit companion for reptiles.
He was close upon her now, and he
reached forth one of his hands, never abat-
ing the steady gaze that pierced through
her eyes to her brain and paralyZed her
will. She felt him take her hand, and,
numb with terror, not more than half con-
scious Of what he was doing, she followed
as he pulled her gently along. Her hat fell
to the ground, but Wanga did not notice
1t and Elsie did not know 1t.
AS he realized that he had control Of her
he quickened his pace gradually until the
girl was almost on the run. They were
near a thin line of trees that extended
along the bank of stream until they
Wanga suddenly dropped her hand, threw
both arms around her, picked her up and
ran like a saddle horse, unmindful Of the
burden.
(To be continued tomorrow)
--