Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-02-10
HIS GRACE
BY MRS. C. N. WILLIAMSON.
Author of "rhe Barn Stormers" "The Woman in Grey,
fortunes Sport "The House by the Lock-"
"A Man From the Dark, Lady Mary
of the Dark House." "Her
Royal Highness" etc.
Royal Highness" etc.

| rades there had been none more skill
ed with the lasso than lie.
Now I've got you where wanted
you!" he cried out, with laugh. You
fool-you coward. did you think
meant to writer"
The wretch gasped, and stared across
at the laughing face with wide. bleak
eyes. Was 1t devil OF man who had
caught him unawares, as a spider
catches q fly, and was drawing him
| (scraping on his knees, his nails claw
ing the grass nearer and nearer to the
| bog?
There's enough death here for two"
said Jack, with another of those imp
ish laughs, which chilled the marrow
Of the others wriggling spine as no
loud-mouthed oaths could have done.
Misery loves comparatively does it
now-come on"
"For Gods sake!" whined the cow
ard. Don't, I'll do anything!"
Sup on your feet then!-be a man,
not an ape. A foot further, and you're
too late! Run round the tree there
again-let the rope twist. Now hold
hard"
The man squealed like a hog as the
ropes cut into his flesh, for he had
jumped at the word of hope, and wound
the rope three times around the sapling
near the bog, himself tightly pinioned
still about the arms And jack wis
rising inch by inch out from the Dog,
his great muscles tense, his hands
graaping and moving with fierce, slow
obstinancy along the taut rope.
Help! Mercy. you're killing me-"
shrieked the human windlass. AND
something far away echoed his cry. 1t
was the loud, Joyous barking of dog.
Jack raised his eyes and give him
self breathing space for the fraction of
second. He had lied when he said
that someone was visible on the hill,
but now his words had come to pass.
Twilight shadows of late Septem-
Der evening were falling, but his eyes
caught the white flutter of a woman's
dress, a dogs leapng form silhoutted
against it.
Anne he called, and she answered
with startled cry. She was coming
very fast now. Like an omen the
clouds broke apart, and a red CLEAN
from the level sun streamed over her
face, her bright hair, her white serge
dress las she paused, painting, at the foot
of the hill.
1t was strange sight that she look
ed upon, and she knew not why ''Mau-
rice's" dog had run to her as she took
an evening walk, and almost dragged
her to this spot.
Had she not heard from Blandon
Palgrave that her lover might come
and surprise" her one day soon, it
would have been a shock to meet the
NoAiiC' Out hOW ~ uciu SNdICG USSH
that. The shock and the terror had
come afterwards, with the sight of him
in the bog, and the white-eyed wretch
who screamed and danced in his bonds
at the bent sapling.
But Anne was not @ girl to give wav
to helpless agitation, or to ask neces-
sary questions at moments such as
this.
'Maurice," she exclaimed. And
then: 'I'll run for help"
She was turning, butsh stopped her
Don't co. he said, I'm all right
now. The dangers over. See. I'm
coming overland ever fist. l was up
to my waist five minutes ago In five
more j shall be free"
The miserable creature at the tree
gave utterance to dismal howl. and
Anne, not understanding his agency
in the affair. gazed at him with pity.
wondering little at her lovers cal
fousness with just the one thought she
could spare for some one else.
Jack saw the look and comprehend