Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-04-03

IMAM once.
Bat they hesitated. I had been forced
to hurt him a little, and he was moan
ing %piteously. Who are you?" the cid
en- asked, she who had spoken
all through.
Nay. never mind that / answered.
DO you go. Go while you can You
know the way TO the wharf"
Yes" she answered. But l cannot
go and leave hin at you mercy. Re-
member he is a man and has"-
II is a ~treacherous s~coundrel,"
answered, giving his throat a squeeze.
but he shall have one more chance.
Listen, sirrah," / continued to the man,
and stop that noise, or / will knock
out your teeth with my dagger hilt.
Listen and be silent. / shall go with
these ladies, and L promise this-if they
are stopped or hindered on their way,
or IL evil happens to them al that
wharf, whose name YOU had better for
get, II Will be the worse for you. Do
you hear? You will suffer for il,
though there may be a dozen guards
about you. Mind YOU" [ added. II
have nothing to lose myself, for | am
desperate already"
He vowed, the poor craven, with his
suffering tongue. that he would be
true and vowed 1t again and again.
But | saw that his eyes did not meet
mine. They glanced instead at the
knife blade, and / knew even while l
pretended to trust him that he would
betray us. My real hope lay in his
fears and In this--that as the fugitiyes
knew the way to the wharf. and it
could not now be far distant, we might
reach II and go or board some vessel
| had gathered they were fleeing from
the country-before this wretch could
recover himself and get together a force
TO stop us. That was my real hope,
and in that hope only / left him.
We went as fast as the women could
walk. / did not trouble them with uues-
lions. Indeed / had myself no more
leisure than enabled me To notice their
general appearance, which was that Of
comfortable tradesmen's women folk.
Their cloaks and hoods were plainly
fashioned n of coarse stuff. their
shoes were thick and no jewel or scrap
of lace peeping out betrayed them.
Yet there was something in their car
riage hat could not be hidden. some
thing, which to my eye. told tales, so
that minute by minute / became more
sure that this was really an adyen-
ture worth pursuing, and that London
had Kept a reward in store for me be-
sides its cold stones ard inhospltable
streets.
The city was beginning to rouse itself.
As we fitted through the lanes aud
NtAiNNN NilANil TIC DcbA Gtll lflet DSttS anu
the river we net many people. chiefly
of the lower classes, on their way to
work. Yet in spite of this We had no
need to fear observation, for. though
the morning was fully come, with the
light had arrived such a thick. choking,
yellow fog as /. being for the most
part, country bred, had never exper-
fenced. 1t was So dense aud binding
that we had difficulty i'm keeping to-
gether and even hand in hand could
scarcely see n another. In my Won
der how my companions found their
way i presently failed TO notice their
condition and only remarked the dis
tress n exhaustion which one of them
was suffering when she began. notwith-
standing all her efforts, TO lag chino
Then l sprang forward. blaming my
self much. Forgive me" | said. You
are tired and no wonder. Let me carry
the child, mistress"
Exhausted as she was, she drew
away from me iealously.
No she painted. I'VE are nearly
there. | am better now" Ard she
strained the child closer to her. as
though she feared | might take it from
her by force.
We'll, IL you will not trust me-" / an
swered, "let your friend carry it for a
time. / can see you are tired OUT
Through the mist she bent forward
II peered into my face, her ewes
scarcely a foot from mine. The scrut-
my seemed to satisfy her. She drew d
long breath and held out her burden.
No h said. You shall take him.
/ win trust you"
/ took the little wrapped N, thing as
gently as l could. You shah not re-
pent ii it l can help it. mistress
"Bertram," she said.
Mistress Bertram." II repeated. Now
let us get on and lose no time"
A walk of a hundred yards or so
brought us clear of the houses and re-
vealed before US. I'm place of all else,
a yellow curtain OF fog. Below this,
at u feet, yet apparently a long way
from us, was a strange, pale line OF
shinmering light. which they told me
was the water. At first | could hardly
believe this. But, pausing a moment
while my companions whispered to-
gether, dull creakings n groanings
and uncouth shouts and cries. and at
last the regular beat OF oars. came to
my ears out of the bank OF vapor and
convinced me that W. really had the
river before us.
Mistress Bertram turned to me
abruptly. Listen she said. ''and de-
eide for yourself. my friend. We are
close to the wharf now. and in a few
minutes shall know our fate. II is
1 UOSSADAG that VIC TIA NC Intercepted Al
this point, inc If that happens 1t Will
be bad for me and worse for any one
aiding me. You have done us gallant
service, but you are young, and / am
loath to drag you into perils which
do not belong TO you, Take my ad-
vice, then, and leave us now I would
/ could reward YOU" she added hastily
"but that knave has my purse"
put the child gently back into hel
arms. "Goodby," she said with more
feeling. I'VE thank you. some day
may return TO England and have ample
mo- so fast / answered stiffly
did you think 1t possible. mistress
that l would desert you now? / CAV,
!, YOU Jack the child only becauce 1
might hamper me aud will be safe
with you. Come. LEI US on al once I,
/, the wharf"
! You mean it," she said.
! "Of a certainty" l answered. set
Ting my cap OF my head with per
haps a boyish touch of the braggart
AT any rate. she did not take me a
Y once at my word. and her thought 70
me touched me the more because
judged hcr--I know not exactly why
e TO be a woman not 10 thin
Il OF others. - not be reckless sh
said slowly, her eyes ~intently liked o
e mine. II should be sorry to bring evi
n upon you. You are but a boy"
e And yet" / answered smiling. "ther
a is os good as a price upon my hea
n already. I should be reckless III stui