The Holly chieftain., 1901-06-21
tzaek. - sReeinall. ~ assertsA ~.
e. - tsuna ~ lIJb bsfa,r rssresi.
CHAPTER I'll.

V6AfI8As All. g,5 st7Ss. ~
"Bsautifal shs was. but frail. And
forestilS Ill wonpAnly honor aad duty
abe ned fron her beautiful home. and
from him who had gives Il to hsr. Tia
injured husband discovered her treach-
cry too late. for thstr horses' hoofs
were spurning the pavemsnts oe the
outer court before ~ left his room:
and when he hurried down the stairs
ard to the hall door, aa Iron glove lay
there. defyinx him TO ths last At this
sight his strong heart gave way and
tie Plying ssrvAnts bore him back
To his room . ravinS maniac. For
three long years they watched him
In the fourth he needed mot their care.
but WAS 1t rest OF the lost lady, no
tidings were ever received, and a
ysars went By, and the old hall began
to decay, some enterprising settlers
tore It down. aad from Its ruins, Phoe-
nix-liks. sprang up our pretty village
Of brighter daya.
.'This. or something akin to Il, was
the tale heard. and In all my fever
ish visions after that night. the Eng
lish Lady bors conspicuous part.
They tell me that called for her In
csasantly; that fancied myself, now
the successful lovsr. now the forsaken
husband; and could only be pacinsd by
the assurance Of her speedy return.
BE this as 1t naay.I can remember
well how often saw her standing by
my bed. an airy. impaipabls shape, Of
which could not possibly discover
single feature; but all seemed gl.t-
tering array Of misty loveliness. And
when. In voice that could under
stand Though ON the duller ears Of
my attendants It fell like the whispers
OF the evening WINDY she bade me seek
her at the Hall, how could disobey?
1 only watched my opportunity and
counterfeiting sleep one hot summer
afternoon saw them all leave the rooms
with noiseless steps, and l knew that
was free.
THE glass door at the lower end Of
my apartment led into the garden.
From that. the lonsly road led over
the hill. and to the site of the Hall wss
easily gained. l drew my dressins gown
around me. thrust my feet into . pair
OF embroidered slippers and passed out
"oh. the glad thrill that shot through
my veins at the Arst free breath OF the
summer air! Oh. the delight with
which my parchsd lips quafIed the
cless water in the fountain by the ar
Dor! spilled 1t over me in my fsverish
haste! threw It over my hot face,
and over my closely shorn head! Then
unfastening the little wooden gate I
ran swiftly. longing. but not daring. to
shout aloud. IN my Joy. till the hill road
Wae gained. '' sseieeS W.
u climbed the Ellis and descended
the valleys-l wtded throasA tAe NOR
-. not witheut y s5cksnlhx fsAf whom
I saw the brown ana black water
snakes glide lovingly n pairs around
me. NJ &
= "At length stood Upon the brow Of
the last hill and saw what had not
before discoysred-thAt . precipice lay
1t my feet. Jagged and rough enough.
1t is true, to admit of . careful de-
scent. but still fearful thing to look
at and attempt Other way. however,
there was none; and holding my
breath and uttering an inward prayer
to God. began to descend. Slowly
ten feet of the bottom. i looked back
at the height had descended, and
with gay laugh grasped at q bough
which grew near. and swung myself
from the rock on which stood.
But was prematursly excited. The
shrub to which had entrusted my life
and safety, though seemingly strong,
was in reality decayed. and but slightly
rooted. felt 1t grinding up from the
ground, and knew that. in another mo-
ment I}should fall below. l clutched
with my free hand.
shrieked aloud in my frenzy and de-
spair when found could not hold
my precarious footing. looked be-
meath me at the rocky bed OF the brook
and thought how soon I should lie
upon 1t, stunned and motionless; It
might be dead! The shrub broke In
my hand-I was gone!
But at that moment Of my fall,
terror gave me strength, and with .
muscular effort threw
my body out from the bank in fran
tic leap for life.
My presence OF mind probably saved
me; for in the place Of falling directly
below and upon the rocks. the impetus
Of my leap sent me far out into the
Rtream who're a bed az soft ssnd rA-