The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-11-25

her subcOnsCiousne2s. rke splrltuni
tentacles feeling ahead OF her. had
encountered and rccolled from n shape
of owl. n spcctcr OF horror obscene and
mallgn, crouching. ready 10 SPRING
there. In the shadow OF night =. :
And her breath was smothered In
her throat and her heart amote no
medly against the frall walls Of Its
cage that thev seemed like 10 burst
while she stood transfxed. frozen In
lnaction. limbs stiifening. roots of her
hair stirring. fingers gripping the ban
lister rail until they panied her: and
with eyes that stared wide into tho
black heart Of nothingness. until the
night seemed pricked with evanescent
periods OF dim IRE. peoplcd with mon.
strous and terrible shadows closing
about her. e..
Yot--it was absurd She must not
yield TO such puerlle superstitions.
There was nothing there. e.
There was something there .
something that like an incarnation Of
hatred was stalking her.
II only she dared soream' II only
she dared turn and fly. back 20 the
comfort Of light and human com
panyl
There arose n trampllng OF feet In
the hallway: and she heard Maitland's
voice like n far echo. as he babe the
police good night And distant and
unreachahie as he seemed, the sound
Of his words brought her strength and
some reinsurance. and she grew
slightly more composed Yet. the In
slant that he had turned away 20 talk
20 the cabman. her fright OF that un.
speakGble and inoorporeal menace
flooded her consciousness like a great
wave. sweeping her-metaphorically--
on her feet Aud indeed. for the time,
she felt as N drowning. overwhelmed
in vast waters. sinking. sinking Into
the black abyss Of syncope.
Then. as a drowning person-we'rs
told--clutches at straws. she grasped
again at the vibrations OF his voice
What was he saying?
you will walt outside, please. until
come out or send somebody. whom
YOU viii take wherever directed. :"
-Speaking 20 The cabman. think.
ing OF her. providing for her escape.
Considorate and foresightod as al.
ways. How she could have thanked
hint Tho warmth OF gratitude that
enyeloped her almost unacrvcd her:
she was put 20 II 10 restrain her i'm.
pulse 10 rush down the stairs and .
But no. she must not risk tbs
chance Of rebuff. How could she fore
tell what was In hts mind and heart
how probe the depths OF his feeling
/ toward herr Perhaps he would 70
ceiye her protestations IN skcptlc spir'
| Il. Heaven knew be had cause to-
| Dared she q. To be rcpulsedl
But no. He had provided this means
for flight: she would advantage her
self OF Il and and thank him
BY letter. Best so. for he must ever
/ think the worst OF her. she could
never undecclve hiri--pride restrain
ing and UNFOLDING her.
Better so: she would 60. 10 quickly,
before he discovered hor absence from
the fiat
And Incontinentiy she swung abou,
and few down the stairs. silently.
treadiny as lightly on the heavily
nadded steps as though she had been
thistledown whiried adrift by the
wind. altogether needless Of the
creeping terror she had sensed on the
upper flight. careless OF all save her
immediate need TO reach that cab be
fore Maitland should discover that she
had escaped.
The door was Just closing behind
the cabby as she reached the bottom
step: and she paused. considering that
Il we're best 10 wait moment. n
least, lest he should be surprised nj
the quickness with which his employ
or found work for him: paused and on
some mysterious impulse half turned
glancing back up the stairs.
Not a thought too soon: another In
stant's hesitation and she had beer
caught. Some one-a man-was dc
scending; and rapidly. Maitland
Even In her brief glance she saw IN,
white shield OF a shirt bosom CLEAN
duh against the shadows. Maitland
was in evening dress. Could Il b.
l.posslble =
No time now for conjecture. time
now only for action. She sprang FOL
the door. had II open In a trice. and
before the cabby was really en-
throned upon his lofty Dor. the CIR
was on the step. fair troubled face
upturned TO him In wild entreaty.
"Hurryl" she cried, distracted
Drive on. at once! Please-oh
please!"
SEEKING reins and whip. he jerket
the startled animal between tho shaft
out Of its abstraction and
Il say. cabby! One momentl"
The cabman turned; the figure on
the stoop Of the house was undoubted
ly Maitland's-Maitland as he had Just
seen him. with the addition OF a hat
As he looked the man was At the