Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-10-08

tSii ycu CNclS tlllS. IL lie Illus Inc
with you, he will kill YOU
HE will find it tough job" said
Shil drily
"Oh, you do not know. You are in
his power. | will tell you everything.
But get me away from here. | came
down to Gorehayen by a late train
last night, and have walked over here.
i have been walking all night"
Walked Laurie? 1t is twenty
miles from Gorehaven.'
Yes, yes, but had to do it. had
to put him off the scent-oh, please
take me somewhere. | have not seen
a soul as yet. No one knows | am
here. If you can only get me to a
safe place. ! will tell you everything.
But | am tired out, hungry, cold"
Poor child" he said tenderly, and
then he looked across the marshland,
as though expecting to find some solu-
ton of the difficulty that confronted
him. AS his eyes fell on the punt
they frightened, and an idea struck
him.
Get into my boat he said abrupt
~, w III tohS ,Sou W Il pldCp WueIS
you will be comfortable, and where
the people, though they are rough
fisher. folk, will look after you well.
No one will ever think of looking for
you there. and | will call and see you
at any time you please. No one Will
speak word if I tell them to be
silent. They are tenants of. mine,
and the man is devoted TO me- Have
you anything with you-a hox-no, of
course you haven't"
Il have nothing she replied, as
they moved down to the little quay
My only thought was to get away. to
hide myself from my husband, TO see
you and tell you everything Let us
be quick. Shall we be seen? Is there
anyone about YETI" She spoke
rapidly and nervously, and looked
round at the fringe of trees behind
them
''There is no one about" he said
quietly. ''and we shall not meet any
one on the way We are going to
leave civilization behind us l am
going to take you, Laurie. into the
desolation of a Wilderness"
Tie lSlpSu net lntO lle punt ana
arranged the rug so that she could lie
down on it and wrap it round her
body. Then he called to the dog, who
was regarding the proceedings with
large wistful eyes, and unfastened the
rope which held the boat to the quay.
Pat leapt on board and ensconced him.
self on the rug by Laura's side, and
the boat drifted slawly down on the
ebb tide
There's fair wind down the
creek" said Shil; 'Tll put up the sail,
and keep my strength for the last bit
Of ther journey, which will be against
wind and tide"
He fixed up short thick mast in
the bows, and hoisted lug sail
When he had made the ballard fast,
he came aft with the sheet, and. TAX
ing one of the oars, placed it over the
stern, and used it as rudder. >,
1--WE shall slip down in no time
now" he said cheerfully. you'd bet
ter rest. Laurie, and try to get a bit
of sleep. Directly we arrive, we'll get
some breakfast. I've been out all
night myself"
He spoke gently, almost tenderly.
Laura, who had not heard his voice
for more than two years, almost fan
cied they were back in the Stonewold
Hills In the early days of their friend
ship, when there was as yet no talk
of love between them. There was no
passion in his voice, no sorrow, only
kind sympathy and friendly care for
her comfort
Il am dead beat" she replied with
a smile. 81 will try and sleep. Good
night Jack"
The sound of his Christian name
sent the blood to his cheeks, and for
a moment his hand was unsteady on
the oar. He longed to rise to his
feet, and kneel by her side, and kiss
her lips, and hold her in his arms.
But his strong will kept his passions
in check, and he merely smiled back
at her.
Good night he said merrily.
"Sleep Well"
And in less than five minutes she
was asleep, and ShiPs hungry eyes
were fixed on her face Fortunately
for him there was fair wind and tide,
and an overwhelming creek before
him. The boat required little or no
for she only drew six inches
of water, and the creek. right up to
the very banks, was as good as open
sea to her. 1t did not even matter
if she gybed, as the spars were so
light in comparison to the weight of
the hull, that this accident, feared by
all sailors when running before the
wind, would have had no effect on her
stability.
And so these two drifted down the
tide, the woman asleep and dreaming
of the happiness within her grasp,
and the man with his eyes fixed on
the white, lovely face and the crown
Of auburn hair. Surely, he thought to
even the Lady of Shalott did
not look more beautiful than this.
Then suddenly the sun thrust it's
head over the bank OF clouds, and
land and water sparkled at the sight
of it, and the clouds themselves We're
fringed with crimson and gold.
Laura's face glittered like brunished
copper, and her pale face cleaned
like marble against the black rug
Alas. Leonore. for all your plans,
on1 nj tho cnbar,oc Of ,ro,r r,-.;o,,