Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-01-19
CHAPTER NNH.


"Gwyn. It's Gwyn's voice
As the farmer uttered these words
a change came over his face. Til" say
age expression disappeared, aud his
features became In an instant con
vulsed with tender anxiety.
The cry was repeated. and TrrEar"n
and Mason both answered 10y shouts,
to which she answered 10y a sort oi
loud sob OF relief. In few minutes
they came upon the gir.. who had he.
gun to ascend the side ~ Pen lchaf IN
their track. but who had sunk down.
exhausted aud giddy. AT the foot Of a
great slab OF bare gray rock.
"Gwyn. My girl. My little girl out
here. oh. doctor. she'll catch her
death
And the angry and malignant man
became in an instant the humhl" sup
plant and he looked pathcticaIly up
into Masson's face. with his eyes
streaming with tears.
Help me To carry her back, said
the doctor briefly,
They half led. half carried her back
10 the farmhouse. which was soon
reached The grandmoth"r VIII" stood
watching their approach from IN" door.
way. was cnioined To change III" girls
clothes at once and To pnt her 10 bed
But after the lapse OF few minutes
Gwyn. regardless of their injunctIunS,
came down stairs again. clinginE Ia
the bauiSrrrs for support. but fun OF
energy. of solicitude for Mason.
Go back up stairs To bed said the
doctor gently as he ran forward TO her
assistance.
But Gwyn shook her head obstinate.
ly.
81 Will go up stairs" whispered 81"
hoarseiy. when you are safely away
not before"
Mason tried to protest, but she i'm
perously slcnccd him.
Now he thinks he has you safe, be
cause il Is too late TO try again To
reach Trccoed tonight So it is, but
you must get out OF this house. You
must 20 down the hill and turn TO the
| left and up the valley, keeping on this
side Of the stream until you get to
| Thomas. Go up there and ask them
to give you shelter for the night and
start for Trecoed as soon as il Is light.
! Mind don't be stopped. II some one
meets you and tells you am i'll. dying,
don't believe 1t and don't stop. 1t will
he trick TO turn you ont OF your way.
! God forgive me for having 10 warn
you against my own neSh ana blood
But must save you; ! must | will
She looked up into his eyes with a
luminous light in her own which in
toXicated him.
"Gwyn." he whispered, don't send
me away from you. Let me stay until
can marry you and take you away.
Let me, my darling, let me save YOU
But she drew herself energetiCally
away.
THAT has all been dccidcd-scttlcd,"
said she peremptorily. Now. there is
only one more thing to be said. You
must swear that when you leave here
you will forget everything that has
passed, everything that has happened.
And that you will never come here
again yourself or set any one else to
come here with-wlth Inquiries, with
Investigations"
Mason drew back a step. She fol-
lowed him up, threatening light sud
denly blazing in her eyes.
Swear" she repeated. "Swcar,'
But stammered Mason. MY
brother"
what good can you do him now?"
A groan broke from MassOn's lips.
"You know he Is dead, that he must
be dead. You knew that when YOU
came here. You know that lie lost his
way among the mountains"
II do not know that" interrupted he.
Gwyn stamped her foot.
"You know that he must have died,
as many other rash travellers have
died, through his own careleSsneSs. his
refusal to take a warning. What doubt
can you have about that? And what
good can you do by supposing anything
else?" Suddenly she changed her tone
and from stern and eager became tear.
full and entrpating: "Ohw she cried as
she clasped her hands and looked at
him with weeping eyes. How can
you hesitate? How can you be stub.
horn and mad? Must we have another
crime laid at our door? Must you be
sacrificed too?"
"Who will hurt me?" said he in q
low voice.
Her answer. full of fire and dignity,
took him by surprise.
IL will"' cried she. II will give you
up to any fate that may ovcrtake q
lonely man among the mountains I'M.
less you swear that you will never in
terfere with us, never cause us TO be
interfered with, on your word of hon.
orr"
Mason could be obstinate also.
II will not swear" said he. "And
| will take my chance"
Without another word she left him
opened the door and then. returning
quickly, seized him by the coat sleeve
and thrust him out into the gathering
darkness.
Then" said she. take your chance
| have told you what to do
"Gwyn, let me speak to YOU" cried
he eagerly. Let me speak"
But the only answer he got was the
grating Of the bolts of the door
The dusk was deepening in the val
ley and creeping up the sides Of the
mountains as he staggered away
heart sore, weary Of limb and alone.
,(TO pE coSTINTEn