Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-10-10
Continued.

dCCOunLs
"That will do" she answered.; 81
will help you. Listen. 1t is now
growing dusk-in another hour it
will be dark. You are now in the
abby ruins. I will return to you by
that time. In the meantime plat UP
your hair, take off that white robe
put on this dress-it belongs to my
daughter; your own cloak will do
You will find water in that ever.
Be very quiet in your movements.
Twill give out you are asleep-you
understand? Then we will creep out
together to the back of the ruins, and
you must walk alone to either Nestley
or the town on the other side OF
NOreton."
Alice seized the old woman's hand
and pressed her lips to it.
God bless you'll" she said brokenly.
"I can never thank you enough. Only
let me get away from this horrible
place and shall breathe once more =
The old woman drew away her
hand, and slouched away chuckling.
Alice, left alone, fell on her knees
and uttered a brief prayer of thank
fitness. AS yet she scarcely realized
the full meaning of her position, but
the glimpse of Count Jura's face had
fled her mind with horror and dread
that grew and grew until it became
almost a mania
Her brain was clearing now. She
recalled the night before the dinner,
Roy's admiration and words, her
success, the counts villainy, and
then Valeries visit to her room.
After that, try as she would, she
cLuld not recollect what had hap
pened.
'I must have been carried away in
my sleep, and yet I should have
awakened during the journey This
is in the abbey ruins; it is long dis
lance. All, I remember hand
kerchief-the strange over-powering
smell They drugged mel"
She covered down in horror and
shivered. Then she thought of Dame
Burden, and her coming deliverance
reused her.
She hastily set about her prepare
tions with beating heart. She coiled
up her mass of golden hair, plunged
her face into the refreshing cold
water, and cast off her wrapper of
white silk for the dingy brown gown.
AS she did this she suddenly re-
membered Frank Meredith and the
two cards he had given her.
She searched the pockets, and her
heart fell-they we're not there.
Who had taken them? What was
she to do once she was free? To
whom could she go?
TIC return to the castle was impos-
sible, for she felt with pang OF
agony that disgrace must have
touched her name.
She drew her cloak on, and pulled
the hood over her head. then sat
down to think till the old woman
came back AS the moments drew
nearer to the hour of her escape, her
excitement and agony of fear ban
ished all other feelings.
What did it matter once she was
free of these horrible vaults?
Would the woman keep her prom
Use?
She grew pale with dread. II not
she would try to creep out alone, or
else she would die of fright.
But even as she was thinking,
Dame Burden came back. She was
covered with a cloak, too, and held
out her hand.
''Now dearie," she said in hoarse
whisper, "l'm ready; the coast is
clear"
ooh, thank you-thank you. Why
are you so good to me?' Alice
murmured family.
Because I've got daughter my
self" the old woman replied hypocrit-
ically. Nov, come on. Stay, here's
a sovereign. You have no money
with you, know; hold it tight.
There, you needn't thank me. I amt
done nothing to shout out about"
"Nothing!" whispered the girl, you
are saving me from worse than
DEATH"
She slipped a thin white hand into
the old woman's one, and glancing
fearfulIy round, was led out of the
vault into the outer one.
All was still as death. To Alice the
whole place was terrible. She could
hear the beating of her own heart;
it sounded strangely in her ears.
Dame Burden lifted her hand to pull
aside the curtains, and Alice saw fol
the first time the glittering ring on nel
thick brown finger. A feeling thai
she recognized it came over her, ever
in her fear, but she could not remem'
Der rightly.
They passed through the curtains
into the stone passage. The dim ligh1
vanished. They were in utter dark
ness Save for the touch of the ole
wCman's hand, the sound of hel
heavy breathing, Alice could have
imagined it was some hideous dream
At last they stopped. A gust O.