The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-12-08
CHAPTER Ix-(Continuedo

less life, Miss Elizabeth created plot.
Mr.. Jones' she said, you hear that
Helen has gone out. | am vexed with
ler for doing so; she Shoald have SENT
a Seryent with the-letter 1t is grow
ing dark rapidly; the road through the
glen is very lonely; it is not fit for her
10 walk there alone. You will think
me a great fidget; but it would be such
a relief to my mind il you would go
and meet her then, seeing the hesIta-
ton Of his face, she Went on trem-
ulously. Il have been i'll; the illness
has left me weak and nervous | am
anxious about her, and presume upon
your kindness.
The request so couched was almost
impossible to refuse: he did not at
tempt to refuse; he went. When she
heard the garden gate siam a minute
or two later she cried plaintively:
Dear, dear. / am a creature OF inn
pulse after ALL" and she buried her
face in her hands and trembled. Still
trembling, she left the sofa and rang
the bell for Betsey.
.RetSlay.'' she said, 81 am exceeding
" tired; | shall go UP stairs to my
room and keep quiet. Tell Louisa to
bring the lamps in here; she may put
pp Il large fire and keep the mullins
hot. Mr. Jones and Miss Milford Will
be in to tea before long
How long, maam!'
..Well, indeed | don't quite know,
Petsey Give me your arm; must
lean on something. | feel 50 very
shaky."
A young girl, however courageous,
has seldom the hardihood to lead her
10 face difficult situation when
by any possible action she can escape
the ordeal Flight is the first and often
the only available tactic &c this ref
uye Helen had resolted. She had put
on her coat and hat, stamped and
sealed her letter to Mrs. Milford, and.
after mentioning carelessly to Mrs.
Betsey that she was goil;9 10 the post,
she softly crept along the hail ara let
herself out by the front door. 1t was
dreadful to leave the house. but TO re-
main there was worse; she had escaped
the meeting, but, unfortunately. she
could not escape herself. She walked
very quickly; it was dark beneath the
trees in the glen land their branches
creaked. for the wind was blowing
sharply Down the steep, rough vi
lage street she Sped-hoW soon, how
far too soon, she reached the p0stofiice
and fulfilled her errand.
The sun had gone down, but full
moon was rising over the sea: the TIDE
was high and the rough waves were
believing at the feet Of the ellis. Ihey
dashed the broken rocks they drew
Helen toward them, for their loud wall
ING WAS attune with her heart; they
were in sympathy with her mood.
Their might. their strength tehir maj
esty overwhelmed her personal trouble;
she could forget all things in heaven
and earth if she could stand beside
them.
1t was long before she turned away
from the wonder Of the waves; away
from the beauty and grandeur OF the
sky: she was calm and strengthened,
she was ready to '.go home" Close
beside her stood a figure hose ap-
proach the roar of water Lad drowned,
and who had neither spoken nor
moved. but who had been standing mo-
tionless watching her.
His face was set and stern, and there
was a great sadness in the eyes which
met hers as she turned slowly around
toward him. Her mind was so full of
him: he seemed to have been so near
her through all these months that she
was hardly surprised to find him there.
in the flesh by her side. He spoke 60
her. as though their meeting and his
presence were things Of course, as II
they had never parted, as if he had Tor
gotten their last scene from the menu
ory of which ali her meditation had
been drawn of late.
II heard where you had gone and fol
lowed YOU. he said. 1.-The tide is COM
inc in: the waves lick over this rock III
Il squall; it isn't a safe place for YOU
She was angry at the raging waters
for deadening the full sound OF his
voice. She had to lift up her head to
catch the full meaning of his words.
Il was sent to fetch you home.
Alas. he had been sent! He had al
WAYS read her thoughts, he did so now,
but not correctly. -
Miss Milford sent mel hope you
do not mind-She was anxious about
YOU, so | came; it was -sloNly-"the
only chance | had of seeing you, SO,
right or wrong, | took it.
1--WE must CO. she said
Not yet, not yet. Wait: you won't
mind waiting just a moment; it Will be
the last time-the only time; don't you
remember we used TO want to watch
storm together?'
80 she turned again to the sea, as he
wished. and waited. He was young;
the black nightmare of all his troubles
rolled away like a dream, aud the
olamour of the past returned upon
him. He had ben bereaved ruined.
lifted. but his wears were few and his
love was great-hCW great it was he
had discovered when, from Il careless
habit of drifting with the tide and III
niaue. he had bound himself irreyoca-
ill., IN another woman He W3S free