Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-05-07

nave gwen us trouDle enough Wltnou
that"
"Oh. why are you so harsh? ~ she cried
throwing out her arms towards him II
eloquent entreaty. while the tears course
down her cheeks. What have l don
that is so dreadful? l could not low
your son, and do love another | am $,
grieved to have offended you. You uset
to be kind and like father to me"
And nice return you have made me
| have to blame myself to some extent fo
having allowed you to go on that mos
pcrnicious trip TO Scotland, where yot
were thrown into the company Of thi:
young adventurer by his scheming ole
father"
You may say what you like Of me,
she said bitterly. IL suppose that is one
of your privileges as my guardian. You
have no right, however, to speak evil OF
my friends
You are becoming impertinent,' he
answered. and resumed his calculations
in his note book. Kate covered back into
her corner again. while the train thun-
lered and screeched and ratified through
tho darkness, Looking through the steamy
window nothing was to be seen save the
twinkle here and there of the lights of
the scattered country cottages. Occasion
ally red signal lamp would glare down
upon her like the bloodshot eye of some
demon who presided over this kingdom of
iron and steam. Far behind a lurid trail
of smoke marked the way that they had
come. To Kate's mind it was all as weird
and gloomy and cheerless even as the
thoughts within her.
And they were gloomy enough. Where
was she going? How long was she going
tcr? What was she to do when there?
On all these points she was absolutely
ignorant What was the object of this
sudden flight from London? Her guardian
could have separated her from the Dims-
dales in many less elaborate ways than
this. Could it be that he intended some
s. stem of pressure and terrorism by which
she should be forced to accept Ezra as
suitor? She clenched her little white
teeth as she thought of it, and registered
vow that nothing in this world would
ever bring her to give in upon that point.
There was only one bright spot in her
outlook. When she reached her destina
tion she would at once write to Mrs.
Dimsdale, tell her where she was, and
ask her frankly for an explanation of
their sudden silence. How much wiser if
she had done so before. Only a foolish
pride had withheld her from it.
The train had already stopped at one
large junction. Looking out through the
window she saw by the lamps that it
NC c,,,lIfDrJ ;nto
able interval of gathering and tossing and
through the darkness, they came
to second station Of Importance, Peters
field. 1--WE are nearing our destination"
Girdlestone remarked, shutting up his
book.
This proved to be a small wayside sta
tion. Illuminated by a single lamp, which
gave no information as to the name. They
were the only passengers who alighted,
and the train rolled on for Portsmouth,
leaving them with their trunks upon the
dark and narrow platform. 1t was dark
night with a bitter wind which carried
with it a suspicion of dampness, which
might have been rain. or might have been
the drift of the neghboring ocean. Kate
was numb with the cold, and even her
yarnt companion stamped his feet and
shvered as he looked about him.
Il telegraphed for a trap" said he to
the guard. as there not one waiting?"
Yes, sir, if you be Mister Girdestone.
Here, Carker, here's your gentleman"
At this summons a rough-looking ostler
emerged into the circle of light thrown
By the single lamp and touching his hat,
h. H.
the individual i'll question. The guard
and he then proceeded to drag the trunks
to the vehicle 1t was small wagonette,
with high seat for the driver in front
where to, sri" asked the driver, when
the travellers had taken their seats.
ITO Hampton Priory. Do you know
where that is?"
'Bettern two mile from here and close
to the railway line" said the man. There
hain't been no one livin' there for two
year at the least"
I'VE are expected and all will be ready
for u.s." said Girdlestone Go as fast
as you can, for we are cold" The driver
cracked his whip and the horse started
at brisk trot down the dark country
road
Looking round her Kate saw that they
were passing through large country vii
lage. consisting of broad main street.
with few Insignificant offshoots branch
ing away on either side. A church stood
Oh one side, and on the other the village
inn. The door was open and the light
shining through the red curtains of the
bar parlor looked warm and cosy. The
nurmur of cheerful voices sounded from
within Kate as she looked across felt |
1oubly cheerless and lonely by the con-
-rast. Girdlestone looked, too, but with |
different emotions.
The road was lined on either side by |
high hedges. which threw a dense shadow |
over everything. The feeble lamps of the |
\ xagonette bored two little yellow tunnels |
IF light on either side. The man let the |
.cins lie loose upon the horses back, and |
he animal picked out the roadway for |
tself. As they swung round from the
narrow lane on to a broader road Kate |
,roke out into a little cry of pleasure.
There's the sea-" she exclaimed joy !
ully. The moon had broken from behind
he clouds, and glittered on the vast sill
'ery expanse.
"Yes, that's the sea-" the driver said,
and them lights down yonder is at Lea
Claxton, where the fisher folk live; and
'ver there" pointing with his whip to
ong dark shadow on the waters, lis the
OiIywoite."
THE WHAT
THE Isle of Wight, he means" said