Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-04-04

whole sex whose garb she wore.
What could she do? Again and
again she looked out OF the carriage
at the road flying alongside. Again and
again she resolved TO try leap which
she had sense enough 10 know would
be terribly dangerous at the rate they
were going. She was not much of a
horsewoman. but she realized after a
time that such a pace could not be
kept up forever. Her opportunity
would come when the horses gave out
and their speed slackened
She wished that she had not dis
charged both pistols uselessly. She
would like TO kill Strathgate when
she got ont OF the carriage. She
mad never been so insulted in her life.
The blood famed TO her face as she
thought OF it. And yet she had Justice
enough In her soul. in spite OF the tur-
MOL raging within her. to see that
there was a certain amount OF excuse
Tor Strathgate. Educated as he had
been, with the habits and customs OF
his time-which she was beginning
dimly to comprehend-how could he
suppose that she expected purely dis
interested service from him? He
counted upon being paid for all he did
for her. in his castle.
Her escape would be discovered in
a short time; his absence would be
noted; the testimony OF the coachman.
or the stable boys. of the iodgekeeper
would be had. II would be known
that they had gone away together.
She would be ruined forever. Her
MISUNDERSTANDING would XIII him.
Or She would have given all she
possessed If she had not abandoned
Darlington.
1t was too late to 90 back now.
however. What she must do would
be in some way 20 get away from the
earl and carry out her original plan OF
boarding her ship at Portsmouth. She
vowed that she would force Strathgate
to Kali her rather than enter his house
Tor single moment How she hated
the man, How she longed for morn
ing TO come when she could stand face
70 face with him and tell him what
she thought OF him.
The pace seemed TO be a little slow
er. Were the horses at last giving
out? She leaned far out OF the win
dow 20 see. 10 was totally dark how
ever. and she could sec nothing. The
road was rousher now They we're
passing through a heavy woodland
The carriage bumped and swayed
frighUully. but Strathgate did not
dare TO slacken the pace. az least not
at present With whip and voice he
urged the tired animals on.
They had borne themselves gallant
ly. He Judged that they had gone at
least 20 miles from Carrington. 4 few
miles farther on was a tavern where
the ladies could be bestowed. The tav-
ern keeper was a friend OF his who
would ask no questions. From thence
he could summon factotums Of his
own. who could by force, A. necessary,
compel Ellen 90 continue the Journey.
And there he could leave Deborah.
whose presence was most unwelcome
TO him. Once let him get Ellen in his
own castle. he would hold her there
at all hazards; and by that time she
would be so hopelessly compromised
that she would have no place else to
go. He trusted 10 his powers OF fas-
cination 20 render her captivity agree
able. and
But fortune was on Lady Caring
tons side that night in more WAYS
than one For with a sudden Jolt the
fore-right-wheel Of the carriage sank
into a deep rut There was a crash
as the wheel gave way at the hub.
StrathSate was hurled violently from
his seat and lay stunned in the road.
The horses, utterly tired out. were glad
to stop. Ellen and Deborah were
thrown against the front OF the car.
riage, but beyond a severe shaking and
some bruises. sustained no injuries.
Surmising what had happened, FL.
len tore open the door OF the carriage.
seized Deborah by the hanc. dragged
her out and ran desperately down the
road. She did not see Strathgate;
she did not know where he was: she
ala not care. She suspected that he
must have been thrown from his seat
by the shock. but she had something
else to do than to think Of him. Her
hrst duty was to get away.
With all the strength OF her stout
young body she ran down the road.
She did not turn back toward Ports.
mouth, for she OWNED that IL Strath-
gate recovered consciousness he would
Immediately imagine that she had
gone that way. She was unfamiliar
with the part OF the country in which
she found herself, but she had a gen
era1 idea that the roads in either d.
rection led to the sea, and her hope
was to reach the shore. There was
nothing that foated that she could not
sail. II she could get a boat, she
could make Portsmouth harbor with.
out danger OF pursuit Holding fast
TO Deborah, she fed along the road.
Fortunately the way was deserted.
They saw no one, and for a long time
did not pass any houses.
The dawn was gray in the east
Ellen judged it was about half after
four O'clock. They had been gone two
hours from the castle and a half hour
from the carriage when the road
swerved to the southwark and led from
the forest to little fishing hamlet on
the shore Of Lyme bay. Nobody was as
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