The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-01-03
a wisp of gray moss and She turned to

Oh course she passed. tIldt Dig tIIu
| and those pines, and
Glenn was bewildered and had TO con-
TESS most reluctantly that she did not
know whether she came by the right
or by the left.
Her heart gave q dutter as the word
lost ran through her mind, but she
had lived all her short life more or less
III the woods, so beyond slight ire
NOR Glenn was not frightened.
What added to Clients beWilderment
was the light snowfall, which covered
up all paths and made everything IN
familiar.
But for that Glen might have real
lied where she was going and not de-
fected away, as she did toward
stretch of heavily timbered swamp
land totally unfamiliar Night was
drawing on with cruel rapidity, and
the forest shades were deepening into
black patches and somber vistas, while
above, as Glenn looked up, she could
see a few stars beginning to glimmer.
Suddenly size remembered with ter
r0r that she lad left the house without
seeing dear old Nance or telling her
anything about her proposed quest
after holly berries.
The wind was rising, and-well,
night and darkness lad come. Glenn
was lost in the heart of the woods.
Glenn went steadily forward, knowing
that if she stopped she would be a
thousand times more frightened.
1t last CIem's steps faltered. Stag
gering, she sat down exhausted at the
foo, of tall pine, in whose branches
the night brecZcs were playing as on
an itoiian harp. "Oh, Dieu de DOnte!'
exclaimed Glenn, lapSing into French,
her mothers tongue, as she often did
under excitement or when i'll distress.
But her French blood soon asserted
itself and, rousing, she peered around
il the darkness which enveloped all
things. What wa$ that dark object
q little way off? Glenn got up and be-
gan Il cautions approach.
Her heart gave bound Of pleasure
on recognizing an abandoned coal burn
er's hut.
The door, as she pushed it open,
though sagged, still held on its hinges,
and, feeling around, Glenn found u
piece of candle sticking to a board and
some scattered matches.
Clem'S heart was beating furiOusly.
Suppose they were too old to light!
But the one she scratched sputtered
and lit, as did her candle, and Glen
found herself in a hut begrimed with
smoke. bare. but clean, in which were
rude bench, Il table and heap of
dried pine needles in the corner.
Glenn sank down with an exclamation
Of hysterical gladness. Placing her
bunch Of berries on the table, Glen
closed the door and drew the bench
against it, while the wooden shutter
of the window was held fast by its
rude fastening.
Throwing herself On the soft mat Of
pine needles. Glenn sent prayer heav-
onward whose anguished intensity she,
being II years, had never imagined.
There were various VeXatiOuS delays.
The evening train on which Edward
Singleton was leisurely smoking was
run at increased speed to make up for
lost time.
Suddenly there were Il crash, shouts,
| cries and 4 terrific conLnotion, all aW-
full humping. Kissing and roaring
noise, u Shatterin@ of glass and dircful
shricis, and the coach. topping half
way G>er, stood still.
Tearing his way out, Ned realized
what IL" accident was.
Running over X terrified COW. the en-
CINE was derailcd. 1t had torn its way
through an adjoining field, where it
| finally stood. painting and Kissing while
| two coaches We're wrecked, and the one
in which Ned had been was overturned
and ditchcG.
OF the crew and passengers no one
was killed. but it was ascertained that
| there were cuntuSonS innumcrable,
Wl.iic ui.~i.t had already come.
Ned Va. Il good walker and the pros
p"ct cid y It appall him specially.
II" would get to DR.. Randolph's late;
but, it being New Years eve, no one
would tie in bed before -, an excellent
hour for supper.
Nd re-, nDcred with pleasure the
C3:.cUrs - tastes of the doctor
: IA ii ut. At the crossroads
| St?;.!-ht ;.:-'Ss country! Excellent.
NCI l'l,tjrnrd his overcoat lit a cigar.
| took his handbag and, bidding adieu to
| the wrecked train and lamcnting pas
tengcrS. struck out for the village by
.uttin" through the woods and follow
ing the old military road
To Edward Singlcton's utter aston
iShmcut, after an hours brisk walk he
realized that not only had he lost the
government road. but that he was i'll
the tracklcss forest. with nothing to
guide or direct him out of il. Ned stop
ped. laughed grimly and cursed him.
self fer an unmitigated fool i'll attempt
ing the proverbially misleading short
ut. 1t was too cold to stand there, SO
he went rapidly forward
There must be some sort of hahita-
ton between here and the Atlantic"
said Ned after long and silent tramp
AS II in answer, a faint glimmer
greeted him from afar. With tighten
ed spirits he strobe on and. approach
ing. found it to be a streak of CLEAN
coming through a disjointed door or
hut. RappinG sharply. he asked who
was within.
y dead silence answered him. Call
| ing again. with an imperious rattle.
| he proclaimed his pacific intentions. hi;
| desire for information or nights lodg-
ing, supplemented by hint Of reward.
| but with no better success Surprising
the hut deserted. Ned gave the door Il
| wrench and. throwing it open. stood
dumfounded 1t the spectacle within.
y young and lovely girl. richly dress
ed, CHASTITY with fear. stood by rude
table on which lay heap of crimson
| holly berries. While candle burned
| beside them.
Glenn and Ned gaZed at each other
l-a-beg- your-pardon." was all
| Ned could manage to say under the
| spur of the dilemma
Clem's Inheritance of pluck and of