Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-06-11
CHAPTER L

had driven me to the very verge of des-
peFation. l cannot say here what had
brought me to this pass, for do not
know into whose hands these pages may
fall; but l had made up my mind to per-
sist in a certain line of conduct which L
firmly believed to be right, whilst those
who had authority over me were reso-
Iutely bent upon making me submit to
their will. The conflict had been going
on, more or less violently, for months;
now had come very near the end Of it..
l felt that l must either yield or go mad
There was no chance of my dying; | was
TOO strong for that.
> 1t had been raining all the day long.
My eyes had followed th~orourse of sOli-
tary drops rolling down the window panes
until my head ached. There was moth
ing within my room less dreary than
without. | was in London, but in what
part Of London | did not know. The
house was situated in a highly respecta-
Bile, though not altogether fashionable
quarter; as | judged by the gloomy, mo-
nOtonOus rows Of buildings which could
see from my windows. The people who
passed up and down the streets on fine
days were Well-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 dingy. Ny bedroom opened upon a
dismal back yard, where a dog in ken
mel howled dejectedly from time to time,
and ratified his chain as if to remind me
that | was a prisoner like himself. l
had no books, no work, no music. 1t
was q dreary place to pass a dreary time
in; and my only resource was to pace to
and fro-to and fro from one end to an
other of those wretched rooms.
A very slight sound grated on my ear;
IT was the hateful click of the key turn
ing in the lock. A servant entered, car
rying in a tray, upon which were lamp
and my tea-such a meal as might be
prepared for a school girl in disgrace. She
game up to me, us if to draw down the
blinds.
Leave them" [ said; Il will do it my
self by and by"
He's not coming home tonight" said
n woman's voice behind me, in u SOOTHING
tone
l could see her in the mirror without
turning round A handsome woman,
with bold black eyes, and rouged face,
which showed coarsely in the ugly look
ing glass. She was extravagantly dress
ed, and not many years older than my
self. I took no notice whatever of her.
but continued to gaze out steadily at the
lamp-lit streets and stormy sky.
1T will be no better for you when he
rs at home" she said iercely. He hates
you; he swears so a hundred times a 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 side? If
you'd made friends with me, my fine lady,
you'd have found it good for yourself;
but you've chosen to make me your en-
envy, and I'll make him your enemy"
Il set my teeth together and gave no
indication that | had heard one word
of her haunting speech. My silence sery-
ed to fan her fury.
Upon my soul, madam" she almost
yhrieked, you are enough to drive me to
murder. l could beat you. Ay! and l
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 l stood, shook
her clenched hand in my face and flung
herself out of the room, pulling the door
violently after her. l turned my head
round. A thin, fine streak OF light, no
thicker than thread, shone for an in
slant. My heart stool still, and then
beat like a hammer. l stole very softly
to 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 a drawer. l had
not time to put on thicker boots; and it
vas perhaps essential to the success Of
my flight to steal down the stairs in the
soft velvet slippers | was wearing. l
stepped as lightly as | could. | crept
past the drawing room door. The heavy
house door opened with grating os the
hinges but | stood outside it in the shell
ter Of the porticO-free, but with the rain
and wind of a stormy night in October
beating against me.
| darted straight across the muddy road
and then turned sharply round coraer
On l fed breathessly. AS l drew nearer
10 shop windows an omnibus driver. see
ing me run toward him, pulled up his
horses in expectation of a passenger.
sprang in, caring very little where 1t
might carry me, so that l could get quick
IL enough and far enough out OF the reach
OF nv pursuers. There had been no time
70 lose. and none was lost. The omnibus
drove on again quickly. and no trace Of
me was left
The omnibus drove into a station yard,
and every passenger, inside and out. pre-
pared TO ahght. l fingered till the last.
The wind drove across the open space in
a strong gust as | stepped down upon the
pavement. 4 man had just descended
from the roof, and was paying the con-
ductOr: a tall, bury man, wearing a thick
waterproof coat, and a seaman'S hat OF
silsSjn, with long flap lying over the
back OF his neck His face was brown
and weather beaten. but he had kinHy
hooking eyes.
Going down to Southampton" said
the conductor 70 him,
"Ay. and beyond Southampton he an
swered.
You'll have 4 rough night OF It." said
the conductor. "SiNpencs, II you please,
miss
l offered an Australian sovereign, 4
pocket piece, which he turned over curl
ously. asking me II l had no smaller
change. He grumhled when l answered
no. aud the stranger who had not passed
on. turned pleasantly To me.
"Iou have no change. mann Eel.e;" he
asked slowly. as II English was not his
ordinary speech. Very well, are you
going 70 Southampton
Yes, by the next train" answered,
deciding upon that course without hesita-
lion.
SO am I, mam'zelle," he said. raising
hand 70 his oilskin cap; Il VIII pay
this Sixpeuce. and you can give /; NE
again when you buy your ticket in the
Office"
smiled gladly but gravely, passed
ON into the station. At tAe ticket office
they changed my Australian gold piece
AMI sought out my seaman friend To re-
turn the Sjxpence he had paid for ue.
I thanked him heartily.
He put ne into q compartment where