Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-04-17

the carriage at the pace they were
going, and he therefore felt safe for
the rest Of the journey, although he
did not resume his seat on the box
nor did he check the speed Of the
horses. Indeed, fearful lest the Dis
tol shot might have been heard by one
OF the gamekeepers in Darlington
park, who might perchance arouse the
house, Strathgate put the horses to a
gallop and sent them flying over the
hard road. What II he did founder
the horses? He would get so far away
before morning as to make pursuit i'm.
possible.
So through che long hours he kent
up the mad pace over hin and down
dale, recklessly driving forward the
noble beasts until they were almost
ready to drop with fatigue. He was
In high glee at the success Of his ad-
venture, and even the effort OF Ellen
to shoot him added a zest to the az.
fair, flavor Of novelty, to which his
jaded palate responded maryelously.
Within the carriage Deborah
crouched In Ellen's arms. She had
been terrified beyond measure BY the
situation, but Ellen had soothed her
as best she might and the little Purl.
tan had at last sunk 10 sleep resting
on ElleBs shoulder. ...-
This was fine end, or q fine begin.
ming Of her adventure, thought Lady
Darlington, bitterly. She had never
dreamed Of this and she blamed her.
self for fool not to have thought Of
1t. OF course Lord Strathgate's inter.
est in her was a selfish one. Almost
she wished that she had stayed at Car.
rington even though my lord had
proved faithless to her with that paint.
ed Lady Cecily. But at the thought
Of that woman she almost forgot her
own desperate situation for the time
being. She loathed Strathgate, she
hated Darlington, she abominated the
whole sex whose garb she wore. q.
What could she do? Again and
again she looked out Of the carriage
at the road flying alongside. Again and
again she resolved to try a leap which
she had sense enough to know would
be terribly dangerous at the rate they
were going. She was not much of a
horsewoman, but she realized after a
time that such . pace could not be
kept up forever Her opportunity
would come when the horses gave out
and their speed slackened.
She wished that she had not dis
charged both pistols uselessly. She
would like to kill strathgate when
she got out Of the carriage. shs
had never been % insulted in her hfs
The blood famed 10 her face as she
thought Of 1t. And yet she had Justice
enough in her soul, In spite of the tur.
MOL raging within her, to see that
there was a certain amount Of excuse
for Strathgate. Educated as he had
been. with the habits and customs of
his time-which she was beginning
dimly to comprehend-how could he
suppose that she expected purely dis
interested service from him? He
counted upon being paid for all he did
for her, in his castle. +"
Her escape would be discovered in
q short time; his absence would be
noted; the testimony Of the coachman
OF the stable boys, OF the lodgekeeper
would be had. II would be known
that they had gone away together.
She would be ruined forever. Her
MISUNDERSTANDING would kill him
Or She would have given all she
possessed II she had not abandoned
Darlington. .-.I
II was too late to go back now.
however. What she must do would
De In some way to get away from the
earl and carry out her original plan OF
boarding her ship at Portsmouth. She
vowed that she would force Strathgate
10 Kill her rather than enter his house
for single moment. How she hated
the man! How she longed for morn.
Ing to come when she colld stand face
to face with him and tell him what
she thought Of him!
The pace seemed to be a little slow.
er. Were the horses at last giving
out? She leaned far out Of the win.
dow to see. It was totally dark. how.
ever, and she could see nothing. The
road was rougser now. They were
passing through q heavy woodland.
The carriage bumped and swayed
frightfully, but Strathgate did not
dare to slacken the pace, at least not
at present With whip and voice be
urged the tired animals on.
They had borne themselves gallant.
H. He judged that they had gone at
least 20 miles from Darlington. A few
miles farther on was a tavern where
the ladies could be bestowed. The tav.
ern keeper was friend Of his who
would ask no questions From thence
he could summon factotums Of his
own, who could by force, IL necessary,
compel Ellen to continue the journey.
And there he could leave Deborah,
whose presence was most unwelcome
TO him. Once lot him get Ellen in he
own castle, he would hold her there
at all hazards; and by that time She
would be so hopelessly compromised
that she would have no place else to
60. He trusted to his powers OF fas