Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-09-15

through Nora Kyle's brain. and she
would have fallen had not Alice's arm
been around her.
II know nothing about you. want
10 know nothing" Nora managed 10
gasp. In her pure, gentle heart she i'm
agned this man wizard, who by some
occult means had possessed himself "
her fathers secret.
Il do not wish 20 tell you Of myself,
only SO far a. my life is connected with
yours. | knew your father before you
were born, before he came 10 these
mountains 10 hide from the world. /
know why he did come, yet | have new
or tried 10 harm him, never thought of
giving his secret 10 the world. There
are others searching for your father and
if went with them it was not because
| wished them % succeed. You blame
me, but on your knees you would thank
me if you knew what | had done, what
| have prevented being done.
IF you have been 50 very good, said
Alice Blanchard, breaking i'll on his
special pleading, why is it you keep
Us and Mr.. Louis Kyle prisoners
THAT is proper question and wish
| could explain il, for ! do not wish to
be misunderstood. But though seem 10
be, am not my own master. There are
others who direct / must pretend 10
submit 10 their wishes that | may be
able 10 protect you both from harm.
said Bouton, with great affcctatlon Of
sincerity and candor.
You cannot defend yourself with
mysteries, said Alice. II cannot be-
lieve you unless you explain all. y
Explain all, Miss Blanchard!'
THAT is what said. -
We'll. am willing To explain all "
He drew nearer TO Nora and asked, in a
theatrical whisper, Are you willing
that ! should explain all;'
mo, no!' she half shrieked. Leave
me; for heavens sake, leave me. or
kill met
Il will not kill You. l would rather
kill myself. will leave you for the
night. When we march on the morrow,
Miss Kyle, l will speak with you again.
/ will tell you something that Is near to
my heart.
could not speak 10 him about II, and
even if Bouton Were away she dared
not speak u him on this subject III the
presence Of Alice Blanchard As the
long cayalcade wound down through
the narrow valleys il looked like "A small
army expecting a battle, and such II
certainly was. To avoid the inevitable
dust a. well Us 10 prevent an attack ON
the head Of the line, if Captain Brandon
should see fit 10 ambush them, Bouton
placed the prisoners 10 the front. After
they had gone some miles Bouton whls-
pered 10 Nora, Remember your prom
ise and drop back beside me. With
pale face and compressed lips she obey
| ed him. "You must not think me
harsh. he began. Think Of how long
have kept the secret. / knew 1t before
you were born.
As it was evident he did know the
secret and impossible for her 10 tell how
long he had known it, or how he be-
came possessed Of it, she was forced to
believe him, though, as the reader
knows, lis knowledge was Of very re-
cent date.
IF you are going to use it now, " she
managed 10 say, better that you had
used il before"
Ibid / say was going to use it
nowIg' ..,. -, :, von MIGHT - she said
nervously.
Then fail to make myself under
stood. My French is better than my
English. Shall we talk FrenchF
II do not understand French. !"
VERY we'll. We shall keep ON as we
have been doing. You see many men
about us here?" He waved his hand
back at the cavalcade, and Nora nodded.
"They want to catch your father and
get large reward. "
"And if they catch him what Will
they do?" she asked with shudder.
"They will hang him. +"
"Hang himr' she said with gasp.
eyes. Hang him up by the neck TIL
he is dead. And they will put your
mother in Jail and your brothers, anc
keep them there till they are dad. "
Nora believed this. If she did not,
she had neithef1he courage nor knowl
edge nor strength to refute it, SO awful
" did the picture impress her.
"You do not want this to happenF
he asked after painful pause.
"Why should you ask me!"
"Only IN show that l think rs you do