Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1901-08-22
CHATTER |.

had driven me- 10 the very verge Of des.
peration. eannot say here what had
brought me TO this pass for ] DO not
know into whose hands these pages may
fall; bat had made up my mind 70 per.
aint In q certain line oE conduct which
firmly believed to be- right, whilst those
who had authority over me were feso'
lutely bent upon making me submit 20
their WILL The conflict had been going
on. more OF less violently, for months;
now had come very near the end Of y.
] felt that must either yield or 80 mad.
There Was no ehanee of my dying; J was
too strong for that.
II had been raining all the day long.
Ny eyes had followed the course Of soll'
tary drops rolling down the window panes
until my head ached. There was moth
Ing within my room less drenFy than
without. was Ia London, but IN what
part OF London | did not know. The
house was situated 10 a highly reapeeta-
BILE. though not altogether fashionable
quarter: rs judged by the gloomy, mo.
n0tonous rows OF buildings which ! could
zee from my windows. The people who
passed up anh down the streets on hne
days were wei to-do persons. who could
afford to wear good and handsome
clothes. The rooms on the third floor
my rooms, which had not been allowed
TO leave since We entered the house. three
weeks before--were very badly furnished.
The carpet was nearly threadbare. and
the curtains OF dark red moreen were
very dlnsy. My bedroom opened upon n
dismal back yard, whore q dog Ia ken
mel howled dejectedly from time TO time,
aud ratified his chain a. II to remind me
that | was 4 prisoner like himself.
had no books, no work, no music. IL
was dreary place 20 pass dreary time
In: and my only resource was 10 pace TO
aud fro to and fro from one end 10 an
other OF those wretched rooms
A very slight sound grated on my ear;
II was the hateful click OF the key turn
ing In the lock. A servant entered. car
rying In a tray, upon which were lamp
aud my tea--anch meal as might be
prepared for . school girl In disgrace. She
came up TO me. as II 20 draw down the
blinds
Leave them" said: II will DO II my
self by and by"
''He's not coming home tonight" said
a woman's voice behind me, In seofiins
tone.
could see her IN the mirror without
turning round. A handsome woman,
with bold black eyes. and a rouged face,
which showed coarsely IN the ugly look
Ing glass. She was extravagantly dress
cd. and not many years older than my.
self, took no notice whatever Of her,
but continued to gaze out steadily ct the
lamp.llt streets and stormy sky.
ut viii be no better for you when he
Ia at home." she said hercely. "ie hates
you: he swears so hundred times n day,
and he is determined to break your proud
spirit. We shall force you to knock I'M
der sooner or later, What friends have
you got anywhere to take your sidef II
you'd made friends with me, my fine lady,
you'd have found II good for yourself;
but you've chosen to make me your en-
envy. and I'll make him your enemy"
II set my teeth together and gave no
Indication that ! had heard one word
OF her taunting speech My silence sery'
cd to fan her fury.
Upon my soul, madam" she almost
shrieked, 'you are enough to drive me 20
murder! | could beat you. Ay! and
would, but for him. So then three weeks
OF this hasn't broken you down yet! We
shall try other means tomorrow"
She came up to where ! stood, shook
her clenched hand In my face and flung
herself out OF the room, pulling the door
violently after her | turned my head
round. A thin, fne streak OK light, no
thicker than a thread, shone for an In.
ptant My heart stool still, and then
beat like a hammer. stole very softly
10 the door, and discovered that the bolt
had slipped beyond the hoop Of the lock
The door was open for me!
had been on the alert for such q
chance ever since my imprisonment be
gan. My sealskin hat and jacket lay
ready to my hand In drawer. had
not time to put on thicker boots; and L
was perhaps essential to the success Of
my flight to steal down the stairs In the
soft velvet slippers was wearing.
stepped as lightly as | could. | crepl
past the drawing room door. The heavy
house door opened with a grating of this
hinges; but ! stood outside It In the shell
ter Of the portico--free, but with the rair
and wind OF stormy night In October
beating against me.
darted straight across the muddy roaG
and then turned sharply round corner
On fed breathlessly. As dew nearer
20 shop windows an omnibus driver, see
ing me run toward him, pulled up hi
horses In expectation Of passenger.
sprang in, caring very little where /
~ Akat 4 -
ly enough and far enough out OF the reacl
of my pursuers. There had been no tim,
to lose, and none was lost. The omnlbul
drove on again quickly, and no trace o.
me was left.
The omnibus drove into station yard
and every passenger inside and out pre-
pared to alight. fingered till the last
The wind drove across the open space Il
a strong gust as stepped down upon tn,
pavement. A man had just descended
from the roof, and was paying the con
ductor; tall, burly man, wearing a thlcl
waterproof coat. and a seaman's hat O
olskin, with a long flap lying over tn
back Of his neck. His face was browi
and weather beaten, but he had kindl.
looking eyes.
"Golng down to Southampton sal
the conductor to him.
"Ay, and beyond Southampton" he an
swefed.
you'll have a rough night of IT. sal,
the conductor. "Sixpence, II you please
miss"
/ offered an Australian sovereign,
pocket piece, which he turned over curl
ously, asking me IL had no smalle
change. He gruubled when ! answers