People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-04-11

and the little money which had been
intended for our flight before, and she
had kept them carefully concealed,
where she could find them in a mo-
ment. l had sent the ring to 4 friend
in London, to sell it for me; and it pro-
duced more than | had expected.
had then commissioned Wood to go to
the county town and buy a light gig for
me; and in this he had been very for
tuTate. Ny dear old COnStaacy had
the accomplishment, not atall common
to chargers, of going admirably in|nar-
ness; and | had from the first enjoined
upon Wood to get him into as good
condition as possible. | now fixed a
certain hour at which Wood was to be
at a certain spot on one of the roads
skirting the park-wherc | had found
a crazy door in the plank fence-with
Consistency in the dog cart, and plenty
of wraps for Alice.
"And for Heavens sake, Wood
concluded, "lOOk to his Shoes"
The. next evening l said: "Alice
must leave the house; will you 80 with
meT
"Of course | will, Duncan. When?
'The night after tomorrow, as soon
as everyone is in bed and the house
qciet If you have anything you value
Wv much. take it; but the lighter we
go the better"
Il have nothing, Duncan. | will take
a little bag-that will do for me-"
But dress IS warmly as you can. It
will be cold"
"Oh, yes; l won't forget that. Good
night"
| had seen Mrs. BlakeSley since she
had told me that the young earl and
countess We're expected in about a
month, else | might have learned one
fact which it was very important
should have knOWn-namely, that their
arrival had been fastened by eight Or
ten days. The very morning Of our in
tended departure. | was looking into
the court through a little round hole
| had cleared for observation in the
dust Of one of the windows, believing
| had observed signs of unusual prep
aratiOn on the part of the household,
when carriage drove up, followed by
two others. and Lord and Lady Hill
ton descended and entered, with an
attendance of some eight or ten.
There was a great hustle in the house
all day. Of course | felt uneasy. for if
anything should interfere with our
flight the preSense Of so many would
increase whatever difficulty might oc-
cur | was also uneasy about the
treatment my Alice might receive from
the newcomers. Indeed, it might be
put out of her power to meet me at all.
1t had been arranged between lis that
she should not come to the haunted
chamber at the usual hour, but to-
ward midnight.
| was there waiting for her. The
hour arrived; the house seemed quiet;
but she did not come. | began to grow
very uneasy. | waited half IN hour
more, and then, unable to endure it
longer, crept to her door. | tried to
open it, but found it fast. At the same
time | heard a slight sob inside.
put my lips to the key-hole, ard called
Alice" She answered in 4 moment:
"They have locked me in
The key was gone. There was no
time to be lost. Who could tell what
they might do tomorrow. if already
they We're taking precautions against
her madness? | would try the key of
Il neighboring door. and if that would
not tit | would burst the door open,
and take the chance. AS is was. he
key fitted the lock. and the door open
ed. We locked it on the outside. restor-
ed the key. and in another moment
were in the haunted chamber. Alice
was dressed ready for the flight. To
me it was very pathetic TO see her in
the shapes of years gone by. She look
ed faded and ancient, notwithstanding
that this was the dress in which | had
seen her so often of old Her stream
had been standing still. while niue
had flowed on. She was a portrait of
my own young Alice, 4 picture of her
own former self.
One or two lights glancing about be.
low detained us for a while. We were
standing near the window, feeling now
very anxious to be clear o fthe house;
Alice was holding me and leaning on
me with the essence of trust; when. all
at once. she dropped my arm, covered
her face with her hands. and called
out: 1.-The horse with the clanking
shoe" At the same moment the heavy
door which communicated with this
part of the house flew open with Il
crash. A light cleaned into the room,
and by it | saw that Lady Alice, whu
was standing close to me still, was
gazing, with flashing eyes, at the door.
She whispered hurrledly:
81 remember it air now, Duncan. Ny
brain is all right. 1t is come again
But they shall not part us this time.
You follow me for once"
As she spoke, | saw something gilt.
ter in her hand. She had caught up an
old Malay creeSe that lay in a corner
and was now making for the door. a;
which half dozen dOmeStics were by
this time gathered. They, too. saw the
glitter, and made way. followed close
ready TO fell the first who offered to lay
hands on her. But she walked through
them mmenaced, and, once clear. sped
ike bird into the receSSeS of the old
house. One fellow started to follow.
! tripped him up. | was cOllared by an.
other. The same instant he lay by his
companion, and | followed Alice. She
knew the route well enough. and ]
overlook her in the great hall. We
heard pursuing feet rafting down the
echOing stair. To enter my room and
bolt the door behind us. was a me-
ment'S work: and a few moments more
took us into The alley of the kitchen
garden. With speedy. nOiSeleSS steps
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