The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-12-18
CHAPTER III.

llls
After he slept, she crept out Of bed
and dressed herself quietly. She
opened closet and a drawer, taking
something out of each. The moonlight
filled the room; at the door she paused
to look at the sleeper, whose face was
pale in that bloodless radiance. Her
look was tenderer than caress. With
infinite caution she moved down the un-
carpeted, creaking stairs. She stole
about the kitchen in her stocking feet
until she had placed the simple meal
which Joshua desired. on the table.
"'Cause maybe I might be prevented
from getting home, and there amt no
need for him to 90 hungry, she thought:
Her preparations completed, she
wrapped thick shawl about her, tied
her decent black bonnet under her chin,
and went out into the moonlight. She
locked the door behind her, although
not without pondering whether this
could be safe, since there was the risk
of fire; but there was the risk Of thieves
and murderers as we'll, and another door
and the windows would remain for es-
cape if the house took fire, therefore she
locked 1t in the end. All she carried
with her was a black satin bag (em-
broidered with crimson fower) which
had been given her by Mrs. Dwight.
Inside she still kept the card bearing
the inscription, From Erminie to Lu-
cetta."
Il dare say she'll think it's dretful
wicked, but I cayn't help it. There
amt no other way" thought the old
woman.
She stood for moment looking about
the farm bathed In moonlight. z silver
pathway narrowed over the expanse Of
wheat stubble into the horizon per-
spective. One could family distin-
guish the color OF the leaves on the
poplar trees and the yellow sides Of the
bulging haymows. A dotted line Of fire
swept across the silver path, the west
bound train. 4Oh, dearie me, dearie mel"
groaned Judith. Il got to stop him be-
fore he runs away!"
She had thought it all out, and. while
she shivereG with fright and anguish,
she did not hesitate once.
Huddled ir her shawl, she opened the
barn door and went to the colts stall.
Her eyes Travelled wistfully to the farm
horses munehing their corn-only her
eyes, for she knew they were too tired
for midnight ride. Tremblingly she
united the terrible colt, distracting his
attention as much as possible by some
corn, and keeping as far from his uneasy
feet as her short arms would let her.
The colt tossed his head and lashed his
tail, and the other horses made ugly
noises on the floor. Cold drops stood on
Judith's pale face, nevertheless she
saddled Starlight and led him to the
buggy, where she managed to mount.
The saddle was q mans saddle. Jest
as well" thought the rider, Il can stick
on better, and got to stick on, cause
il get off on the prairie never in this
world can get on the critter again.
Thus she set forth, a queer little
shape, astride her mans saddle, with
her shawl blown behind her. The sta
ton at Delmar is a small wooden build
ing with long plstform. At night it
has deserted, dreary aspect, with the
stove glimmering redly through the open
space OF window, the locked doors and
the lonely telegraph operator doing at
his desk. Behind the station is fence.
To this fence rode Judith just as the
town clock struck 10. She climbed la
boriously off the horses back and tied
him to the fence by knot possible only
to O woman.
@Oh, Lord be praised, at last I'm off
that boss back" cried the rider. i guy
myself up for lost fifty times tonight. "
She walked up and down the platform
waiting for the banker, Startling. Not
until the Chicago train had gone with
out him would she go. She had deter
mined to see him that night; if he did
not come to the train she would go to
the house, but she was fully persuaded
by some mysterious and feminine intui-
ton that Startling meant to fly.
The half hour struck. Its getting