Charlevoix county herald., 1913-11-01


She drew back, the though: of
the river so near sending the cold
chills over her. Should she make
her presence known? And if she
did what would il accomplish save
to postpone the effort until an
other time, or substitute a differ
ent method. For she would not
dare to voice her suspicious. No,
she would return to her room and
prepare to follow her friend and
by stopping her at the very mo-
ment of committing her rash act,
give her such shock as would
effectually prevent a repetition of
the attempt.
In a few moments she was dress
ed in a dark gown and small
close hat. This accomplished she
put out her light and applied her
eye to the keyhole. There was a
thin streak of light coming from
the partly opened door at the end
relief; there was yet plenty of
precaution began gently turning
the knob of her door, pausing
moment before opening it, she lis
tened; not sound broke the still
ness of the sleeping house. The
opening door creaked and her
! heart beat wildly for a moment for
she did not care to have Julia
! know she was watched, but no evil
dence coming from the room be-
low of having heard anything, she
grew calm again and stationed
herself in the open doorway to
watch. She had not stood there
long, though it seemed an eternity
when the door on which her eyes
were fastened opened and Julia
fully dressed and carrying d small
bag in her hand came out and adj
vanced swiftly down the hall.
The watcher drew back further
into the darkness of her room and
watched her friend without paus-
ing pass down the stairs. Now she
was in the hall, surely she would
not dare TO risk detection by open
ing the heavy front doot. No, she
was going ON; now she was in the
dining room; and now she could
no longer hear her; she must have
entered the library whose carpet
ed floor deadened her footballs.
Moving cautiously to the head
every nerve strained to catch the
faintest sound. What was that
slight grating noise that broke the
stiffness! She leaned still far
Their over the bannisters to listen.
Then in a flash it came to her
it was window being cautious
H. raised, silence and then it was
as silently lowered.
She sped down the stairs careless
of the noise she might make
through the dining-room and into
the library. The library window
opened upon a piazza and she
reached it just in time to see Jul
liza hurrying down the driveway
not toward the main entrance-but
toward the rear of the grounds
where there was a small gate
opening onto back road or lane
and used chiefly by the servants.
In moment Sydney had effect
ed her egress in the same manner
and was following the retreating
figure as closely as she dared. 1t
hurried on evidently in no doubt
as TO it's destination and there
was nothing to do but follow. On
reaching the gate it passed
through and turned toward the
left. At the end of the grounds
this road was crossed by another.
AS she reached the juncture of
these roads Julia slackened her
pace and thinking a crisis might
be at hand Sydney ventured to
quicken hers so that she was close
behind her when she reached the
crossroad. So close that she saw
a man come forward from the
shadows TO meet her and her keen
sight detected the outlines of a
carriage
"You are late" the man said,
"we have no time to lose"
He took hold of her arm to help
her into the vehicle when a clear
voice behind them said quietly:
"Wait moment; you have for
gotten something
The girl gave a slight scream
and the man with an muttered |
oath attempted to thrust her in
to the carriage, but she broke a
way from him and flung herself |
sobbing into her friends arms.
"Julia, what does this mean?
But Julia's only answer was sobs. /
She turned to the man who stood |
sullenly looking on
Excuse me, Miss" he said an
grily, "but you've got no call to
interfere between this young lady |
and me. She's my promised wife |
and we're on our way to get mar
ried."
To her CONSERVATION Was recog-
nized the mans voice as that of |
William, Mr.. Armstrong; groom.
"Come," he said to the weeping
girl, "you've promised and you've
got TO come"