The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1896-11-07
CHAPTER u.-oContinuei,,

Edith Grace heard the Sounu Oh MIS-.
Leigh's invalid chair moving towards the
dining room door, the door open and the
chair pass down the hall and into Mrs.
Leigh's bedroom; and then the dragslng,
lame footsteps of the hunchbaCk on the
tiles of the back hall.
Suddenly she heard a sound that made
her heart stand still, her breath cease to
ONE. She grew rigid with terror. She
heard a something soft sliding over the
outside of her door. A hand. It touched
and ratified the handle. Thu handle turn
ed. and with Il low. dull sound the door
opened!
Leigh entered the room with slow. de
llberate, limpinG step. She could hear
the football of his left foot and the slight.
brushing touch of his right foot as ne
drew it after the left.
"Hah!" he muttcrcd. "how coo! and re-
freshing the rain is. What is it | came
into this room for? Stay. Let me- think.
Oh, yes! my mother asked me 10 put the
window down before | went upstairs. |
will. THERE"
He let the window down without any
regard to the noise. It ,mOtc harShly
upon the sill. Edith did not move. did
Hol Hldhc IL SOluu. ltl-I tV!!PI away
from the window. and began slowly re-
tracing his steps to the door, muttering:
Yes. she has run away. run away
from this house Il few hours after enter
ing it. Run away. frightened, terrified
by my ugliness. We shall see, Edith
Grace. We shall see. | did not tell my
mother the name of the girl | mean TO
marry. She shall Know it soon enough,
and not all the wiles or force Of man shall
keep me from my purpose, keep Edith
Grace from mc.'
Oscar Leigh turned, fumblei for the
door handle, and. having found il, went
out of the closing and latchin- the
door quietly after him, Then she heard
him toilfully. ponderouSly, going upstairs.
Presently Il door above was closed. and
complete silence fell upon the house. The
spell lifted from the girl, and she sank
back in the chair with a tremulous. heavy
sigh of relief.
CHATTER III.
Edith did no. know how long She sat
With her face covered With her hands.
When she took them from before her
face and looked at the window il was
light. Oscar Leigh had lowered the win
dow. She caught the sash and raised it
very gently. In a minute she was outside
the gate on the open road. She closed the
gate noiselessly behind her. and fastened
away.
In five minutes she located the villa ge,
and in an hour she WAS AZ the railroad
depot. The city-bound train vas wait
ing. She bought 4 ticket and wont into
the rear coach. No on" els. Wls vae
aboard, and entering the laSr seat. she
sat far back in its dim corner. Now the
full effect of her long walk, the reaction
from the excitement OF the night and
want of sleep fell upon her with leaden
weight of drOWSiness. Other paSsenrers
began to arrive, but she did not even open
her eyes to observe them. One of the
newcomers paused as he saw her, stared
vaguely, and quietly sar down in the
seat opposite across the aisle. In less
than a minute the train steamed ont Of
the station. The cir! slept On with a
smile Of relief and deliverance around her
fresh young mouth.
The traveller was a short. daf,rmcd
man. and carried a heavy, crooked walk
ing stick. For a few minutes after the
train began to move he remained with
out moving. The girl slept heavily, sway
ing slightly from side to side with the mo-
ton of the train; her two gloyed hands
lay placidly on her lap. Berween the
thumb and forefinger of her r,yhr hand
was the ticket she had bought, represent
ing all the money she had had.
When the train had been i've minutes
on its way and had gained IFS full speed
the man leaned toward the sleeping girl.
and. with infinite gcntleness and care
drew the ticket out of her hand. keeping
his eyes on her eyelids the whole time,
Without taking his eyes oil her face he
raised his right hand. thrust it, holding
the ticket between his thumb and finger.
out of the carriage window. and dronDad
the ticket into the rushing air. Then he
sat back in his corner opposite Edith. and
sighed and smiled.