The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1905-01-14
copyrighted by Daily Story Pub. Coz


As the coach swung across Dolmar
heath, Hastings rode out into the cen
ter of the road and halted, silent and
expectant, his eyes bright and steady
behind his mask. 1t was nearly an hour
past sunset. \ nebulous crescent moon
half showed above the tops of the
chestnuts in Dolmar wood, back of him.
Ahead, the west was full of rose color,
fading in mid sky to palCSt opalescent
green.
The air was warm and curiously still
with the hush of twilight. Only the high
call of Il night bird from the marsh
now and then cut the silence and the
hoofbcatS of the coach horses on the
road. He had waited two hours for the
last sound. Ellis and Habbcton had
sworn she would pass ut &. She must, if
she has changed horses ut Messing. 1t
was S by Hastings watch. He looked
at it now lcisurcy. and as he Slipped it
back under his cloak the coach stopped
short in front of him. There was a
levclcd pistol in his discngagcd hand.
Barnahy was on the box. rs Ellis had
said he would be. He wished Ellis could
have seen the fright in HIS face HOW. rs
he hadc him climb down ana stand
some diStaucc away. up near the sign
post. with his hands up.
There was, rn sign Of life from the
coach. Lord, but she WAS II lady of
courage. Not scream not the fninteSt
cry for help. Hastings rode up tn the
door and opvnrd it, 1t WAS dark within.
but he caught Il glimpse III tn" soft.
rose light Of her face. II white young
face. very proud ana very angry.
HASTINGS never hr.itatrd. If it were
TO he done. he must do it. and be off
and away. IT would he II before he
could reach l.or,on. Slipping rrom his
horse. he raised his mask and leaned
forward in the shadow Of the coach
toward the white face. He kissed her
fairly ON the lips. rs had been expressly
DESIGNATED: but rs he reached for the
mcGallicn her hand flashed up from the
silk and lace of her cloak. and earth
and sky crashed and crumblcd in blind
ing fire and whirring noise for Hast
ings, us he fell forward into the coach,
his head ut her feet, and death gripping
him fast.
1t was night when he became con-
s7ciCus, Cool and chill. too. He did not
move. but lay staring upwards, trying
to remember. She had shot him. Lord.
but she was a fair lady of courage. Shot
bim, dawn ror a hirhwoymnn because he
hnI stoInn :, Hiss, from her Inns But he
i"I I.i,,nl bor all tho same. and the
,,.inrin,s vnrc his II WAS late. The
,'ain IN his hcod WAS sharp. and there
was n sting somewhere III ms lett
shoulder. TOO. He must manage to get
up and find Kit. his mare. and get back.
Ellis and IIahhcton were TO meet nm
ot tho sign of the Dancing Bear ut day
i,.o,i.
II,, M, etifiv his hands glippng
,..,.,,. nrd ,J,iIIv Stones instead of the
s,r, t,rr or Dolmar heath. He saw
tbn I,,rrrl souarc of moonlight above
~, h,nL mod understood. He was in
;,n NJ, InI,,, rnur,.,n had carried her
Lt,.t,,,.,. ,h,m mara hu1lrts Highway
,,,,,,, ,,l, yt,io l;iss,, mist be Jailed He
l,,r"hrl n,fmIv. and wondered if he WAS
-, H. hrT., ',Iyn Nv ladv's kisses came
Lcrr Vet net 50 dear. 1t had been Il
" ''.,i, 49,. Cav all thot.
I.nr ,c,.,nrI in 1hc lock. and there
,,.,,,. w. v,Jrnw oIp,m of n lantern when
w. Ionr b,lr onnncd
81 will, knnn thr liyht." said voice.
u,nlffI ,honId call como uuickIy."
nv l,, ,,,,., o,nsod and IIo,stiurS
,,.,I $50, rrc,, tho. str,w hcd and bowed
Tx, h,aL diy1v and wild in lie, pain as
n,,,, r.,.n PINT no know bor in spitc
80 a., 1onc, c,n,l, and hood The hand
t,t t,oiI tho lontorn nm WAS small and
e el,,, and ,,hi+o
h'.,, ',''' y" ha,t,,.," IIor tonu was one