The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-02-25
"Yes, I've heard it."

"OAA, ieaiii GOO AAOOAhiAi AiOAN ~
say, 'ceptin' that hits gettn' late an
ye'd better be trampin'. Jest wait a
minute"
She disappeared in the house and
came out again in a moment with a
sunbonnet drawn over her head.
tThar's short cut over the shoulder O.
the mounting. an l low ye'd better
take hit; yell be heap less liller to
meet up with the folks that d ask ye
sight more questions n what I have.
Come on"
She entered the forest at the rear of
the house, and Ringbrand followed her
in silence. Half way up the mountain
they came to an indistinct trail which
led them by many devious windings to
the base of the cliffs, and, skirting these,
Ringbrand found himself, for the Sec
ond time that day, standing on the
small plateau at the mouth of the Nc
Nabb tunnel.
'That's yer way" said julie, indicat-
ing the road leading to the valley. jest
keep straight on till ye get down the
mounting; We cayn't miss hit, nohow."
Ringbrand lifted his hat again: "I'm
sure I thank you very much; it's good
of you to take so much trouble on my
account"
''Nev' mind bout that; but you all
take my advice an don't come prowlin'
round this yere cove no more. Yer
p'liteness moughtn't get ye out ag in,
next time"
She turned abruptly and left him to
make his way back to Tregarthen, and
neither of them saw the parting of the
bushes at the top of the cliff through
which a pair of malevolent eyes
starting on his homeward walk, sud-
den impulse prompted Ringbrand to
climb once more into the abandoned
coal working. The place was darker,
now that the sun had gone behind the
mountain, and it was some time before
he could see well enough to make out
the dim outlines of the interior; when
he was able to do so, he saw that the
hole in the roof had disappeared. He
lighted a match, and, on finding the
place, discovered that the aperture had
been plugged from above with frag-
ment Of stone which fitted accurately
enough to make it appear to be only one
of the rough inequalities of the tunnel
roof. When he realized that this had
been done since his visit of few hours
before-that those who did it might
even now be in the upper gallery, or
hidden in the dusky shadows near at
hand-a very panic of terror seized him,
and he thought he should suffocate be-
fore he could struggle out into the open
air again. Once outside of the tunnel,
he fed down the rough mountain road,
never looking behind him or stepping
to take breath until he was halfway
to the valley; then the stimulus of fear
suddenly left him, and he sat down
upon a fallen tree, covering his face
with his hands, and wishing, in his
shame and humiliation, that he had
never been born. He stayed there until
the lengthening shadows warned him
that evening was approaching, and
then, pulling himself together, he rose,
and went slowly back to Tregarthen.
1t was nearly dark when he reached the
village, and he found Mrs. Ludlow sit
ting on the veranda.
"I'm proud of you, Mr.. Ringbrand," :"
she said, as he came up the steps; "you
don't deserve to be helped. persuaded
Hester to stay TO tea and had 1t all ar
ranged that you were to see her safely
home; and you had to go and spoil il
all by staying away! Where in the
world have you been?"
81 am very sorry to have failed you.
l took a long walk and went farther
than I Intended to. I hope Miss Lati-
mer did not have to go back alone 2"
Ringbrand's voice was grave, and his
tone was sHbmissively apoiogetic.
"No; Tom went up with her" replied
Mrs. Ludlow, going before him into the
dinipg-room and lighting the lamp.
per-" she added, sitting down to pour
his tea.
"More than ] need-or deserve" he
said, making brave effort to simulate
an appetite for the belated meal
Mrs. Ludlow, sitting opposite, no.
tioed that he ate next TO nothing; and
she saw that something was troubling
him. They were old friends, and had
been well acquainted in the days when
Ringbrand was a struggling apprentice
in the literary workshop and Ludlow a
small=salaried clerk in an engineering
office. 'What is it, Hugh?' she asked,
with kindly sympathy; sis it anything
aholt HeStar2"
mo; that is, it ia nothing that she
has said or DONE"
won't you tell me about it? Per-
haps could help you,"
81 can't tell you now," he replied,
pushing his chair back at the sound of
Ludlow's step on the veranda. 81 don't
feel equal to talking tonight, and I
hope you will excuse me if go to my
room; know it's ungracious, but I'm
in deeper trouble than you imagine.
Perhaps can tell you all about it, some
day"
She gave him permission, and stepped
before him with delicate tact to enable
him to go upstairs without meeting her
husband. When he reached his room
he dropped wearily into a chair and
lighted cigar; when it was burned out
he went methodicallyA to work packing
his valises. ITS the aply thing there Is
to do," he mused, land it's a proper
sequel to the thing, anyhow. don't
see why couldn't have been born with
little blood in my veins, instead of
weak tea or ditch water; but wasn't,