Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-09

And now another shout from behind
reached Us Faster and faster came the
rursuiug feet while the great hulk before
us worked its starting joints as though
lightning itself were playing fast and loose
inside them. Great clods Of snow dug up
by Gathering shoes rained thickly about US
and struck upon our smarting cheeks
The shoes themselves will be coming
next l ernaned crouching low. my
teeth grated upon the sand left from a
mouthfuI Of The snow and ice.
Would he. could he make it? Nearer.
nearer yet those feet seemed coming!
Would bullets be whistling next III the
frosty hail about us? Cling to my arm.
/ cried in my conpanicn's ear. and then l
half rose To my feet and looked behind,
uUiy To be brought down upon pair OF
bruised knees as our racing steed took
small boulder at single leap.
one more such trick and we are lost.
ruuttercd between my teeth, and then We
struck a smoother track, and ] climbed
upon the seat again. to meet as | did so
glance from Miss Brandon's dark eyes
shining and diiating in the moonlight, until
i lost all reason, and strange visions seized
upon me-
voice. sounded far of to my own hearing.
If You were married. If You had husband
10 protect you, you need not fear those
men behind?
She sighed impatiently. "Of course not"
she said hurriedly. But there's no use
oh. they Will surely catch us" and she
Cluus to me louder shout reached us
Listen to- me- | whispered, taking her
cold hands in mine, boldly now, for that l
meant her we'll God be my witness. "A
week from now You will BE- free, you will
need To ones aid. but tonight. but now. let
me- protect you For few short hours be
my wife in the sight of the law. and
|f,1r- shall he rf m n and
rrenred sister and involuntarily l barred
NY head before her.
All. if l could have spoken in my own
E1Ue and language then. but what a figure
] must have cut. She might have laughed
aloud l crouched before her disguised
and dI$figJred as l was, but she only
shTank from me. Marry yOui' she gasped
Are you not married already then? Oh,
I Wa sure that You were married. What
must You think OF me, what must YOU
4. have been married. L stammered
plying her SO in her shame and loneli-
ness that 1 made nothing of my continued
perIidy But my wife is dead; you have
To Heed To fear me. Remember how young
You seem To me. Look up and see that you
can trust me"
As l pleaded with her, the sleigh plunged
on at The heels of that dreadful animal.
Down and down the frightful grade We
went but he made nothing of ii. Half the
time We seemed perched upon his very
launches Slowly the girl lifted her bowed
head. and timidly she looked at meat
L
blessed then those hated bandages. Had
she seen that l was young, that every pulse
was tingling with a devotion beyond the
power NJ reasoning age to feel. who can
Irll what might have followed. But, as it
was. something in the swollen eye she
studied seemed to bring comfort to her
heart She smiled. and, although at that
In'Tl-ltt We took a stone the size of a din
u-T tdhl- under our left runner | never
even t-it the dull shock
III would he awfulIy funny" she fall
10 1Ea=a oil hot,
I've ever had a diamond necklace, or been
abroad, acknowledgements
And afteward.'' l cried with my head
whirlins rapidly, though my voice sounded
PsterIIal and reassuring still, ''afterward
The law which has helped me TO preserve
Tor you your property shall give you back
Your liberty. and may heaven bless you
for YOUR sweet trust in me-
AMI now go. old horse. go, Co. go.
And may You Yet with Cousin John" upon
your back csnter into the very heart of
Paradise Hall standing, half sitting,
tiIu~Iy did ! ply the whip. With line and
Voice / sought to guide his headlong
charge, every nerve on FIRE. every pulse
thrphblng. Wild with anxiety. lest one false
stop waken me from my dream of bliss
Ana now lights from countless gambling
o''ilS. lights from sick rooms and the lights
from distant streets came plainly to us
Go 60 And go he did, with great lunges
ot his awkward legs. and now and then
threatening snort which told of straining
lungs gasping forth vigorous protest, or
reproaCh. Half a mile? Only a quarter
now and still those galioping feet behind
Oh. for dark alley into which we might
p!fiUget See, There il yawns before US
Now. one burst of speed. and We go crash
ing through a heap of rubbish, and, breath
less and painting. the knees of the horse
bending beneath him We spring out into a
dark and loathsome alley. and with God
bless thee. old nag" and pat on his reck-
Ing TANKS. | flung a coin into the face of a
man who started up from a door step and
cried. Oats for that horse and drink for
yourself
Ard then what chase began! \ chase