Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-04-17
nrst duty was TO get away.

nrst duty was to get away. e.
With all the strength Of her stout
young body she ran down the road
one did not turn back toward Ports.
mouth, for she OWNED that II Strath-
gate recovered consciousness he would
immediately imagine that she had
gone that way. She was unfamiliar
WIN The part Of the country in which
sne found herself, but she had a gen.
eral Idea that the roads in either di.
rection led to the sea, and her hope
was 10 reach the shore. There was
nothing that hoated that she could not
SAIL. II she could get a boat, she
could make Portsmouth harbor with.
Out danger Of pursuit. Holding fas,
TO Deborah, she fed along the road
fortunately the way was deserted.
Iney saw no one. and for a long time
did not pass any houses.
The dawn was gray IN the cas-,
Ellen judged II was about half s,,a,
four o'clock. They had been gone two
hours from the castle and a half hour
from the carriage when the mad
swerved to the southwark and led from
the forest to little fishing hamlet on
the shore Of Lyme bay. Nobody was as
yet stirring In the town, although
lights twinkled here and there in the
windows, indicating that some Of the
hsherfolk were making ready for their
days labor.
Ellen was too desperately anxious
to get away to stop to bargain with
anyone for a boat She ran down 10
the little wharf iutting out into the
small inclosed harbor and rapidly Sc.
lecting the best Of the little vessels
tied there, she hauled in the painter.
drew II alongside the wharf. made
Deborah get aboard, laid five guineas
down on the wharf where the boat had
been secured, in the hope that the
owner OF the boat would receive the
money which was full value for the
vessel. hoisted the sail, showed away
from the wharf, and under the inhu.
ence Of gentle breeze ran rapidly out
Of the harbor.
As she cleared the headlands that
marked the little haven, she found the
wind fair for Portsmouth. She put
the helm up. eased OF the sheet, and
ran away dead before II for the place
where she would be. Her heart ex.
u,ted. She had left Darlington. she
had shaken on Strathgate and she
was at home upon the sea.
Heart up, Debbie!" she cried. III
this breeze holds. a day should fetch
us iuto Portsmouth and another morn.
Ing will see US safely bound for Phjla.
delphia in my own ship. We are well
rid Of these yillainous men"
Il would Sir Charles Seton we're
here" cried poor Debbie, who had
not the advantage Of Ellen's exten.
sive and intimate acquaintance With
the male sex, and who. therefore, did
not share her detestation of it.
And what is he to thee, child?"
asked Ellen gleefully.
He said he cared very much for
me- returned Deborah, "yesternight
in the. library over the good book Of
Master Baxter" o.,
IT'S a gallant gentleman, Debbie."
returned Ellen. But they are all
that before marriage. My lord Of
Darlington ] once thought was we'll
nigh perfect"
Ellen stopped suddenly and COM
pressed her lips.
But what did he" as''::ed Debbie,
that you leave him thus?"
81 saw him m the arbor with his
arms around Lady Cecily. She chung
to his neck and he kissed her. |
taxed him with II and he did not
deny IT, He hath Knocked me and
jeered at me and been ashamed OF me
ever since his fine friends came to
Carrington-and we were so happy-so
happy-before. Oh, Debbie, Debbie!"
And this heroine who had schemed
and fought like a man for her lib
erty bowed her head upon the Puri-
tan's shoulder and wept like any other
woman. It was evidence Of her quail.
ity, however, that during her weeping
her hand did not leave the tiller and
she still conned the little ship that
bore Ellen and her fortunes.
Deborah consoled her as best she
might, and IN turn Ellen assured her
that IL Sir Charles really loved her
he would follow her wherever she
might 90. Who shah say in that a.
surance Ellen was not persuading her
self that II Bernard Darlington really
loved his own wife he would not be
far from Charles Seton on the chase
across the sea! .. f.. .,-. t .al b