The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1903-09-02

the man and woman. The girl lookct
exhausted, and Morton felt as though
there was Il glowing furnace in hi,
chest. How long could he last out? HI
wondered. Then he felt the a run
easier, and then-thcy had reached tho
crest of the grade and started down
ward. Morton looked at his watch. II
was Il o'clock.
1--WE make it now" he said. "You
rest"
The girl sank YEARLY upon the plat
form, while the car sped through woods
and meadows, ratified over bridges and
rumbled past walls of rock.
81 wish | could ever thank you," she
said, looking up, her face clear in the
soft starlight.
"You have thanked me-many times"
But | mean in words. | don't know
what | would have done if you had not
helped me. May l tell you why l am
running away
"You needn't unless you wish. /
know you've done nothing wrong. You
couldn't"
II want to tell you. I couldn't bear
at least-I mean | want you to under
stand. 1t wasn't wrong. l don't think
you'll say 1t was wrong. You see, my
mother died a few days ago-and, oh, |
loved her so!-and my stepfather hated
me. He was cruel to me and cruel to
her even at the last. After she was
buried he was worse than ever, and
yesterday he told me | must leave his
house. was glad to go-only too glad.
| asked him for my mothers little trim
kets, things she had had as a girl, a
few little bits Of jewelry my own IA
Their had given her and her picture.
She told him on her deathbed they were
TO he mine. But when / asked for them
he refused me; said the law gave them
to him. | told him | would take them.
and he threatened me with the Jail II
l did; told me he would have me drag.
ged through the streets like a common
criminal.
To-day he left the house for q mo-
ment, and | broke open his desk and
took them and ran away. l thought I
could reach the city before he could
catch me. and, once there. he would
never find me, and l could live happily
alone"
The girl hid her face and cried. Nor
ton longed to comfort her, but he felt
it was best to let her have her cry out.
you are going alone TO the city, with
no plans, no money. knowing no one?'
he asked when she became quieter.
Il can be lost there and safe from
him. l can find work. I'm not
afraid"
He returned no answer, but the
thought of this friendless, innocent, I'M
protected girl exposed to all the dan
gers of n great city was more than un-
pleasant.
The car was slackening speed now,
and far up the road were the lighted
windows Of a station. Morton brought
the car TO n standstill.
I'VE must ditch it," he said. And to-
gcther they lifted and tugged until the
machine was down the bank. Then in
silence they went on to the station,
and Morton bought tickets from a
sleepy clerk.
"Would you mind telling me your
name?" he asked as they walked to-
gethcr In the darkness.
mildred Clarke. l feel as though
you knew IT, you've been so good, so
kind-as kind as a friend could be, If l
had one"
Far down the track sounded the
whistle OF IS.
"MildrTJ, l want to be more than a
friend. You put your trust in me to
help you tonight. Won't you trust me
longer? Let me help you for all my
lifeT'
The light of the engine fell full upon
the upturned face of the girl.
"Yes," she said softly.
Then the night express bore them
forward ito that new world which is
the old"