The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-05-15

4
were, felt very sorry for myself OF
leaving the comparative illumination
OF the street for the utter blackness q
the lonely road that lay between me
and home.
II wondered where the brougban
could be, and for once missed its com
Portable cushions, and the inspiritina
presence of our fat coachman. The foe
penetrated eyes, nose and ears. II
blinded ME and made me cough.
"With difficulty, by aid of my UNI
brella and the palings, I was able to
keep upon the apology for sidewalk,
though in places 1 literally had to
crawl along as best could.
"Just at first there were people
about, grown large and indistinguish-
able in the mist. A boy passed me
| whistling a popular air. envied him
his courage, and would have liked to
initiate it. He passed on, and felt
! more lonely than ever. The tree trunks
doomed like huge phantoms in the
murky stiffness, and the whole world
seemed dead.
Then [ remembered an encampment
Of gypsies, of whom some had posed
as models, and nearly all had been I'D
before my husband in his capacity as
magistrate, during the past month.
Surprising one of them had noticed my
watch or rings during sitting? The
thought was appalling.
Footsteps behind me made my heart
jump into my mouth, but they died
away in the distance. I shuddered,
stepped in a puddle up to my ankles,
and, had I been man and not 50
frightened, should undoubtedly have
used bad language.
II had reached hollow, the very
darkest part of the road where the fog
lay thickest, when all at once was con-
scious of presence beside me. 1t was
exactly as if the very mist had taken
shape and put it's arm round my waist.
The shock was so sudden that, for an
instant, felt as if struck by dagger.
My tongue clave to the roof of my
mouth, and how didn't faint on the
spot has always been mystery to me.
"The spirit of the fog, or the high
kept firm hold on me, but did
not change the direction of my foot !
steps. When the first intense fright |
gave place to sort of semi-conscious-
hess, found myself being guided in
fashion which gave me to understand
hat the ghost, gypsy or garotter,
it might be, at least knew the
road. no longer stepped into puddles.
'r scratched my hands in the hedges,
,ut was assisted along, apparently
Without an effort.
"Why l did not cry out is the mex
,licable thing. 1t was doubtless that
irst shock which had paralyzed my
ongue, yet I was being taken to some
onely spot, there, / presumed, to be
obbed or murdered, or both, by one
ehom I could recognize only as
lurred shape, if indeed it was of this
orld at all.
"And all this while terror kept me
umb, while the thing neither relin-
uished nor frightened it's grasp, so far
OF rough one, but held on the even
snor of it's way up the hill which, un-
,ss fright had sent my wits wool-gath-
ring altogether, should lead, knew, {
} our own avenue. {
"Of course I was fully aware that {
,me terrible design was in the mind ,
my ghostly companion, and feared
st every moment should be My last. c
till, with life there was hope, though
specially dreaded the bylane which /
ranched off towards the gypsy en- a
and which we must pass di- o
city.
Then new, strange feeling crept y
-er me. l was dreamily conscious of b
aiming heavily on the garotter's arm b
I'd finding it strong one, wondering "
the same time if this awful expert C
zee was the punishment OF my disobe-
cnce. How fervently l vowed that
1 got safely out of this scrape, moth
g on earth would ever again tempt me T.
risk my life after dark among the p
mes of Treeleigh. le
Suddenly We stopped. I gasped, N
IL mute as fish, and shut my eyes "
'ht. Already, in anticipation, 1 felt a.
e murderous knife at my throat, the D
bber's hand rifling my dead body. II
lie arm around me perceptibly tight IA
ed its grip; my heart stopped beat l,
:, when deep, musical voice whis- L
red in my ear: There really are la
,tpads about, but you have no reason IN
be frightened. All want from you CT
one kiss to last me my lifetime st
Before could recover my senses tie w
,hwayman had pressed his lips to re
: cheek. The spell was broken, pa
.ned my eyes with piercing shrek. til
t he had vanished as silently aud si'
-oitly as he had come. All saw was sil
indistinct light of lantern as our Oh
- r. A., ba