The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-26

maVhap dozin', when | heerd the sheep
a-sairryin' about an bleatin wi fright.
/ was razzled like at first, an could not
fetch at what was the tear. An all the
while l could hear a thumpin' an
thumpn' for all the world like harse's
hoofs. | was pitched near the top o the
hill, an the sheep came bundlin' up
from the thither side, in front o the
noise like | could pick 'em out in black
agin the clouds as they come up one on
one an huddled about. At last | ups
an climbs to the right top o the hill
an looks down. There was the sheep
still a-comin' uD all in wedge an
justle, wi the heavy ewes behind, an
their bleat was pitifu'. An l see the
cause of it all in a wink Sure emo,
as / had thoubht, it were a harse-a big
stallion, bacler than your funeral hat,
with a woman on it, They was racin'
over the barrows like shadder the
harse's name an tail an the woman
hair an frock maxim sail like to the
wind. | run down the hill shoutin' to
the woman to head off from the sheep
a-frightin' 'em. She never took on that
she heerd me, an | watched her an the
harse as they went on, gettin' smaller
an smaller an farther an farther
a w CiS, III sic SUI oll tllC iOei' ~ tiiN
Jail an l lost her. But know who she
be. She be the moo Mssus Wray up at
the cottage, an ee'll ha to christen the
stable anoo"
The shepherds information was true.
Thenceforth, Hannah Wray riding on
the black horse over the barrows, was
common spectacle. Every day she rode
the horse. in fair weather and foul.
Her ALWAYS
| the hill toward the Jail. Sometimes she
would stop her horse on some high point
and look down upon the plain where the
convicts worked. They would look up
/ at the sight of her so free, and scowl
She could see their faces in the sun
| light, shining with sweat The sharp
| commands of the officers would reach
| her and the clank of the prisoners
| chains. The gray, beaten wretches,
| having taken that one look at her,
| looked no more, but bent their backs
| again and worked on, with eyes and
| thoughts very near to the earth. Han
nah Wray would give her horse the
| word and ride back to the town.
| Jacob Bern, or Barn, who was en-
| ployed by Hannah Wray to do odd jobs
| about the cottage and stable for three
! hours every morning, reported that she
| groomed the horse with her own white
hands, and loved it like a man.
| 80 she cannot be that proud" said
Jacob, sturdily
But Market Wander said that she was
prouder than a goose. For in all her
dealings she held herself aloof from
Market Wander
Wray continued to reside in the cottage
near Market Wander. In that time the
| townfolk grew used to her vagaries,
and no longer spied upon her.
one day white sea fog settled on the
country. 1t fell suddenly so that way
| farers, entrapped in it, wandered for
! hours about the barrows, lost on ia
maliar ground. BY a lucky chance
Hannah Wray happened to be return
ingfrom her daily ride, and was writh-
in fifty yards of her door when the fog
came down. Even so she missed hel
| cottage twice.
She had stabbed her horse, and was
gone into the house to prepare a meal
when she heard the faint sound of a
distant gun. She stopped and caught
her breath and listened. The sound
was not repeated, but presently there
came to her the mufled murmur of a
tolling bell. She ran to the window
and looked out. But it was all white
gloom, and she could see nothing save
the wet brushes under her window and
a few vague shadows beyond. She
passed from the window to the other
door and lifted the stiff latch. The
cold, damp air swept in, chilling hel
face. She closed the door again and
went to the fire. Her manner was dis.
tracted, her movements sudden anC
purposeless. She communed with her,
! self in feVeriSh whispers, her hands
tluttering about her lips, her bosom
shaking.
| She rummaged in a cupboard, and
taking same candles, lighted them one
by one at the fire and stuck them in 6
row by the window They made a brave
| glare against the fog. Hannah Wray
contemplated the effect awhile, ther
went to the fire again and sat down be
fore it to wait and brood.
In an hour there came gallopinl
of horses down the road, and presently
a trampling of human feet up her gar
den path. The latch ratified. She
opened the door. A sergeant and two
private soldiers stood without tht
Threshold
What is it 2" she asked.
The sergeant answered politely:
, Sorry to startle you, ma'am, but
convicts escaped bolted il
the sudden fog, ma'am, anC
, we guessed, as your house is neares
the jail and your window, all lit uu
, shows so plain, he might ha' made thi
, way
f "Well?" she said, seeing that h
l paused.
, I'VE thought we'd ask you, ma am
f If you'd seen anything o. the rascal,
; said the sergeant.
r How ridiculous. What could / Sc
in such a fog?" she asked smilingly.
Right enough" the sergeant replied
still, he might ha' happened on yol
accidentally"
. No" she said, quietly, "he has no
been here"
The sergeant conferred apart wit
his men. Hannah watched them mar
rowly as they stood whispering togeth
er in the flickering light from her fire
} They We're big, coarse men of cheerful
r aspect and rude manners; their breat
hung about them in steam; their lon
cloaks sparkled with a dust of mois
| ture.
What will you do with him if yo
, catch him." asked Hannah, suddenly.
The sergeant wheeled about and face