The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1903-10-16
Copyright, 1898 and 1901,
by the DOtrcn- Merritt Company

$+++*tI*+****:-.**++******s.
All Of this, with the thousand ant
one noises that broke tho still worse
silence Of the inky night, soon began to
work upon her nerves and make her
fearful. The road was full of dangers
aside from stumbling horses and bro
ken necks, for many were the stories
Of murder and robbery committed
along the route they were travelling. 1t
Is true they had two stout men, and all
were armed, yet they might easily
come upon party too strong for them,
aud no one could tell what might hap.
pen, thought the princess. There was
that pltchy darkness through which
she could hardly sec her horses head
thing Of itself that seemed to have in
finite powers for mischief and which
no amount Of argument ever induced
any nQrmally constituted woman to be-
llevS wus the mere nelnttye absence Of
Aght ana hot azterrible entity potent
for all sorts Of mischief. Then that
waillng howl that rose and fell be-
times. No wind ever made such a noise
sue felt sure, There were those shin.
Ing white CLEANS which camo from the
little pools OF water OIL heiroad, look
Ing Ike dead mems faces upturned and
pale. Perhaps they were water and
perhaps they were not. Mary had all
confidence I'm Brandon, but that very
fact operated against her. Having that
confidence and trust in him. she felt
no need to waste her own energy in be-
Ing brave. So she relaxed completely
and had the feminine satisfaction of
allowing herself to be thoroughly
frightened.
Is 1t any wonder Mary's gallant but
womanly spirit sank low In the face
OF ail those horrors? She held out
bravely, however, and an occasional
clasp from Brandon's hand under cover
Of the darkness comforted her. When
all those terfors would not suggest even
thought Of turning back. you may
Judge Of the character of this girl and
her motive.
They Travelled on, galloping when
they could. trotting when they could
not gallop, and walking when they
must, and about midnight arrived ut
the inn where the relay of horses was
awaiting them.
The inn was rambling old matched
roof structure, half mud, half wood
and all filth. There are many inns in
England that are tidy enough, but this
one was q little of the main road-se-
lectcd for that reason-and the un-
cleanness was not the least of Mary's
trials that hard night She had not
oil 81
keen hunger natural to youth and
health such rs hers after twelve hours
Of fasting and eight hours of riding.
Her appetite soon overcame her repug-
nance, and she ate with n zest that
was new to her the humblest fare that
had ever passed her lips. One often
misses the zest Of life's joys by having
too much Of them. One must want
thing before 1t can be appreciated.
A hard ride Of five hours brought our
travellers to Bath, which place they
rode around just as the sun began to
gid the tile roofs and steeples, and an
other hour brought them to Bristol.
The ship was to sail at sunrise, but
as the wind had died out with the
night there was no danger Of its sail
Ing without them. Soon the gates
opened, and the party rode to the Bow
and String, where Brandon had left
their chests. The men were then paid
off;quick sale was made of the horses!
breakfast was served, and they started
for the wharf, with their chests followl
fnR jim the hands 6f four porters.! ~
boat soon took them aboard the
Royal Hind, and now it looked as II
thsir daring scheme, 90 full Of I'M
probability as to seem impossible, had
really come to q successful issue,
From tho beginning, think, 1t had
never occurred to Mary to doubt the
result. There had never been with her
even suggestion OF possible failure,
unless It was that evening In our room,
when. prompted by her startled mod.
esty, she had said she could not bear