Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-02-26
CHAPTER XXI.
"MusT YOU BE SACRIFICED TooT


AS the farmer uttered these words
a change came over his face. The saw.
age expression disappeared, and his
features became In an instant con-
vulsed with tender anxiety.
The cry was repeated. and Tregaron
and Mason both answered by shouts,
to which she answered by sort Of
loud sob of relief. In few minutes
they came upon the girl, who had be-
gun to ascend the side Of Pen Uchaf in
their track. but who had sunk down,
exhausted and giddy, at the foot Of q
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 humble sup
plant, and he looked pathetically 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
to the farmhouse, which was soon
reached. The grandmother, who stood
watching their approach from the door
way, was enjoined to change the girls
clothes at once and to put her to bed.
But after the lapse of few minutes
Gwyn, regardless Of their injunctions,
came down stairs again, clinging to
the banisters for support, but full 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
y.
81 will 60 up stairs" whispered she
hoarsely, when you are safely away
not before"
Mason tried to protest, but she i'm
periously silenced him.
"Now he thinks he has you safe, be-
cause it is too late to try again to
reach Trecoed tonight. So 1t Is. but
you must get out Of this house. You
must go 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 it Is light.
Mind, don't be stopped. II some one
meets you and tells you am Ill, dying,
don't believe 1t and don't stop. 1t will
be trick to turn you out of your way.
God forgive me for having to warn
rou against my own flesh and blood.
But must save you; must, l WIFI:
She looked up into his eyes with
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, et me save your!
But she drew herself energetically
away.
THAT has all been decided-settled,"
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-with inquiries, with
investigations"
Mason drew back step. She fol-
lowed him up, a threatening light sud-
denly blazing In her eyes.
"Swearw she repeated. "SwearW
But stammered Mason. my
brotherv'
"What good can you do him nowT
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 he lost his
way among the mountains"
81 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
elseY Suddenly she changed her tone
and from stern and eager became tear
full and entreating: "Oh" she cried as
she clasped her hands and looked at
him with weeping eyes. "How can
you hesitate? How can you be stub
born and mad? Must we have another
crime laid at our door? Must you be
sacrificed tooT
"Who will hurt meT said he In q
low voice.
Her answer, full Of fire and dignity,
took him by surprise.
'T willr' cried she. II will give you
up to any fate that may overtake q
lonely man among the mountains un-
less you swear that you will never In
terfere with us, never cause us to be
interfered with, on your word OF hon
or!'
Mason could be obstinate also.