Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-04-04
LEANDER IN A MASK.
BY ErTIE ROGERS.

IA winter nlRhtI as SOunoleSs as tnat OF
a dead world An opaque sky, sprinkled
with small, pale stars, and dimly lighted
by dull young moon.
A strip of deserted road, winding
between undulating fields, which were
dotted with black pines and naked syca-
mores.
At a turn of the road these fields
sloped downward to the thickly wooded
banks of a shallow stream, now frozen,
pulseless, mute.
Not the faintest sigh of breeze, not
the smallest gurgle from the frost tan
gled creek, not the Autter of dead leaf
disturbed the almost unearthly silence
of that lonely spot.
at is more lonely than thought, or
perhaps am more of coward; for |
begin to regret not having stayed with
Lucie tonight" Natalie Ewing said I'M
easily to herself.
She looked wistfully across the wide,
undulating fields, which showed no sign
of human habitation; a vague dread of
possible danger oppressed her senses,
and she urged her pretty, dapplcd brown
pony to faster pace.
She had spent the afternoon and early
evening with a dear girl intimate, who
was ILL.,
1t was getting rather late when she
started for her home four or FIVE miles
distant
But she was familiar with the road,
and tho idea of being afraid, or Of hav.
ing any cause for fear, had never occur
red to her.
"You had better stay with me till
morning, Nat. Several people have been
annoyed by tramps out in your direction
lately. And that Sycamore Hollow is a
wretchedly lonesome spot. l am sure
shouldn't dare go through there alone
after dark" her friend demonstrated.
Nonsense" said Natalie, putting on
her driving gloves with serene uncon-
Germ. My pony, small though he may
be is fleet enough to carry me away from
danger, if any Knight Of the road should
attempt to stop me"
"Well, quite agree with our friend,
interposed an attractive looking young
fellow " no stood ready to escort Natalie
out to her cart. l think Sycamore
Hollow decidedly unsafe after nightfall
And if you will permit me to do so, l
shall be happy to drive home with you. y
Natalie turned her pretty head with a
quick, surprised movement =
There was a CLEAN of mockery in her
large, luminous gray eyes.
"You, Steviel' she cried with incre-
dulity, real or pretended. Il thought it
was your creed to run away from dan
ger2n
~ do not believe one ought to run
into danger needlessly," Stephen Ran
dolph explained with slight flush on
his manly young face. "To risk life or
limb for the sake of another is very
different thing"
"Oh, that's it is it," Natalie replied
with the faintest gliding note in her soft,
pretty voice but never mind, Stevie,
don't think there's any need for you to
risk life or limb on this occasion"
He bowed in silent, courteous submits
sion to her decree; but his flushed face
turned very pale at her railery.
Natalie thought of it now as she drove
through the weird shadows of Sycamore
| Hollow.
81 wonder what makes me say such
hateful things to poor old Steveso she
sighed remorsefully 81 could be as fond
of him as he is of me if only he was OF
my idea of a hero. esteem him more
than any other man | know. But the
man love must be Leander for bra.
very"
She had reached the bridge which
spanned the frozen creek.
The pony's fleet small hoofs clattered
over the loose planks of the crazy ole
structure; the low wheels of her little
road cart bumped and jerked across the
ridges and burrows, and the noise jarr &c
strangely upon the incense Stiffness o
the solemn night.
Natalie could distinguish every objec
by the wayside in the ghostly light O
starshine and moonshine reflected BY
the streaks and patches of frozen snow
She had reached the top of the shor
ascent at the further erd of the bridge
when she heard steaIthY footsteps some
where just beyond her, and momen
later she saw mans figure skulkinl
behind clump of stuHted bushy pines
go on, Dapple! Oh, fly, Dapple!
she cried in low startled voice to hel
pony.
She had no whip, but that would no
have helped her any, perhaps.
At the sound Of her voice the pretty
little animal seemed to understand al
which was required of him, and he
bounded forward as il winged.
Too lac!
! AT that instant three men, tramps-