The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-01-25

| me nrSt day passed mOnOtOnOuSly
enough. Night overlook her at Free
leigh, just sixty miles from home. She
had made good pace, and set out early
the next morning. At noon she rested
a couple of hours, and pushed on. She
came now upon the very gloomiest part
of the way. The road lay through vast
tracts Of forest, with here and there
hut in a clearing, to show that the
hand of civilization had not entirely
vanished from the world 1t almost
seemed as if Jove understood the i'm
portance of the errand upon which he
was going, for he gave no sign of weari-
ness, but hurried on, animated perhaps
by the spirit of his rider.
About sunset it began to rain heavily,
and the horse sank to his fetIocks in
mud. Agnes drew rein at the first
shelter she reached-a small, rude hut
in the heart of a dense pine forest It
was most ng-looking place,
and had her mind been less occupied,
Agnes might have hesitated about
seeking shelter there; but just now she
was not thinking OF danger to herself
The inhabitants, an old man and
woman, were as rude as their home
They gave her a gruff invitation to
walk in, and led Jove off to shed at
the rear of the hut.
She seated herself before the fire to
dry her clothes, and the woman
brought her a bowl of milk.
The man now came in, and the ava
ricious eyes of the couple wandered
frequently to the costly watch Agnes
wore at her girdle. The look in itself
would have been very suggestive to
an acute observer, but Agnes was SO
absorbed in her own thoughts that she
noticed nothing that was passing
around her. Her grim entertainers
made a few rough attempts at CONVEX
sation, but meeting with no encourage
ment, they soon relapsed into silence,
and after little while they told her
she might retire when she chose. She
rose quickly, glad of the prospect of
being alone, and followed the woman
up the rude ladder leading to the cham
Der above the kitchen.
In one corner there was a sack filled
with dried leaves, and covered with a
warm quilt. The woman pointed to
this meagre bed.
cit be the best we've got" she said;
'but it's not such as the like of We
have been use to. But | hope yell
sleep we'll"
Agnes thanked her, and when left
a 81 0
God to take care of her and give her
success, with all the confidence little
child feels in asking bread of it's
mother
She lay down on the outside of the
bed, without undressing, and tried to
sleep. But slumber held aloof The
longer she lay, the more Wakeful she
became. Full two hours passed, and
she was still restless.
Just as she was about to rise and walk
about little in the hope that it would
bring the sleep she needed, she heard
a distinct and ominous whisper coming
from the room below. Some secret,
unaccountable impulse led her to put
her ear to crack in the flooring and
listen. The woman was speaking.
ct can be done in a minute, and it
will make us rich. You are a fool to
dallyp'
Softly, old woman. She may not be
asleep. She looks like lady in some
sort O. trouble. Sech don't go to sleep
as innocent like you and 1 do And
he gave the woman nudge intended
to be facetious.
She answered, impatiently:
what I want co know is will YOU
do it or not? Times passing. She'll
die easy. The knife is sharp. And the
old well is a safe place to rest in. No
danger of ever being rooted out"
TITS a deed I don't like to do" said
the man rubbing his grizzled, bald
head thoughtfully. "a man l don't
mind, but a woman is different thing.
But I won't be coward. Give me the
toothpick. That watch would tempt a
speaker in meeting"
Agnes waited to hear no more. She
knew that it was her own death she
had heard planned, and stepping noise
lessly to the window she opened it and
looked out. The rain still fell, but it
was not so very dark. Somewhere
under the clouds there was a nearly
full moon. The window looked ont IN
shed, and within it's rude shelter she
heard Jove quietly munching his coarse
provender. The very sound gave her
courage. She did not feel the danger to
herself; she was only thinking that if
she nnriShad thnro I,rndo &c.