Mexico Missouri message., 1906-02-22

10 make my rounds"
Pardon my question, but IL Is one
OF great interest and importance to ms.
When did you set out?"
"A little after four"
"And did you chance to meet q
woman, all wrapped up in a cloak,
on your way over?"
"Ah!" answered the milkman, inter-
ested at once. 81 told Jim there was
something queer about her. Yes, /
did see her, and stopped her, too, Just
about where you are standing, sir"
THE poor woman is not responsible
for what she is doing" said Thomas.
II am searching for her now"
"Ah!" The milkman smacked his
lips in his eagerness. Take her in
charge, eh?"
Thomas nodded.
"VV1ll, sir, she is az quick traveller
afoot as l ever see, man or woman;
and goodness only knows where she
has got to by this time. It waS so un-
common to see such a figure that |
took a pretty close note Of her hurry
ing along from the bridge, and I put
LlgbblA Al5llI III lAA1 way ali VI u buuuGu
on purpose. She gave a little fright
ened scream, and put out her hand to
me appealing like. It was as white a
hand as l ever see, sir; she's never
had any rough work TO do, I'll be
bound, poor thing!"
"I'm not meaning you any harm,
says to her, while Jim, like an idiot,
stood staring at her over the gate with
his mouth open. But for a young
woman like you to be racing along
mad-like at this hour of the night, 1t
isn't exactly the right thing, is it,
miss? 1 put 1t to you frankly, you
know She clasped her hands despair
ingly, and said: You don't know!
You can't know! Do not try to stop
me, for mercy's sake! But see the
poor thing was well-nigh tagged out,
and l Just took her arm and walked
her into the kitchen, where my good
woman stood quite dumfounded. sit
you down there / says, putting her
into a chair at the table Breakfast
hadn't been cleared away, as good luck
would have 1t. WIFE,, says /, give the
| girl as good a warm meal as you've
got. Now you must eat and drink;
you must make out a good breakfast
says, shaking my head at the girl, or
shan't let you go. If you don't want
us 20 look at you, all right; We'll keep
away. But whatever your errand, you
need strength to carry it out"
Thomas was listening with impatient
eagetness, but he could not forbear
word of sincere thanks.
Don't mention It," said the farmer.
who could a done different? Well,
to make long story short, l watched
her eat, but must say a canary bird
might have made out a bigger break
! fast than did this frightened, trem-
bling creature. We begged her to stay
and rest, wife and /, but she wouldn't
hear of 1t; and, after thanking US both
! like lady, she set out Burnside way,
and Jim and l went over T. the city.
Poor girl! Out of her head? Well,
well, tell you what: better get team
somewhere. She's far ahead, you
know"
No better advice could be offered or
followed. In a few moments Thomas
was driving the fastest horse the viii
lage livery stable afforded, and clouds
of reddish dust marked his rapid prog
ress eastward.
He heard of the fugitive twice.
Once she had stepped to drink at
wayside well, and a group of children
had watched ner as she rested mo-
ment and then went on, closely cloalled
and yelled, though the morning was
sultry
Once she had stopped at a farmers
door for a glass of milk-for a sick
traveller in the road above, she had
said, in hurried explanation-bringin
the glass back after a moment with
faintly-spoken yet earnest thanks.
AS his horse slackened his pace just
as a difficult sandy hill was being sur
mounted, Thomas glance, taking in
the broad expanse of landscape, bril-
liant under the rays of the westering
sun, caught sight of solitary wom-
ans figure on slope to the left.
The roads crossed just at the summit
of the hill; and, urging his horse to
the utmost, Thomas soon came within
view OF the figure again, this time not
far away.
Did the unknown iourneyer have
some premonition that she was pur-
sued? 1t would seem so, for she start
ed like hunted creature as the sound
of rapidly-rolling wheels drew nearer,
and ran into the thick wood that
sl1irted ore side of the road as If in
desperate search of refuge.
Thomas leaped from Miscarriage and
was at her side in an instant. His
touch on her shoulder seemed to par
alyze all power of motion.
She gave q stifed cry. The long
cloak, already tangled in the thicLet
fell to her feet. With last vain eff
fort to go on, she staggered and reeled
AS she fell, fainting and worn, in his
arms, the veil that had concealed her