The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-21
|AlDA1 STOPPED AS IF FROZEN
 SUDDENLY IN Ills TRAckeS

to Adam, she had a vague, blind hope that something would happen to set her free from her terror; but she could wait no longer.
 She thought of writing to Arthur, but rejected the idea. He could do nothing that would shelter her from the discov- cry and the scorn of those who made her little world, now that her fairy dreams had vanished.
 No, something else would happen-some- thing must happen. In young, ignorant, childish souls there Is constantly this blind trust in some unshapen chance. It is as bard for boy or a girl to believe that a great wretchedness will befall them as 1t is for them to believe that they will die. But now her marriage was so near she could no longer rest In that blind trust Long Hetty sat there re- volving one plan after another. and re- jecting them all until finally her thoughts took this one form: Arthur was at Wind sor He had written the address for her before he went away. She would go to Arthur.
 Mrs. Poyser was surprised that night when Hetty announced that she would like to go to Snowfield for a few days and bring Dinah back with her to stay over the wedding. As Adam put Hetty into the coach the next morning tears rose to the girls eyes-tears for tho mis- cry of her own hard lot
 God bless her for loving mo so," said Adam. thinking the tears were at parting from him.
 At the next town Hetty left the coach and set her face toward Windsor. From town to town she went inquiring her way southward, sometimes getting lift in carriers cart, more often walking. At first she had taken the regular coaches, but soon found that her scanty supply tl..k of travelling
 Oh, what a long, long, weary way 1t was! She had never imagined the world was sc bg-that distance was so great. Now. for the first time. as she lay down in some hard. strange bed. she felt that her life at home had been a happy one; that her quiet lot among the people of Hayslope, among the things and people she knew. with her pride in her best gown and Sunday bonnet and with noth- ing to hide from anyone, was what she would like to wake up to q reality. finding all the feversh life that she had known besides was a sort of nightmare.
 Her own misery filled her heart there was no room for other peoples sorrow. At last, pale, worn and weary, she ar rived at Windsor and sought an inn. The landlady looked at Hetty critically; she saw what the girl had been trying to hide.
 Here's bad business said tho wo- man to her husband when she noticed that Hetty finger bore no wedding ring.
 Can you tell me how I can find this house?' asked the weary girl. handing the landlord the slip of paper on which Arthur had written his name and ad- dress.
 Why said the landlord, "that house has been closed this two weeks. The of ficers who lived there have gone off with their regiment to Ireland.
 When Hetty regained consciousness she was lying In bed, to i'll and weary to think clearly Of her condition. Later in the day. by a great effort, she gathered herself together. dressed and went down to the landlady. Dinah Morris had come Into her mind. Oh. if she could only get back to Dlnahl She took the earrings and the locket which Arthur had given her. pawned them with the landlady and started northward again.
 As she walked along the country roads she thought of Arthur and cursed him, wildly and despairinsly. and hoping that