Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1897-08-19

away with descriptions of the Irish
castle where the wedding took place,
the beauty Of the bride, the eccentrci-
ties Of the noble aunt. Cedric scoffed,
still crying for more.
One languorous September day, en-
sconced in the veranda's shadest nook,
we gaZed on the Brush hills and sighed
vainly for IL breeze. Cedric broke the
stiffness. What about Anne? No
news Of late?"
''She has sister who lives in France
and is possessed Of independent
MEANS
A look of reproach shot from his
dark blue eye. You told me that last
week." he murmured.
"And did not tell you that she goes
by the name Of Lady Emily Brown"
Brown! Why, she married French
man."
True"
why, lady? What title has hep
None. | particularly asked Anne"
Absurd! He could not be Brown or
she lady unless, indeed, the title is in
her own right. In that case your pearl
OIL handmaiden is an honorable! The
Honorable Anne brings out the tray"
he added, as she approached our cor
ner. mo, it's all false, you may de-
pend upon it. Ask Mcpherson what he
thinks of it; he is coming up the drive"
Fergus INSTRUMENTATION persona
fied-opined that Anne had lied. He
put it plainly: "Deceitful in speech. de
cetful in deed. Better watch her, Mrs
Allandale."
My suspicious were not excited. In
California nothing IS impossible. Had
not scion of lordly house died on a
neighboring ranch-a lonely, neglected
sheep herder? No. 1t was the uneasy
air and restless look increasing day by
day. ] heartily wished for some pre-
text whereby Cedric dispatched into
La Huerta, might inquire into the ante
cedents Of the Honorable Anne.
Chance favored me.
"McPherson has been telling me-" be-
gan my spouse, a few days later, "about
some bloodhounds in town TINT belong
to the sheriff. They are Al at tracking
criminals-borrow them all over the
State. Beastly shame it's such jour
ney-it would be rather jolly to see
them"
'Why not go? A change would do
you good"
go! And who would milk the cow"
II. myself"
you? Nonsensew
"Who is the sheriff." idly asked.
meditating my next move the while.
"Waite-IIiram Waite"
"Our Honorable" who had entered.
bearing that ranch standby, a smok-
ing bowl of "mush.' started, growing
vlsibly pale-fresh food for uneasiness.
Clearly to learn the art of milking was
imperative. The woman won, as usu-
al, and Cedric. before the week was
over. started for La Huerta, with strict
injunctlons to interview both hospital
superintendent and sheriff.
In charge of the ranch were myself.
Billikins. and the Honorable Anne. I'm
eventually passed the first few days:
but on Monday. from the veranda, |
espied a band Of men, who. leaving the
county road. came slowly up the drive.
Anne, perceiving them. grew white to
the lips, and, bearing Billikins. precipi-
lately fed.
Good evening" the leader began. ms
he lifted his sOmbrerO "We're kinder
rough sight for II lady. You see, we're
posse over from Tulare, trying to
find a man named Smith His tracks.
they seemed to pint this way. Amt
seen any stranger round here lately?"
mo, indeed"
"NO woodchOpper nor nOthingY
mo, none What has this man done?
What does he look like?"
"Real nice and young and kind Not
more'n a boy. Murdered a man over
there. Here's his description" and he
handed me a coarsely printed ire
ward well, boys, get move on.
We're on our way to La Huerta," he
added, "to borrow Waite's dogs WE'LL
good day, maam. Better not harbor
any strangers
A moment more, and, left alone, l
thought over the situation. Cedric
gone, no neighbOr near, a murderer at
large whose steps 'pinted this way"
Suddenly it was borne in upon me that
Anne was the fugitive!
A firm believer in womans intui-
tons, yet hoping desperately that mine
IVES at fault unfolded the paper the
sheriff gave me. 1t tailed well. Mo-
roseness. agitation. all were explained.
Did Anne guess that her identity was
known. my life, l feared, would pay
the penalty. To ignore the situation.
live through the night if possible, and
trust to someone turning up in the
morning was all that could be done.
Milking time brought fresh terrors.
How guard ones self. with both hands
engaged letting down floods of warm,
innocent milk! Dinner was eaten hur-
riedly. with the same feeling of uneas-
ness. Billikins tucked in his crib, Anne
retired early, and, every sense on the
alert, | was left alone to watch the
nursery door.
1t fascinated me. Who would open
it? Anne, to hide among the canyons
till the posse had returned to it's Tulare
nOIlle' VI ileHlv oiiiitH, " Ludhe III
end of me and flee? Truly, the ranch
monotony was broken at last. Solemn
ly the clock licked. slowly the hands
went round, an hour passed. A move
ment in the adjoining room, and liter
ally my blood ran cold. That had hith-
ertO seemed a mere figure Of speech.
The sound ceased. and still watched
the nursery door. At last, when my
brain would have turned with more. l
heard sound which, faint at first,
nd