Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-10-21

flashing and fading before her, like
colors ever changing in kaleidoscope,
Miss Hetherington felt again that wild.
murderous thrill which hunted Great
ures. animal and human, often feel,
and which tempts them-despairingly
deliriously-to destroy their young.
She shuddered and covered, remem-
bering her first impulse. But the child
had lived: and one night, holding it to
her heart, the mother had disappeared
from the strange town as mysteriously
as she had come. leaving no trace or
clew.
Fascinated and afraid, she had re-
turned to Annandale, hiding herself by
day. travelling in the darkness only.
How dark 1t had been. how the wind
mad roared. that night when she fitted
like a ghost round the manse, and
saw the gentle old pastor counting his
souvenirs within! Her intention had
been to go right on to the Castle with
her burden: but the sight OF the good
man decided her. and she acted as the
reader knows-leaving the infant on
the doorstep. and fitting silently away.
That night the brother and sister
stood face to face. What was said and
done no one knew; but after stormy
scene the lady remained at the Castle.
No one dreamed Of connecting her with
the waif Just discovered at the manse
door. for no one but her brother knew
the secret Of her fall: and as II by q
special providence the corpse of a wom-
an was washed up some days later on
the solway sands. and suspicion point
cd to this woman us the mother Of the
little castaway.
From that time forth, till the day
(which came SO soon) when her broth
er died. Miss Hetherington had little or
no communion with him: and when he
passed away. as wildly and darkly as
he had lived. she shed no tears. She
had never forgiven him. would never
forgive him this side the grave, for
staying the only man she had ever
loved. and who. perhaps. might have
made amends. She brooded over her
wrongs till she grew prematurely old,
and dwelt In the lonely house, of which
sic vas now sole mistress. like a ghost
In a serulchcr. from dismal day to day.
John Suthe:i:.ud lest no time In the
pursuit.
He hastencd to Dusii.i>s at once
and. by questioning the railway off,
cials. soon discovered that tho rCSI-
tives had gone southwark by the mail
the previous night. Further inquiry
led him to Carlisle. and the very inn
they had stopped at. Here he learned
from the landlady that the young
couple had been married and had TAX
en- the one o'clock train for London.
II was all over. then: he had lost Mar
jorie forever. or what avail was II now
to follow and attempt to save her?
Dazed and despairirg. he found his
way back to the railway station. He
found the telegraph Office still open.
and at once dispatched a telegram to
Dumfries. paying for a special messen-
ger to take It on to Annandale Castle.
The message was rs follows:
"Thcy were married here this morn
ing. and are gone south together. What
am to do?"
To this came the answer:
DO not come back. Follow her:
hear the truth from her own lips.
Spare no expense. but find her leave
It all to YOU"
1t seemed n useless crrand. but he
was in no mood to argue or disobcy.
So he took the first train that was CO.
ing southwark. and before mid day was
far on his way to London.