The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-05-24

VENT out. and even the shadows of the
night were lost among themselves in
binding darkness. 1t was one of those
black nights fit for witch travelling.
and no doubt every witch in England
was out brewing mischief. The horses
hoofs sucked and splashed in the mud
with a sound that Mary thought might
be heard at Lands End. and the hoot
of an owl. now and then disturbed by a
witch. would strike upon her ear with
a volume of sound infinitely dispropor-
tionate to the size of any owl she had
ever seen or dreamed of before.
Brandon wore our cushion. the great
cloak. and had provided u like one Of
suitable proportions for the princess.
This came in good play. as her fine gen
tleman's attire would be but poor stuff
to turn the water. The wind. which
had arisen with just enough force to
set up Il dismal wall. gave the rain a
horizontal slant aud drove it III ut every
opening. Tie haps of the comfortable
great cloak blew buck from AIagy's
knees, and she felt many Il chilling
drop through her fine Few silk trunks
that made her wish for buckram in
their place. Soon the water began to
trickle down her legs and find lodg-
ment In tie jack boots, and as the rain
and wind caIne III tremulous little
wlirs she felt wretched enough-she
VITO had always been so well sheltered
from every blast. Now and then mud
and water would fly up into her face
striking usually III the eyes or mouth
aud then again her horse would STUN
Bile and almost throw Ter over his head
as he sank. knee deep, into some unex-
pected lole.
All of this. with the thousand and
one noises thai broke the still worse
silence of the inky uight, soon began TO
work upon her nerves ard 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
We're armed. yet they might easily
come upon Il party too strong for them.
ard no one could tell what might hap
pen, thought the princess. There was
that pitcly darkness through which
she could hardly see her horses head
q thing Of itself that seemed TO have in
finite powers for mischief and which
no amount of argument ever induced
any normally constituted woman to be
lieve was the mere negative absence oil
light ana not a terrible entity potent
for all sorts of mischief. Then that
wailing howl that rose and fell be
times. No wind eve made such Il i.oise
SIZE felt sure. There were those sEin'
ing white CLEANS which came from tile
little pools OF water on the road. look
ing like dead mems faces upturned and
pale. Perhaps they were water and
perhaps they were not. Mary had al
confidence in Brandon. but that very
fact operated against her. Having that
confidence ard trust in him. size felt
no need to waste her own energy in be.
ing brave. So she relaxed completely
ard had the feminine satisfaction OF
allowing herself to be thoroughly
frightened.
Is ii any wonder Mary's gall mt but
womanly spirit sank low in the face
of all those horrors? She held out
bravely. however. and an occasional
clasp from Rrandon's hand under cove!
of the darkness comforted her. When
all those terrors would not suggest even
q thought of turning back. you may
judge Of the character OF this girl and
her motive.