Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-12

ard heard them drop softly, then, fast
ening a stout twist of the end about the
bars of the tongs and sbracing them
across the corner, he got out of the
window, let himself down, let go the
window-sill, and lowered away down
by stretching loops and tangles, bump
ing and swinging like pendulum
against the stone walls until he came
to the ground.
1t was a breathless beginning of a
most uncertain journey, yet while Wey-
mouth sat for moment oa the narrow
ledge of rocky ground the freedom and
freshness of the winter night seemed
sweet enough, after the damp and chill
of the room he had left. Such is human
nature, the alternate prey of fear and
careless pleasure.
Weymouth could hear no footsteps,
he could see but dimly the steep road
above at his right; below, the hill was
sleeper still, and looked perilous as he
started to find his way down. Even a
man who is bold at heart feels all the
instincts of stealthiness when he is a
hunted man, the prey instead of the
pursuer. At this instant there came a
faint sound from the roadway close by.
There was something moving. There
was the least sound like hiss, and
then one pebble was tapped against an
other as he still crept downward His
heart seemed to stop-a gust of wind
caught the light net and swished it
to and fro against the house. He fiat
tened himself against the ground and
clutched the sod with his fingers, then
he dropped one foot slowly over the
edge to find the shelf below. The bur
den of the wallet hindered him so that
he longed to get rid of it. Suddenly
he heard an eager whisper:
This way! Come this way! Wey-
mouth"
The dim shape showed itself palmer
now above him. A woman l<nelt at the
wall above, reaching down to give him
a hand whose touch he well knew He
quickly found his footing now and was
helped up the steep scramble and stood
with her in the road.
Come, come" she urged in a whis-
per, they will be lseen after us! It's for
your life!'
She started off instantly down the
Hill toward the water and he followed
They We're running on turf, not gravel
and made no sound. As he ran by her
side she pushed him back impatiently
Keep away, don't come near." she said
Hurry, for Heavens sake!"
AS they reached the low ground the
light figure that fitted before Wey.
mouth led him into path that ran low
down on the landward side of the dyke
which must have been made partly by
cattle and partly by men who shielded
| themselves from the fierce north winds
| of winter which blew across the water
Two figures could easily have beer
seen in the smooth path that ran along
the dyke top, but here they were shell
tered and the silent guide took slower
pace as they passed some thickets OF
osiers. Once she stopped and motioned
to him and crept up the dyke side
| Weymouth followed, and they saw that
they were nearly abreast of the fishing
| smack or smuggler if such she were
| There was boat just leaving her. q
lantern was held for an instant over the
side and then was hidden again Wey
mouth looked back at the house on the
height; they were now perhaps half a
mile away. There were no lights il
the windows, even in that which he
had left, but by this time the wretchet
| guttering candle would have melted
and sucked itself into extinction. With
out word they both stepped back tc
the path again, and ran on until the
| leader turned from the dyke across &
wide ditch which was bridged by some
unsteady planks. The meadow was wei
under foot, they lost and found agar
a narrow causeway that led among the
upland fields and presently stopped tx
take breath beside an overgrown hedge
''Be STILL" said the woman, anxiorslv
for Weymouth forgot everything ex-
cept that they were lovers. SPEAK
soft.' and she moved away little. but