Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-10-15
CHAPTER XVII.

All that previous nlSnc H"h wall
dered through the Cassilis woods, that
extended for some miles, and close at
his heels woman followed. He had
striven in vain to outstrip that logged
shadow, had doubled, had sought to
hide himself. In vain it stuck to him
like grim death, 1t outwore him at last,
when after hours Of trying to elude it.
be caught his foot in agnarled tree root
and fell senseless and exhausted to the
ground.
Wan as q corpse, her garments and
hair all wet with dew, she sat down be-
side him, lifting his head into her lap,
and watched him through the hours Of
half stupor, half sleep, that followed.
smoothing his eyes from time to time
- 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 unimportant,
but it's woods were magnificent and
might almost be termed forest, ex-
tending for miles, many Of its recesses
being untrodden by human foot from
years end to years end, and it was in
ono Of these that through the icy morn
ing hours of autumn Hagar sat watch
ing the man, who at last, at last, had
been given over into her hand. Utter
silence reigned, save for the clatter Of
the fern owl, the beetles hum. Even at
dawn no loud voices dissipated it, for
blackbird, thrush and merry finch had
all been left behind Oh the outskirts Of
the wood, and only the missed thrush,
that mysterious outlaw among birds,
and the robin gave sign Of winged life
in the bougbs overhead.
She had set her back to the bolo Of a
giant tree and wound her Skin: about
Wits neck and shoulders, her arms ont
side all, and chilled to the bone she was
happy, for the whole world could give
her no more than this sleeping man,
dear, beautiful, dependent, who would
sleep on and on till it should please her
10 bid him waken.
All, it is not myth that story of
Merlin and Vivien, and what the wom-
an did In tho oN1en days by woven PAGES
and waving arms is done nowadays In
broad daylight and with simpler meas
ures. 1t is the same gigantic force excr-
cised in much the same way. but as yet
1t is blind force, undeoiphered, uneon-
trolled, the instrument Of evil rather
than good.
At times she half slrmbered, her wan
face outlined against the tree trunk.
Hunger she knew none. Her every facul-
ty was concentrated OH the events Of tho
next few hours, upon which absolutely
depended her future.
When the sun was high, when the
light fell in shifting mosaic Of gold upon
the grass and the woodland life Of day
was in full swing, another sound ,nade
itself heard, human one, coming I'M
certainly over the ground and rustling
against the fallen leaves as it came, al
though SO thickly grew the trees that
nothing could for long time be seen.
But it came at last, and with u wild
cry of anguish Mamie dropped down
beside the pair and striving to unlock
the arms that We're fast clasp"l about
Wills neck entreated him TO wnkon, to
Speak 10 lltT Uub Lt]tiCL 'Alti iva
moved. and. looking up and meeting
Hagars cruel eyes, Mamie fell back
and moaned aloud in her anguish
He is mine," said HagM. "He has
made bis choice, He will never be any
thing to you again. Look at ne "
Mamie strove to avert her gaze, but
in vain. and ss their eyes met the girl
struggled 10 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
q sigh and no backward look to her
husband Mamie turned away, and the
forest swallowed her up from Hagar's
sight