The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-08-27
OF, Bruno, trottei placidly behind.

dog, Bruno, trotte1 placidly behind
She could think In these peaceful drives
and there was a somber satisfaction Il
brooding once In while over the past
This especial day Edna prolonged he
drive beyond its usual limits. Sh,
drove clear to and beyond the next vii
lage. and only realized that she wouli
have difficulty In reaching home agaiI
before dusk, when she looked up from
O sad reverie to find that the short after
noon was waning fast.
The sight of flaming bush Of va
rlety quite rare in the vicinity of the
Blake farm attracted her attention
however. and she alighted from the
phaeton.
Mrs. Blake had hobby of pressing
pretty leaves, and Edna remembered
that she particularly treasured this
variety. Here they seemed to grow In
profusion, and she decided to gather
quite an armful OF them.
She kept wandering through the little
wooded stretch where they grew, allured
by the distant sight OF still prettier
clump of bushes, until, fairly loaded, she
looked up, intent on retracing her way
to the phaeton.
"Dear!" she uttered with little start,
where is the road?"
She penetrated the brambly Jungle in
two directions with no success, noting
with slight thrill of dismay that dusk
was fast approaching.
Where was the road, the phaeton and
Bruno? Once she called the name of
the latter, but she decided she must be
quite distance from the spot she had
started from, for the usual prompt APP
Pearance of the faithful animal in re-
Spouse to such a call was lacking.
Throwing down her leaves she ran
through the bushes straight ahead,
came 10 a high stone wall, and catch
ing sightsof the towers of a pretentious
structure beyond it, lined the moss
covered barrier until she came to q
broken gate set In the wall.
All was silent and forbidding about
the old structure, but there was evil
dence of occupancy in the curtained
windows, and she fencied she caught
the glimmer of dress on the lawn
some distance away.
Il will find some one about the house
and inquire my way to the road, re-
Elected Edna, timorously.
She picked her way across an uneven,
ill-kept garden, once so nearly falling
into trap with great extending jaws.
evidently set fer tramps or thieves, that
she shook with apprehenslve terror.
ooh! there is lady I see her now.
l will ask her. Mercy"
On the verge of some pit or excava-
ton in the garden, Edna wavered, tried
to draw back, and then, losing her bal
ance, plunged forward.
She fell fully fifteen feet. Her head
grazed the board side OF the pit, and
half stunned her. Dimly realizing that |
the hole, covered over with branches, |
was trap for intru1ers, she looked |
blankly up at the top with shudder,
that she could never |
scale the steep.
Help! help! helpi"
Thrice the cry rang out, with all the |
strength of her bell-like voice.
Hopefully Edna looked up as tho
branches overhead were parted.
Who is there?" spoke o woman's
7olce.
Il have fallen here" cried Edna;
please help me. Mercy! it cannot
De-
Her gasping ejaculation died to a hol-
ow, frightened murmur as she peered
It the face that looked down upon her.
For its fair, false owner was-Beat-
ice Mercer!
ITO BE coNrINUEnl