Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-05-21

while the whole turnout had an indescrib-
able air of comfort and good nature. Poor
Kate had been so separated from her kind
that the sight of people who, if not friend
ly, were at least not hostile to her, sent
thrill of pleasure into her heart. There
was something wholesome and prosaic,
too, about this homely equipage, which
was inexpressbly soothing to mind so
worn by successive terrors.
Here's some one a-comin'," cried Ste
vens. Clear out from here--it's the gov
ernor's orders"
''Oh, do let me stay and say one word
to the lady -
Stevens seized his great stick savagely,
Clear out y he cried in a hoarse, angry
voice, and made step towards her as If
he would strike her. She shrank away
from him, and then a sudden thought seiz-
ed her, she turned and ran through the
woods as fast as her feeble strength would
allow. The instant that she was out OF
sight. Stevens very deliberately and care
fully tore up the little slip of paper with
which she had entrusted him, and scat
tered the pieces to the wind.
Kate Harston fed as quickly as she
could through the wood, stumbling over
the brambles and crashing through the
briars, regardless of pain or scratches or
anything else which could stand between
her and the possibility of safety. She
soon gained the shed and managed to
mount on the top of it by the aid of the
barrel. Craning her neck, she could see
the long dusty lane, with the bare, with
cred hedges upon either side, and the
dreary line of the railway, embankment
beyond. There was no pony carriage in
sight.
She hardly expected that there would
be, for she had taken a short cut, and
the carriage would have to 60 some dis
tance round. The road along which it
was travelling ran at right angles to the
one which she was now overlooking, and
the chances were equal as to whether the
lady would turn round or 60 straight on.
In the latter case, it would not be possi-
BILE for her to attract her attention. Her
heart seemed to stand still with anxiety
as she peered over the high wall at the
spot where the two roads crossed.
Presently she heard the rattle OF
wheels, and the brown pony trotted round
the corner. The carriage drew up at the
end of the lane, and the driver seemed to
BE- uncertain how to proceed. Then she
took the rens, and the pony numbered on
along the road. Kate gave cry of de-
spair, and the last ray of hope died away
from her heart.
1t CHANGED, however, that the page in
the carriage was just at that happy age
when the senses are keen and on the
alert. He heard the cry, and glancing
round he saw through break in the
hedge that a lady was looking over the
wall which skirted the lane they had
passed. He mentioned the fact to his mis-
tress. Maybe we'd better go back,
ma am" he said.
Maybe we'd better not, john" said
the buxom lady. People can look over
their garden walls without our interfer-
ing with them, can't they?
YES nam, but she was a-hollerin' at
u.s."
vNo, John, was she though? Maybe !
this Is a private road and we have no
right to be on it,
"She gave a holler as if some one was
A. -hurtin' of her." said John with decis- |
ion.
Then we'll go back" said the lady, |
and turned the pony round.
Hence it came about that just as Kate |
was descending with a sad heart from her
post of observation, she was electrified to
see the brown pony reappear, and come
trotting round the curve Of the lane with
, rapidity which was altogether foreign to
hat uuadrupeds usual habits. Indeed,
the girl turned so very white at the sight,
and her face assumed such an expression
IF relief and delight, that the lady who
vas approaching saw at once that 1t was
10 common matter which had caused her
% summon them.
What is it, my dear!" she cried, pull
ng up when she came abreast Of the
place. Her good, kind heart was touched
,lready by the pleading expression upon
he girls sweet face.
"Oh, madam" said Kate, in a low,
rapid voice. Il am shut up in these
grounds. and shall be murdered unless
aelp comes"
BE murdered :" cried the lady In the
,ony carriage, dropping back in her seat
md raising her hands in astonishment.
1T is only too true" Kate said, trying
o speak concisely and clearly so as to
enforce conviction, but feeling a choking
about her throat, as though an
~ sterical attack were impending my
guardian has shut me up here for some
weeks, and / firmly believe that he will
,eyer LET me ont alive Oh don't pray
lon't think me mad 1 am as sane as
'ou are" Ito be continued.)