The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-03
AN EvEhTFUL NIGHT.
by CLARA PARKER.



out Of me- and when my senses became clear
.oslp found that Miss Brandon had set me
rrrirht and was dabbling at me with frozen
snow. and setting my cap straight upon nv
head with freedom she would never have OK
cr,ised had she not learned to regard me a. a
harmless married creature who could safely
be tumbled about.
Tbrusting aside the snow with no gentle
hand. for her dauehterly care was growing
reriectly ntolerabe. | was instantly upon my
feet.
PUN" whispered. and we ran. she like
.ome spirited young deer In its fret encounter
with the hounds. and I-really after the way I
.pun along that night. l cannot see how she
could suspect such pair OF heels az 1 showed
10 the old house behind us OF having learned
10 hotter about in carpet slippers.
Quick rs our flight had been. 1t was begun
none TOO soon. for by the time the darkness
swallowed us. the whole house seemed sud
denly 70 blaze up with hurrying lights. while
land shout reached us and increased our pace.
Suddenly. right In our path. man sprang up.
waving his arms before US. as at runaway
horse lie may have been a harmless citizen.
Possibly he was only startled at our sudden
app,arancc but as to that l shall never be GER
rain, for had no time to question him. nor
reason with him. All that I could do was to
knock him down. which did with such brutal
avkwardness that he collapsed without n
struggle aud my knuckes were badly grazed
against the POOR creatures skull.
Dear me! | hit too hard" muttered. In
answer TO n little shrek from Miss Brandon.
and then We brought up against stone wall.
on a level with my head as TO height. and
Jagged a. broken glass.
"Oh my graclous"' gasped Miss Brandon.
"whacyer will we doand say; DO you think
the man j. dead? ~
More than likely" eroaned. making a grim
note Of my fourth victim Can you jump.
NJ; Br9adonn;h ~ 40 hurry ~ aha u,,.,.r.,.
and taking her waist in both hands. gave her
a mighty lift. which sha seconded with a
srrnr - light that IL set her upon the top OF
the wall. gazing anxiously down at me. at least
Judged her to be anxious bv her voice,
How vii YOU n EYER make + p she WHISPERED red
should fall. Dear mo, your Door hands! oh.
tIs side. Graathless aud bloody. nearly losing
oihayne her again clap it on my head
How ever do you keep 30 Timber ?" she
marmgrch a ;rInG1S as spcshing my
second TO catch my breath "Thope you didn't
~ that man; though; you must have hit
N.Y. "im N afraid AR, diiG,S stammered. guilty
I'VE were running hard. YOU know"
inrIy. and Then then. severely. Coming on to You
ini6s da5k that way. how could he expect to
I'VE must CO." I said. Are you ready2"
Yes. and l have your shawl" she said.
XIV shawl" At tina, moment would have
frozen TO a brittle mass before would have
touched the thing. but was still warm from
$40 my ,S w .s. net ss@Ss
Al the same moment / saw the door burst
orcn b. some one, who rushed headlong into
the ward Quick quick" l called to my
cnuuani1n. and without "a question rs TO why,
she droprvl TRANQUILITY into my arms. a deli
cate shape, all warm and furry.
"Dou you know which way to go," l NUT
tered, a. quickly released her.
Ihayentthe faintest idea" came the cheer
again. with more care, OF our strength. this
time, and /. possessed by lively expectations.
snow drift and Ind that II was but tn. upper
cru, Of 69s9me,, SSy sd The ,d NAN road
.e,t,ed on me as realised the dangers we
pitchy. CIack rs this night" exclaimed. peev-
in win alarm Tor my companion; for myself.
the GalIows seemed e so Imminent that all lesser
Yes. but It's the only, thing that saves US.
picked her out Of 'o'i small ditch. But
whats that snufiling about sot' and she shrank
toward me in u way that shook my moral
natur" again TO Its very centre.
], was the dog A changed dog. indeed. with
al ~ Jury spent: and nothing much you could
IL.
tumbled fur: yet still dangerous TO US Il II was
d!sposedto haunt our path; for who could tell
at what moment u might break out Into the
~ must kill IT," / muttered to myself. but
on dearl' she vailed. What dreadful
,hings We seem 70 be doing all o. the time.
Es HSo sna RSS es SGS
iiun IN, q few steps. please! To that tree"
With a little shudder she obeyed me. putting
her fingers IN her ears as she ran. while !,
bouncing like huge bat upon my prey. soon
STEERING my only y" weapon was my pocsstkniie
once dead though; he must be hidden. and
him. Then-for / either heard voices. or all
the excitement had been through was re nder-
ing me- fanciiul,ross and ran toward tho spot
spring back barely restraining a shout OF ter
ror She was gone!
They have taken herr I Rasped. a sudden
sweeping over me. Then. setting my teeth. I
plunged forward. and with two strides found
twenty minutes during which seemed to be
sSeafliy falling gave me the Inn preston Of be-.
which rolled and Raaped. finally fetching up
VII, a painful thumP against something 8.
inhnite srace was Immediately swallowed up
81. Oh, 81, you fell fool" exclaimed some one
dot Really. now We ought to be- thankful: 1t
might have been quite unpleasant"
>, Might have been quite unpleasant And
mere sat, with every mart OF my clothing filled
WIN melting snow and my head ringing.
Really. u she had been a plain woman-but
here belle myself ] have quite q reputa-
non Tor courtesy, and think that l partially
deserve 1t, Tor, after coughing up much melted
snow, asked her. in n strangled voice. II she
was Injured In any way.
'Not the least bit In the world. she answered
eheeuully. whipping at the back OF my collar
with her handkerchief. MY. but you're full OF
snow, though DO you know. II is so funny;
but actually brought your shawl the whole
way DOWN here with me! You'd better put It
on now, and warm up. You may have stra ned
yourself somehow, but they say II you keep
warm you won't stiffen."
That shawl againl IL was too much
Miss Brandon" cried. excitedly spring
ING to my feet; then l stopped abruptly.
and taking her by. the arm drew her as far
back as possible In the shelter OF the rock
against which had grazed In my fall Hush,
hush. | whispered uselessly. for she had
made no attempt to speak. and l pointed up
ward AS crouched beside her. for lights were
beginning to dot the gloom above us in many
Places; hurrying lights. held low and tearing
heearILong, like so many burning eye-balls.
They have tracked u.s." | groaned, for
heard shout. There Ia nothing for II. we
must run again. But which wayp This thing
seems TO begin and end In snow"
On. there's no great hurry" said my COM