The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-09-08
NUMBER Y.

the man and woman. The girl looked
exhausted, and Morton felt as though
there was a glowing furnace in bis
chest How long could he last out? he
wondered. Then he felt the car run
easier, and then-they had reached the
crest Of the grade and started down.
ward Morton looked at his watch. 1t
was II o'clock
I'VE make it now" he said "You
rest"
The girl sank wearily upon the plat
form, while the car sped through woods
and meadows, ratified over bridges and
rumbled past walls of rock.
''I wish could ever thank you," she
said. looking up. her face clear In the
soft starlight.
You have thanked me-many times"
But I mean in words. l don't know
what / would have done IL you had not
helped me. May tell you why l am
running awayT'
You needn't unless you wish.
know you've done nothing wrong You
couldn't"
II want TO tell you. / couldn't bear
at least-I mean l want you to under
stand. II wasn't wrong don't think
you'll say IL was wrong. You see, my
mother died a few days ago-and, oh, I
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 l must leave his
house. was glad to go-only too glad
I asked him for my mothers little trim
kets. things she had had as q girl. Q
few little bits Of jewelry my own IA
ther had given her and her picture
She told him on her deathbed they were
to be mine. But when I 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
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 l 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 could live happily
alone"
| The girl hid her face and cried Nor
ion longed to comfort her. but he felt
1t was best TO let her have her cry out
you are going alone to the city, with
no plans. no money. knowing no oneY''
he asked when she became quieter.
Il can be lost there and safe from
him. can find work I'm not
afraid"
He returned no answer, but the
thought OF this friendlcss. innocent, un-
protected girl exposed to all the dan
gers of q great city was more than un-
pleasant
The car was slackening speed now,
and far up the road were the lighted
windows Of station Morton brought
the car to a standstill.
"we must ditch it." he said And to-
gether 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 g
sleepy clerk.
would you mind telling me your
namew he asked as they walked to
gether I'm the darkness.
Mildred Clarke. / feel as though
you knew II, you've been so good, 90
kind-as kind as a friend could be, II
had one"
Far down the track sounded the
whistle Of 55.
Mildred, / want to be more than &
friend. You put your trust In me t(
help you tonight. Won't you trust me
lcnger7 Let me help you for all my
nfew
The light Of the engine fell full upoI
the upturned face of the girl.
"Yes," she said softly.
Then the night express bore then
forward ''to that new world which Il
the old"