Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-09-09
CHAPTER XVII.

All that previous night n man wan
dored through the Cassilis woods. that
extended for some miles, and close at
his heels woman followed. He hcd
striven in vain TO outstrip that logged
shadow, had doubled, had sought to
hldo himself. In vain it stuck to him
like grim death. 1t outwo-e him at last,
when after hours Of trying to eludc it,
he caught his foot in agnarled tree rect
ard fell senseless and exhausted to the
ground.
Wan rs a corpse, her garments and
hair al wet with dew, she sat down be-
sido him, lifting his head into her Ian.
and watched him through tie hours of
half stupor, hals sleep, that followed.
smoothing his eyes from time to time
as she had so often done Nannie's and
praying to all her wicked gods that the
result might be the same.
Castle Cassilis itself was unimportaut.
bat Its woods were magnificent and
might almost be termed forest. ex-
tending for miles, many Of its recesses
being untrodden by human foot from,
year end TO year s end, and il was in
ono Of these that through the icy NOM
ing hours Of autumn Hayar sat watch
NE the man, who at last, at last, had
been given over into her hand. Utter
silence reigned, save for the CHATTER Of
the fern owl, the beetles hmm. Even ut
dawn no loud voices dissipatet, it, for
bilckbird, thrush and merry finch had
all been left behind ON the outskirts of
tho wood, and only the missed thrash,
that mysterious outlaw among birds.
and the robin gave sign of winged life
in the bGuchs overhead.
She had set her back to the bole Of a
giant tree and wound her skirt aboat
Wills neil; and shoulders. her arms out
side all, and chilled to the bone she was
happy, for the whole world could give
her no moro than this sleeping man.
dear, beautiful, dependent, WHO would
sleep On and on TIL it should please hc-
TO bid him wakcn.
All, 1t Is not u myth that story of
Merlin and Vivicn, and what the wc,u-
III did in tho olGcn days by ~oven PAGES
and waving arms is done nowadays in
broad daylight and with simpler meas
tires. 1t Is the same gigantic force e1e.-
cis0d II ms!c. tie .ame way, bat as vet
il Is blind force, undeciphered, uncor-
trollcd, the instrument Of evil rather
than cCcd.
at times aho half slumbored. her wen
face outlined against the tree trunk.
Hunger she knew none. Eor every facu!-
" was concentrated On the events Of tho
ne-.: few hours. upon which absolutely
depended her future.
When the sun was high, when the
light fell i'll shifting mosaic of gold upon
the grass. and the woodland life Of day
was Ill fall swing, another sound made
Itself heard. {. human enc, comirg IN
Certainly over the ground and rust ling
against the fallen leaves as it came, al
though so thickly grew the trees that
nothing could for Il long time DO seen.
But 1t came at last, and with wild
cry of anguish Nannio dropped down
beside the pair and striving to unlock
the arms that We're fast clasped about
Wills neck entreated him to waken, to
speak to her; but he neither stirred For
moved. and, looking up and meeting
Hagar's cruel eyes, Mamie fell baci.
and moaned aloud i'll her anguish.
He is mine," said uagar. He he's
made his choice. He will never lie any
thing to You again. Look at me.
Mamie strove to avert her gaze, but
in vain, and as their eyes met the girl
struggled no more. She had become the
instrument, the tool Of her oppressor.
1t was briefly given, that message
from soul to soul 1t was learned, &C
cepted. would be fulfilled in due season.
carried out to the very letter. and with
sigh and no backward look to her
husband Mamie turned away, and tho
forest swallowed her up from Hagar's
sight.