Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-05-14
himself join us for day or two In each


bles had been that there seemed to b.
some chance of getting rid of her terrible
suitor.
And why not?" the old man asked an
grily. Are you SO bitter against the lac
aS TO grudge him the society of his owr
father|
Kate was saved from further reproaches
by the entrance of the old woman to clear
the table. The last item of intelligence
however, had given her a terrible shock
and at the same time had filed her with
astonishment. What could the fast-living
comfort-seeking man about town want IN
this dreary abode? She knew Ezra well
and was sure that he was not man to
alter his ways Of life or suffer discomfort
of any kind without some very definite OBJ
ject 1t seemed to her that this was a
new mesh in the net which was being
| drawn round her.
When her guardian had left the room
| Kate asked Mrs. Jorrocks for sheet OF
paper. The crone shook her head and
wagged her pendulous lip in derision.
Mister Girdlestone thought as you
would be after that" she said. There
amt no paper here nor pens, neither, nor
ink, neither"
What. none Dear Mrs. Jorrocks. do
| have pity on me, and get me a sheet, how
ever old and soied. See, here is some
silver You are very welcome to it if
you will give me the materials for writing
one letter"
Mrs. Jorrocks looked longingly with
he" bleared eyes at the few shllings which
the girl held out to her. but she shook her
head. Il dursn't do it, she said. Its
as much as my place is worth
Then | shall walk down to Bedsworth
myself" said Kate angrily. Il have no
doubt that the people in the postoffice will
let me sit there and write it."
The old hag laughed hoarsely to her
self until the scraggy sinews Of her with
cred neck stood out like whipcord. She
was still chuckling and coughing when the
merchant came back into the room.
What them" he asked sternly, looking
from one to the other. He was himself
constitutionally averse to merriment, and
h, was irritated by it in others. why
are you laughing, Mrs. Jorrocks"
Il was a-laughing at her. the woman
wheezed, pointing with tremulous fingers.
She was askn' me for paper, and sayin'
as she would 90 and write letter at the
Bedsworth postoffice."
"You must understand once for all.
Girdlestone roared, turning savagely upon
the girl that you are cut off entirely
from the outer world. l shall give you no
loophole which you may utilize to con
tnue your intimacy with undesirable peo-
II -, thot oh lH
not be provided with either paper or ink
Poor Kate's last hope seemed to be fad
ing away. Her heart sank within her,
but she kept a brave face, for she did not
wish him to see how his words had strick-
en- her. She had desperate plan in her
head, which would be more likely to be
successful could she but put him off his
guard.
She spent the morning in her own little
room. About one o'clock she heard the
clatter of hoofs and the sound of wheels
on the drive. Going down she found that
it was a cart which had come from Beds
worth with furniture. There were car
pets, chest of drawers tables, and sew
eral other articles. which the driver pro-
ceeded to carry upstairs helped by John
Girdlestone The old woman was in the
upper room. 1t seemed to Kate that she
might never again have such an opportu-
nifty of carrying out the resolve which she
had formed. She put on her bonnet and
began to stroll lstlessly about in front
of the door, picking few struggling
leaves from the neglected lawn. Gradually
she sauntcred away in this manner to the
r.Lo hpn ta
swift, timid glance around, she slipped in
among the trees, and made the best OF her
way, half-walking. half-running, down the
dark winding drive.
oh, the joy of the moment when the
great white house which had already be-
come so hateful to her was obscured
among the trees behind her She had
some idea of the road which she had trav-
ersed the night before. Behind her were
all her troubles. In front the avenue
gate, Bedsworth and freedom. She would
send both telegram and letter to DR..
Dimsdale, and explain to him her exact
situation. If the kind-hearted and ener-
getic physician once knew of it, he would
take care that no harm befell her. She
could return then. and face with light
heart the worst which her guardian could
do to her. Here was the avenue en-
trance now, the high lichen-eaten stone
pilIars. with the battered device upon the
top. The iron gate between was open.
With a glad cry she quickened her pace,
and in another moment would have been
in the high road. when
Now then, where are you a-comin'
to-" cried a gruff voice from among the
bushes which fanked the gate.
The girl stopped all in tremble. In
the shadow of the trees there was a camp
stool and on the camp stool sat a saw
age looking man. dressed in a dark cor
duroy suit, with a blackened clay pipe
stuck in the corner of his mouth. His
w.ather-beaten mahogany face was plen-
tifully covered with smallpox marks, and
one of his eyes was .sightless and white
from the effects of the same disease. He
rose now. and interposed himself between
her and the gate.
"My good man." she said in a trembling
voice, for his appearance was far from
81 wish to go past and to get
to Bedsworth. Here is a shilling, and |
beg that you will not detain me"
Her companion stretched on very
dirty hand, took the coin. spun it up
in the air, caught it. bit it, and finally !
plunged it into the depths Of his trouser |
pockets. NO road this way, missy he
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