Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-06-20
colo Elsie
Continued.
By e MARLUT

light when she observed LnaL, dDOuI
twenty PAGES near the trunk OF 4
mighty oak, sOmeth ng like human
arm was ss'tjE1hed out and then let
sink hSe recognized this movement
the more deiinluely, because the trees
were less closely planted there and
bordered d small opening whose
bright green turf lay like an oasis III
the midst Of the gloom of the forest
Elizabeth walked inaudibly forward
and approached the beech, until she
suddenly stood still II horror. There
vas a man leaning against the tree
His head was bare nd cYered with
wilderness of unkempt, bushy halr
For a moment he stood motioEless,
as though listening for some sound.
Then he advanced one step, raised his
right arm, and aimed his pistol to-
ward the clearing, as though to shoe:
at d tree opposite N. Then, after a
time, he let his arm sink down.
lie is firing at a mark" thought
Elizabeth, Du, this was only to quiet
Elizabeth instantly recognized the
herself, for an indescribabIe anxiety
filled her mind. She did not know
whether to run backward or forward
and stood still, rooted to the spot.
The sound of hoOfs struch her ear.
me man rose as if electrified. A
second later man appeared at the
other side of the clearing. The horse
was walking slowly; his master, lost
in thought, ad let the bride fall.
The man with t.. pistol took two
rapid steps forward, raised his arm
in the direction Oh the nOrseman, and
turned his head somewhat aside.
features Of the ex-Overseer, l. nike,
deathIy pale and distorted with rage
and hatred And the rider, whose
horse was bringing him steadily
nearer the mouth of the weapon, was
Herr Won Walue A strange change
passed over Elizabeth. If she had
trembled in maiden!y fear of meeting
this man, a marvellous courage now
possessed her, a. incOmprehensiDle
CaImrnss and self-command at the
thought that she was to save him.
She giided noiseIessly forward and
stood suddenly as though she had
shot up out of the earth, at Linke's
5 de, who, intenry watching his vic
tim, did not dream of her presence
With all the strength she possessed
she seized his arm and dragged him
back. The piston discharged it's load
with a sharp report and the ball
landed in tree trunk, while the mis-
Creant fell to the ground in deadly
terror. At the same moment a wO-
mans lOuu cry for help rang through
the forest. The muir erer picked him
self up, and fled through the shrub
berry. The horse reared in the first
moment of alarm, then flew, spurred
by its der, across the meadow, and
stood in a few bounds close to Eliza
BETH, who deadly pale, was holding to
the beech tree for support. For, now
that the danger was over, her wo
manly nature asserted itself The
young girls whole frame trembIed
but a happy smile lighted up her
face, for she saw Herr Won Waldo be
fore her, safe
At sight Of her ne sprang from his
horse, out she, who had just shown
such extraordinary self possession
uttered loud cry and turned around
in mortal terror, as two arms were
laid upon her shoulders. She recOg
nized Miss Mertens agitated face
Good God, Elizabeth" exclaimed the
governess, breathlessIy, what have
you done. Yom might have been muir
dered"
Herr Won Waldo broke through
the remnant of brush that separated
him from the others
are you hurt, he asked Elizabeth
eXcitedly.
She shook her head. Without say
ing a word ne picked her up, and car
ried her to a tree lying upon the
SrOunu, where he put her down. Miss
Mertens seated herself beside her
and leaned the young girls head up
on her shoulder.
Now tell me what has happened.
said Herr Won Waldo, to the COVER
ness.
No, no. cried Ell zabeth, anxiousIy
mot here. Let us go; the murderer
has escaped; he may be lurking in
the next c,ump Of bushes to carry out
MS purpose"
Llnke wished to murder you, Herr
Won Waldo" said Miss Mertens, with
a trembling voice.
The wretch! Then the shot was
meant for me- he replied calmly
without a trace of emotion. He fent
into the brush througA which the muir
derer, according to Mss Merten's des
cripuOn, must have flown. Elizabeth
trembled when he vanished into the
thicket, and was ABOUT to lose al
command of herself and spring after
aim, when he returned. You may be
easy he said to the young girl
there is not a trace of him to be
seen. He will not fire a second
time today. Now tell ne theparticu
lars, Miss Mertens
Knowing that Elizabeth was to gC
to the village she come along the lit
the path to meet her. Coming slowl,
down the mountain, she had made the
same discovery as the young girl. Tbs
Williams mention had Iecome clear Il
, her instantly, but she had been 81