Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-04-03

Houshron.born bred from centuries OF
contact With mysticai race. had her
In it, grip. Yet all the while he,
sober actual common-sense was cryins
out upon her-and crying in vain.
Unknown appetences that had lain
darkling In her blood. come down tc
her from long generations. were sud
denly compelling her. The curtain
began to wave In little wind that
whispered in the silk, and somewhere
in the yard below she could hear So
lin nipping the clover.
She was to 80 or the "trouble-cloud"
would carry him away!
A strange expression Of mingled
fright and resolve grew on her face.
She ran on tiptoe to her wardrobe
and with frantic haste dragged out a
rough cloak that fell over her soft
house-sown, covering 1t to the feet. 1t
had q peaked hood falling from its
collar and into this she thrust the
resentful masses Of her hair. Every
few seconds she caught her breath In
short gasp. and once she paused
with an apprehensive glance over hen
shoulder and sllivered. She scarcely
knew what she did. nor did she ask
herself what might be the outcome OF
such an absurd adventure. She nei.
Their knew nor cared. She was swept
of her feet and whirled away into
some outlandish limbo Of shadowy
fear and crying dread.
Slipping off her shoes. she went
nj, In ~ ~
She Let herself out Of the door and,
shoes on again, ran across the clover
A hound clambered about her, whin.
ing, but she silenced him with a whis-
pered word. Selim lifted his head and
she patted the snuNling inquiring
muzzle an instant before. with her
hand on his name, she led him
through the hedge to the stable. 1t
was but the work OF moment to
girth. Then, mounting. she turned
him into the lane.
He Was thoroughbred, and her tense
excitement seemed to communicate
itself to him. He blew the breath
through his delicate haring nostrlls
and flung up his head at her restrain.
ing hand on the Bride Once on the
Red Road. she let him have his will
The long vacant highway reeled ou'
behind her to the fierce and lonely
hoof-tattoo. She was scarcely con.
scious Of consecutive Thoughtful was
a vague tumble Of chaotic Impressions
threaded by that necessity that called
her like al :Hs!stent voice.
Copse and hedge few by, streaks Of
distemper on the shifting gloom;
swarthy farmhouse roofs huddled like
giant Indians Oh the trail. and ponds
in pastures g!inted back the pale
glimmering Of stars. The faint mist.
tangled In the branches Of the trees.
made them look like ghosts gathered
to see her pass. Was this real or
was she dreaming? Was she, Shirley
cambridge, really galloping down an
open road at midnight-because OF tho
hare-brained maunderinss of . half.
mad old negro?
The great iron gate Of Damory court
hung open, and scarcely slackening
her pace. she rode through and up
the long drive. The glooming house
front was blank and silent and IT.
huge porch columns looked like lonely
gray monoliths in the wan light. Not
twinkle showed at chink or Granny:
the ponderous shutters were closed.
There was q sense Of desertion. Of
emptiness about the place that
brought her heart into her throat With
q sickly horrible feeling of certainty.
She jumped down from the blowing
horse and hurried around the house.
The door Of the Kitchens was open
and ladder of dim reddish light fell
from 1t across the grass. She ran
swiftly and looked in. A huddled fg-
ure sat there. rocking to and fro In
the lamplight
Aunt Daph," she called. what -
the mattorr"
The turbaned head turned sharply
toward her. Dat 20. Miss shirley?'
the old woman ssid huskily. rs 70
come ter SEQ Mars John ~ he swine
away3 70 too late honey. too late!
He done gone Ter do deepo TO tor
ketch do th'oo train. I'm. oh. honey.
All knows in maA ole ha'at dat MARI
John ain nevah gwins come back Ter
DANNY co'o& 70 moi"
fTo IA Crncluded.)