Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-03-30

nothing WIS heard but the clanklng
stroke OF the levers. the pounding Of
the wheels and the laborcd breathing
OF tba man and woman The girl
looked exhausted. and Morton felt as
though there was glowing furnace
in his chest. How long could he last
out? he wondered. Then he felt the
car run easier. and then-they had
reached the crest OF the grade and
started downward. Morton looked at
his watch. 1t was II o'clock
Wen make it now" he said. "You
rest"
The girl sank YEARLY upon the plat
form. while the car sped through
woods and meadows. ratified over
bridges and rumbled past walls of
Hck.
IL wish | could ever thank you"
she said. looking up. her face clear in
the soft starlight
You have thanked me - many
times"
But l mean In words. l don't know
what i would have done II you had
not helped me. May I tell you why 1
am running away?"
You needn't unless you wish.
know you've done nothing wrong. You
couldn't"
81 want to tell you. l couldn't bear
at least-I mean | want you to IN
derstand-it wasn't wrong. don't
think you'll say 1t was wrong. You
see. my mother died n few days ago
and, oh, l loved her sol-and my STEP
father hated me. He was cruel to me
and cruel to her even at the last
After she was buried he was. worse
than ever, and yesterday he told me
must leave his house. was glad to
go-only too glad. asked him for
my mothers little trinkets-things she
had had as a girl. few little bits Of
jewelry my own father had given her
and her picture She told him on her
deatbbed they were to be mine. But
when l asked for them he refused me;
said the law gave them TO him. told
him l would take them. and be threat
ened me with the jail il l did; told
NE he would have me dragged through
the streets Ike a common criminal.
To-day he left the house for a mo-
ment, and | broke open his desk and
took them and ran away. 1 thought /
could reach the city before he could
catch me. and, once there, he would
never find me. and l could live hap
PLY alone"
The girl hid her face and cried. Nor
ton lOnged to comfort her. but he felt
1t was best to let her have her cry out
You are going alone to the city.
with no plans. no money, knowing no
oneY' he asked when she became
quieter.
Il can be lost there and safe from
him. 1 can find work. I'm not
afraid"
he returned no answer, but the
thought Of this friendless, innocent
unprotected girl exposed to all the dan
gers Of a great city was more than I'M
pleasant.
The car was slackening speed now.
and far up the road were the lighted
windows of a station. Morton brought
the car to standstill
1--WE must ditch It," he said. And to-
gether they lifted and tugged until the
machine was down the bank. Then in
silence they went on 10 the station.
and Morton bought tickets from a
sleepy clerk.
would you mind telling me your
name?" he asked as they walked to-
/ gether in the darkness
Mildred Clarke. / feel as though
you knew it, you've been SO good. so
kind-as kind as a friend could be, II
l had one"
Far down the track sounded the
whistle of 80.
Mildred, ] want to be more than q
friend. You put your trust IN me to
help you tonight Won't you trust me
longer? Let me help you for all my
life?"
The light of the engine fell full upon
the upturned face Of the girl.
Yes" she said softly.
Then the night express bore them
forward "to that new world which Is
the old"