Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-09-19
Continued.

brain. and a great dread creeping
into her heart. Where am [ p
you are with friends" Myra said
clearly and quietly.
The sound Of the girls voice broke
the last sense of dreamland. Alice
pressed her hands to her beating
heart and looked round in terror.
What place was she in? Where
was her dainty bed, her Light, airy
room? Where was the window, and
Davis? Who was this girl, and ali!
who was that woman? She crouch
ed down on the bed, trembling in
every limb; her lips opened to
scream, but the sound seemed frozen
to her threat.
"You are quite safe, deary; lie
down and rest again. Myra, go away;
don't you see you brighten her. He
will mean Paul-will be angry"
st don't mind Paul's anger.
Frightened, is she? I'm sorry for her,
but that will wear off. She will see
a god deal Of me, and she'll get
used to me in time, perhaps"
Alice still crouched on the bed. She
did n understand the words,-she
was in a state of bewilderment, but
something in the malignant tone
reused her. She realized at once that
some terrible event had occurred to
her. She could not grasp the full
horror at that moment, but she
vaguely understo~ d that she was in
some strange, horrible place, sep
arated from all she knew, and the
fear in hear breast dashed her almost
to madness. She staggered from the
couch and fell at Myra's feet.
ooh, have pity-help mel" she muir
INJURED piteously. 81 don't know what
has happened to me. I can remember
nothing clearly. 1 seem to have
been asleep, but I feel am sure
something terrible has c-me. [ am
frightened of this gloomy place-it
is strange. Oh, help me to get away!
You are a wOman-yOu will under
stand I don't know where I all,
but let me get our-breathe the air,
and I shall feel better. You-will
you will help mel"
Come, come," broke in Dame
Burden, trying to lift her from her
knees; ''you must lie down again
and go to sleep. You will be ILL.,"
Alice chung to Myra. She pushed
the old woman away with shudder.
ooh, have pity, help me! I am
afraid. I cannot tell what has come
to me; but it is hid>cus, it is ter
ribIe. Take me away, carry me out
civ ,OI1
Heavens sake!"
Myra stopped, her face softened.
This girl was no willing accomplice.
The next moment she would have
pushed aside her mother and carried
Alice across the vault to the other
door, had not sounds of steps cut
side stopped her. Her expression
changed.
Here is some one coming who can
help you, perhaps. I can't plead to
him. she said roughly.
Alice locked round eagerly, while
Myra folded her arms and fixed her
glance like a hawk on the form en-
tering through the curtains. She
saw the frown gather on the counts
face as he saw her, but made no
sign.
He advanced towards Alice with
outstrefched hands. She rise from
her knees. Her face was white; her
hands clasped to her heart. She
gazed at the count with look OF
deadly horror. He did not see it,
but placed his hand on her arm.
''You are i'll. Rest here for a
while. You will"
Don't touch me-" gasped the girl
her brain Keeling. "You-you-Oh,
God! what terrible thing has hap
pened to me? L"
There was a confused sound in
her throat, she made a faint move
ment with her hands, and the next
instant Alice would have fallen to
the ground in a swoon, but in two
strides Myra left the wall, and had
clasped her in her arms before the
count could touch her.
Leave her to me, George, she said
softly, yet to a well-tuned ear her
voice sounded stifed. 81 will take
her to my room. You don't under
stand women
"I will carry her, interposed
George hastily.
But she shook her head, and lift
ing Alice in her arms, moved away
as though the inammate girl were
but a featherweight.
The count stood watching her as
she walked away, and could not re-
press a feeling of admiration for her
graceful muscular figure and wonder
full strength and ease. He turned
TO the old woman as she disappeared
''She will be kind I'd the other, y
he muttered quickly,
The old woman nodded.
Yes; Myra is a strange one, but
she amt cruel. She-she thinks it's
Paul's girl told her so. 1 thought
it would be BEST"
You did right, though I don't
care much She must know it sooner