The Van Buren press., 1896-05-30

ing HlcHtu sHOulu undoubtedly nuNe
used bad language.
Il had reached a hollow, the very
darkest part of the road where the fog
lay thickest, when all at once was con-
scious of a presence beside me. 1t was
exactly as if the very mist had taken
shape and put its arm round my waist.
The shock was so sudden that, for an
instant, felt as if struck by a dagger
My tongue clave to the roof of my
mouth, and how / didn't faint on the
spot has always been a mystery to me.
1.-THE spirit of the fog, or the high
wayman, kept firm hold on me, but did
not change the direction of my foot
steps. When the first intense fright
gave place to a sort of semi-conscious-
ness, | found myself being guided in 4
fashion which gave me to understand
that the ghost, gypsy or garotter,
whichever it might be, at least knew the
road. no longer stepped into puddlcs.
or scratched my hands in the hedges,
but was assisted along, apparently
without an effort.
'Why | did not cry out is the mex
plicable thing. 1t was doubtless that
first shock which lad paralyzed my
tongue, yet | was being taken to some
lonely spot, there, | presumed, to be
robbed or murdered, or both, by one
whom l could recognize only as a
blurred shape, if indeed ii was of this
world at all.
"And all this while terror kept me
dumb, while the thing neither relin-
quished nor frightened its grasp, so far
not rough one, but held on the even
tenor of its way up the hill which, I'M
less fright had sent my wits wool-gath-
ering altogether, should lead, ! knew,
to our own avenue.
"Of course | was fully aware that
some terrible design was in the mind
of my ghostly companion, and feared
lest every moment should be my last.
Still, with life there was hope, though
| specially dreaded the bylane which
branched off towards the gypsy en-
eampment, and which we must pass di-
rectly.
"Then a new, strange feeling crept
over me. was dreamily conscious of
leaning heavily on the garotter's arm
and finding it a strong one, wondering
at the same time if this awful expert
) ence was the punishment OF my disobe-
dienee. How feryently l vowed that
ii l got safely out of this scrape, moth
ing on earth would ever again tempt me
to risk my life after dark among The
lanes of Treeleigh.
Suddenly we stopped. l gasped,
still mute as fish, and shut my eyes
tight. Already, in anticipation, I felt
the murderous knife at my throat, the
robbers hand rifing my dead body.
The arm around me perceptibly tight
ened its grip; my heart stopped beat
ing, when q deep, musical voice whis
pered in my ear: There really are
footpads about, but you have no reason
to be frightened All | want from you
is one kiss to last me my lifetime.
Before I could recover my senses the
highwayman had pressed his lips to
my cheek. The spell was broken,
opened my eyes with piercing shrek.
But he had vanished as silently and
adroitly as he had come. All I saw was
the indistinct light of lantern as our
lodge-keeper opened the gate and
Fastened towards me.
''In dazed kind of way reached the
house without further adventure. Who
my assailant had been / never knew.
l assumed him to be a gypsy imperti-
nently retaliating on me for some Of
Mr.. TENDERNESS judgments. The voice
was one | had never heard before, but
so remarkable was its low and peculiar
quality, that should recognize it again
among thousands. / may add that my
husband was so vexed at my missing the
carriage, which had returned without
me, and also at my making a show of
myself by shrielSing outside our own
gate, that l had to give up the school
and my artistic dreams forever"
The completion of Mrs. Treherne's
narrative elected a round of applause
and fire of chaff. The hostess, keep
ing her eyes fixed on her friend, alone
made no remark, when noise outside
betokened the return of the men from
hunting.
The door opened, and, following the
host, there entered tall, good-loolIing,.
sunburned man of about 80.
Mrs. Treherne, still immersed in her
"reminiscences, was gazing at the fire,
when her hostess voice AROUSED her:
,s. l,-at rha 50
dying to be introduced to you. He has
only just returned from South Africa,
where he has been ever since he left
Treeleigh many years ago"
Mrs. Treherne looked up with the
half-interested air of woman to whom
a stranger has just been presented. She
held out her hand.
Indeed" she said, ca,elessly; edo
you also know that little artist colony +?
We were just mentioning it,"
81 thought no one ever remembered
Treeleigh but me, Mrs. Treherne. Ten
years ago l carried away from there a
memory that will last my lifetime"
This remark, innocent enough in it.
self, was uttered in particularly deep
musical voice. Something quite I'M
usual in its timbre arrested the atten-
ton of everybody present, who, as if
impelled by a common impulse. looked
across at Mrs. Treherne, and it must
be admitted that that lady gave album
dant cause for curiosity. At the first
sound of the newcomers voice she
started violently, and stared at the own
er thereof with an expression of mute
dismay. She made an effort 20 speak,
lint Uithout Success and falling baclf