The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-22

stant, as one who gropes for a missile in
the dark, and then ran swiftly down the
lane. Lois saw and needed no explana-
tiOn. 1t was the negro David, and his
superstitious rage had again gotten the
better of his fear of consequences. in
the catching of her breath she under
stood that Henry Russelps life lay in her
hand, and the next moment she, too was
flying down the starit lane.
She came upon the two men at the
first turn in the main road and at the
| sight her tongue ClaVe to the roof of her
mouth and her bones became as water.
Russo! was down end the negro stood
over him with a great stone upliftCG.
| David! Speech and strength came
| back TO her in a tidal wave of conflicting
emotions, and flung herself between
them.
The man dropped the stone as he had
the scythe blade, but he was loath to
abandon mis- purpose.
"Doan's yo' git en- dc way, Miss Lois /;
1 amt gwine ter hurt him none. Is
des aimin' ter smash dat debbil's hoodoo
| box o. hisn'"
| You've killed him" she sobbed, kneel-
ing beside the felled one. Then. with
a sudden up-blaze Of authority: Run
| run to the house and call my father. Tell
him what you've done and bring him
quickly! Go!"
! When Russell opened his eyes he
thought he was on a train which was
roaring through an interminable tun-
mel. Not otherwise could the din and
camor drumming in his ears be ac-
| counted for Then the imaginary train
| shot out into darkness and starlight and
silence, and he remembered. None the
less, there was a gan and things unac-
countable in it. Something had struck
him fairly betwees the shoulders, and he
had fallen face downward. Now he was
lying on his back with is face plllowed.
He groaned and the hallucination re-
turned. II was a train, after all, and
he must be in berth in the Pullman,
| with the roof of the car gone and the
stars twinkling sleepily overhead. Tn
| doubted stars they We're, and in a clear
sky, and yet it was raining; he felt a
drop plash on his cheek and was vaguely
ConsCiOusc of a prompting to get up and
seek shelter But when he would have
cssayed 1t two soft arms went around
his neck and a pair OF tremulous lips
touched his forehead. As a half-stunned
man might, he said the. first thing that
suggested itself: 81 don't care If IL
rains pitchforks!"
"Oh, I'm so glad" said a voice with
a sob i'm it. Il was sure he had killed
you! Where are YOU hurt?
Russell came to his own in the matter
Of self-possession with gratifying celeri-
ty.
"As long as | lie perfectly still I'm not
hurt anywhere; don't move, please. Was
it the crazy-headed negro?"
Eyes; it was David. He thought you
had 'hoodooed' Nam Sephany, and he
was trying to smash the camera.
"Where is he now?"
"Iie has gone to the house for help.
Oh, do wish they'd hurry!"
"Dont, I'm quite comfortable Then,
in a spasrn of reluctant thoughtfulness:
"But, youll take cold sitting on the
ground"
lie made a shameless pretense of rising
and the two arms held him down, as he
mad hoped they would. one Of them was
unsleeved for little way, and he kissed
| IL.
"Oh, don't believe you are hurt at
all"
"Yes am-dreadfully. How did you
come 70 be here?"
81 saw David following YOU"
"Then you were not in such hurry TO
go in as you said you were"
"I--I was going IN when ! saw him"
| "Oh, And then you ran after him, and
tried 10 save me, like the brave little Girl
that you are. Lois-my dlrlmg-I sup
pose you've got to hH true to the othe4
man, but ! love you-love you a thousand
times better than he ever could IL ne
tries til doOmsday"
"The other?" There was perfect fusil-
lade of Queries in the two little words
ana he lifted her hand-thc one with the
ring no the fingcr-and kissed II.
Yes; the man who put this ring on
your finger"
She bent above him until her eyes
| eclipsed the stars. do you think you
love me better than he does?" she said
softly you've known me only a few