Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-09-08

ene coulu not shake ONT Elspeth dl(
not know; but before the horror of 4
she shuddered and covered her face
Keeling suddenly Icy cold, though tho
day was warm.
Il am mad" she whispered present
~, letting her hands fall, God forbid
that anything 80 horrible should b.
real! And yet why not 20 out myself
and-and avert danger, II there should
DO anyY"
Lady Westray was taking her after
luncheon nap. Elspeth ran downstairs
put on hat In the hall and, starting
through the grounds, was soon on the
seSshore path.
II was a September afternoon, and q
glorious day-not too sultry, but with
the first cool breath Of Autumn In the
air, AS Elspeth raced along, Listening
to tho soft swish-swlsh OF tho waves
as they broke on the cliffs below, the
lnvigomtlng air seemed to Danish the
horrible fear that had seized her mind
In 30 sudden and wild fashion.
What a wicked, suspicious mind
must havel" she thought Even as the
thought passed through her mind she
noticed the tall figure of q man walk
Ing rapidly toward her.
For q moment Blspeth thought II
was Evan Montieth, and her heart beat
fast; but In few seconds she saw her
mistake, and recognized him as Mag
nus Halcrow, On q sudden impulse
she moved from the pathway, and re-
treated towards the line OF rowan-trees
and birches which ran along higher up
from the cliff.
AS she did so the whirrlng sound Of a
bicycle coming rapidly along the road
startled her, She looked round. 1t
was Lilith, who came flying along the
dangerous road like a creature OF the
woods and sea, her masses Of reddish
auburn hair floating about her, her lips
parted, her eyes wild with excitement.
She was rushing at brealneck speed.
Elspeth could have shrleked aloud to
see her.
She was close to that dangerous part
the part of the cllff-road which was
80 close to the rocks that 1t had been
guarded by pallsade Of wood for the
safety Of pedestrians or riders.
Only the day before the keeper had
come to inform Miss Stuart that por-
ton of the fencing had been broken
down, evidently by some malicious per-
son, and that the path was therefore
dangerous. Yet, In defiance of this,
Lillth had elected to ride along this
road today. Why had she done so2
As Elspeth ga2ed with fascinated
eyes, hardly drawing a breath, at the
flying wheel and It's rider, Magnus sud
denly emerged into the path round q
turning.
Did Lilith Stuart see him? Did she
recognize him2 Did she take him for
some one else? Mono knew--none
should ever know in this world.
She rode on wildly, her pedals hard
ly seeming to revolve, 30 rapid was the
motion. A log lay across the road
The rider could not have noticed It, for
the next moment her machine rocked
wildly.
A shrek rose to Elspeth's lips. She
checked 1t, with a strange feeling that
she herself was about to die.
Then-oh, God, how could Elspeth
look on 1t and still live?--the pedes-
trian had sprung forward and evil
IDENTIFY made wild attempt to seize
the machine.
For one moment-it was all done in
the twlnkllng Of an eye--Blspeth saw
Lilith Stuart's face as she wildly threw
her head backwards. It's expression Of
horror, amazement and white despair
would haunt Elspeth as long as she
lived.
A scream rent the alr-such q scream
as one hears In nightmare, and can
not forget for days-a scream from
Lilith's lips; and then-Elspeth was
gazing wildly at empty space! Man,
woman, blcycle-all had disappeared.
Elspeth thought she uttered q cry;
In reality no sound came from her dry
lips and throat. She could never after
wards recall what she did. The first
thing she was conscious Of was that
she was looking into Evan Monteith's
face and trying, with lips that refused
to move or do her bidding, to tell him
all. But she knew that he understood
her when she saw his own face grow
pale as death.
wait here" he said hoarsely, SELF
ing her hand in a momentary grasp.
II shall run for Nicholson, and we shall
go down to the shore together. Don't
move till l come back"
When he returned she was still
there; but her expression frightened
even the keeper, and she was shivering
from head to foot like one in an ague.
run on to the castle, Miss Troll.
Send men with stretchers," said Mon
teith, speaking very quietly. Have
things ready for them, and pray God
they may be required"
Elspeth Troll only asked on5 ques-
ton.
"You will bring both to the CASTER"
"We will, Miss" answered the
keeper, whose face reflected the pallor
Of Monteith's.