The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-04-09
CHAPTER Zv.-(Continued.)

the young man, smiling sadly You re-
gard me as an ogre, do you notT'
He Joined her as he spoke.
Let US walk on this way toward the
fields" he said.
Mr.. Calthorpe, the earl is Ill in a fit.
L Just saw your servant at DIR. Marks
door, and he told me what was the mat
ter"
And here have l been spending the
last hour with that irreclaimable spend
thrift, Dick, my brother, who has re-
turned from Ireland penniless, almost
shoeess; has taken up his quarters Il
the Black Wolf and has sent 10 20
money. Only last month | sent /
my own allowance fifty pounds, a :.
/ have been sent for to this Inn, ID
meanwhile the poor old earl 5 taken III
l must hurry off. Leila-may ! not say
Leila FL must hire a carriage here from
the Claytons, and be driven as fast as
possible to Beryl Court. Leila, trust
me-"
How can trust you, Mr.. Caithorpe"
she faltered. Il know you mean we'll
that you are honor itself; but--but that
terrible woman whom they call your
wife,
And T. he answered. declare solemn
ly that look Of love never passed from
my eyes TO hers-that word of love new
er passed my lips. She was as the veri-
est stranger / have danced a Scotch
reel with her: / handed her a chair at
that mad, merry supper at st. Swinthin's.
/ have scarcely, l believe, had any con-
versation with her alone in my life Save
for the Scotch law, and her calling her
self Mrs. Calthorpe in the presence Of
witnesses, she is no more my wife than
with her pals"
And yet she is considered(as your
wife, and something tells me that the
law will make her so. But you must go.
Mr.. Calthorpe."
II must" he said; but may 1 not
hope TO see you again soon?"
There must be no appointments" she
answered sadly. II must be circum-
spect, Mr.. Calthorpe. Gossips must not
chatter of me. Do you not feel that /
am rightT
You are right" he answered. though
it is anguish for me to be forbidden to
be near you,"
AID they clasped hands and parted.
Leila returned TO the library. Miss Ellen
Watson had departed. Leila obtained
the book she wanted, and set of on her
lonely walk to Woodmancote.
Darkness was gathering fast over the
world when Leila entered the secluded
lane with the high hedges. She was think
Ing far too much of Arthur Calthorpe
and the poor old earl, of Ellen Watson,
and the scapegrace brother of Arthur, to
give even a passing glance of fear at the
shadowy lane.
Presently the moon arose, and she
caught glirnpses OF It getting higher and
higher among the branches TO the left.
All at once a tootstep behind her in the
lane startled her-a heavy footstep, as if
a man accustomed to much walking-a
slow, measured tramp.
Nearer and nearer, closer and closer
She hurried Observation-Disclosures as If
something terrible was on her track but
still the footsteps gained upon her. She
ran-and Leila was swift of foot-she
painted for breath, and still while she ran
the footsteps gained upon her; not that
the person ran-)nly advanced at quick
marcn, taxing long strides
She shuddered at the conviction that
soon a strong and cruel hand would grasp
her shoulder, and then, cleaning before
her in the moonbeams, she perceived the
roof of a barn. Shelter hiding place
Tha. was her instinct. She rushed head
long across the road. There was a large
gate leading into a field. which swung
on its hinges, Unmatched: this gate Leila
pushed open, and entered the field. She
ran around the barn. and found the door
open. There was a heap of straw in q
corner; Leila c-ouched under it.
She vas in that portion of the shed
which lay close to the road. Where she
crouched then she heard most distinctly
the heavy tramping footsteps which had
frightened her. They passed the barn
went on a little way, then suddenly ceas
ed. Then Leila heard a cry that awoke
the night echoes. She trembled and shiv
cred with cold terror. She did not dare
to go out in the lane.
"No," she said to herself; Il must stay
here all night"
At that moment she heard other foot
steps In the lane, fast and furious, a:
those who ran in pursuit. 1t seemed Il
her, where she crouched on the straw, tina
, one person ran on. and the other stopped
she was sure of it-stopped close Il
the wooden wall of the barn. She coult
hear footsteps on the roadside grass sh,
could hear breathing as of one who pant
cd. exhausted and breathless, as she ha.
done first.
Soon it seemed to Leila that this per
ha
Should she steal out? There was an
cher road into Wocdmancote across tn
fields. 1t was longer road than by tn
lane, and there were stiles to climb. Still
abe would not be likely to meet the peopl
who had frightened her; and this person
whose signing, gasping voio, she hear,
outside in the lane, was evidently WON
an-perhaps woman of the over class
terrified and ill-used by some drunken
husband.
Leila took couragelby degrees, and lef
the barn, and went out into the feel
noiselessly, unheard by the person VIII
sat by the roadside leaning against tn
wall of the barn.
Leila went on, and leaned over the to-
rail of the gate. Yes, a woman sat il
shadow, leaning the back of her hea
against the wall of the barn. Her hea
was bare to the summer night Her long
dark hair hung low and wild on he
shoulders. Was Ii not gem like a dis
mond which flashed in the beams of tn
moon when the woman raised her han
to her brow?
She did not see Leila. What was sh
doing? Was she weeping, quietly, a
though her tears were wrung out of tn
bitterness of her soul?
Pity prompted Leila to approach thi
being in distress She went on sti
noiselessly. The woman was pressing
handkerchief to her brow. As she remoy
ed it, Leila saw with horror that it wa
soaked with blood.
Are you hurt? Can 1 help you?" ash
ed Leila.
The woman gave a start. Another me
ment. and she turned a IA e furious an
naughty toward Leila Leigh. She did nc
speak. Leila started back in amazemen
She was looking into the proud. colo