Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-09-22
Continued.

| "Who are you?" she whispered
fearfuIly the clouds rolling from her
brain. and great dread creeping
into her heart. Where am II"
You are with friends" Myra said
! clearly and quietly.
The sound of the girls voice broke
the last sense of dreamland Alice
pres ed 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 ah!
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 throat.
"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"
Il don't mind Paul's anger.
Frightened, is she? I'm sorry for her,
but that will wear off. She will see
coed deal Of me, and she'll get
used to me In time, perhaps"
Alice still crouched ON the bed. She
did net 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
scme strange, horrible place, sep
arated from all she knew, and the
fear in hear breast dashed her aim st
to madness. She staggered from the
couch and fell at Myra's feet.
"Oh, have pity-help mel" she muir
INJURED piteously. IL don't know what
has happened to me. | can remember
nothing clearly. 1 seem to have
been asleep, but | fell am sure
something terrible has come. | am
frightened of this gloomy place-it
Is strange. Oh, help me to get away!
You are a woman-you will under
stand. ] don't know where l am
and | shal! feel better. You-wll
you will help met"
Come, me-" broke in Dame
Burden, trying to lift her from her
knees; "y@u must lie down again
and go to sleep. You will be ILL.,"
Alice chung To Myra. She pushed
the old woman away with a shudder
"Oh have pity, hclp me. l am
afraid. cannot tell what has come
to me; but it is hide us, it is ter
rible. Take me away, carry me out
into the ar, oh, help-help me, for
Heavens sake!"
Myra stopped, her face softened
The next moment she would have
pushed aside her mother and carried
Alice acroEs the vault to the other
door, had not sounds of cps cut
side stopped her. Her expression
changed.
Here is some one coming who can
help you. perhaps. 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 he 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
outstretched hands. She rse from
her knees Her face was white; her
hands casped to her heart She
gazed at the count with a look of
deadly horror. He did not see it,
but placed his hand en- her arm
You are i'll. Rest here for
while. You will"
Don't touch me-" gasped the girl
her brain reeling. You -you-Oh,
Gcd! what terrible thing has hap
pened to me? /"
There was infused 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 n swcon, 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 sail
softly, yet TO a well-tune ed ear her
voice sounded stifed. ~ will take
her to my room You don't under
stand women"
II will carry her." interposed
George hastily.
But she shook her head, and lift
ing Alice in her arms, m we'd away
as though the inammate girl were
but a featherweight.
The count stood watching her as
she walked away, and could not re-
pless feeling of admiration for her
graceful, muscular figure and wonder
full strength and ease He turned
to the Old woman a. she disappeared.
she will be kind IL the other"
he muttered quickly
The old woman nodded.
Yes: Myra Is a strange one. but
she amt cruel. She-she thinks it's
Paul's grill told her So thought