The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1914-08-21

on her skin, for she seemed to hear
quayering through the wondering 81
lence, the voice Of Mad Anthony, a
IL had ~Quaycred TO her ear on thu
doorstep Of the negro cabin, with thC
w~clI-sweep throwing its long curved
shadow across the group Of laughing
faces:
All sees yo' Gwinc ter him. Al
heahs de co'ot-house clock a-strikin
IN de night-cn yo' gwine.
Don wait, don wait. lii mistis, el
lie troCble-cloud gwine kyah him
erway from yo' when De clock
strike thuhteen-when de clock strike
thuhteen-"
She dropped the lowered curtain
and drew back. A weird fancy had
begun TO press on her brain. Had not
Mad Anthony forctoId truly what had
gone before? What il there were
some cryptic meaning in this, too? To
90 to him, at midnight, by a lonely
country roadside, a girl? Incredible!
Yet her mind had opened to a vague
growing fear that was swiftly mount
ing 10 a thriving anxiety. That innate
superstition, secretly cherished while
derided, which is the heritage OF the
S%outhron born bred from centuries Of
contact with a mystical race, had her
in its grip. Yet all the while her
sober actual common-sense was crying
out upon her-and crying in vain.
Unknown appetenccs that had lain
darkling in her blood. come down to
her from long generations, were sud
denly compelling her. The curtain
began to wave in a little wind that
whispered in the silk, and somewhere
in the yard below she could hear Sc
lin nipping the clover.
She was to go 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-gown, covering it to the feet. 1t
had a peaked hood falling from its
collar and into this she thrust the
.resentlul masses of her hair. Every
few seconds she caught her breath in
a short gasp, and once she paused
with an apprehensive glance over her
shoulder and shivered. >She scarcely
knew what she did. nor did she ask
herself what might be the outcome OF
such an absurd adventure. She nei-
ther knew nor cared. She was swept
off her feet and whirled away into
some ~outlandish limbo Of shadowy
fear and crying dread.
Slipping off her shoes, she went
swiftly and noiselessly down the stair.
She let herself out of the door and.
shoes on again, ran across the clover
hound clambered about her, whin-
ing. but she silenced him with a whis.
pered word. Selim lifted his head and
she patted the snufling inquiring
an instant before. with her
hand on his name, she led him
the hedge to the stable. 1t
was but the work Of a moment to
throw on a side-saddle and buckle the
sirth. Then. mounting, she turned
into the lane.
He was thoroughbred, and her tense
excitement seemed to communicate
to him. He blew the breath
his delicate flaring nostrils
and flung up his head at her restrain
.ng hand on the bride. Once on the
Red Road, she let him have his will
The long vacant highway reeled out
behind her 10 the fierce and lonely
loof-tattoo. She was scarcely con
'cious Of consecutive Thoughtful was
| vague tumble Of chaotic impressions
dreaded by that necessity that called
like an insistent voice.
Copse and hedge flew by, streaks of
listemper on the shifting gloom;
farmhouse roofs huddled like
giant Indians on the trail. and ponds
n pastures glinted back the pale
,limmering OF stars. The faint mist,
.angled In the branches of the trees,
made them look like ghosts gathered
o see her pass. Was this real or
vas she dreaming? Was she, Shirley
cambridge, really galloping down an
road at acknowledgements Of the
~maunderings Of a half
mad old negro?
The great iron gate Of Damory court
lung open. and scarcely s~lackening
Ter pace. she rode through and up
he long drive. The glooming house
was blank and silent and its
porch columns looked like lonely
cray monoliths in the wan light. Not
! twinkle showed at chink or Granny;
he ponderous shutters were closed,
There was a sense of desertion. OF
emptiness about the place that
brought her heart into her throat with
| sickly horrible feeling Of certainty.
She Jumped down from the blowing
'orse and hurried around the house.
The door of the kitchens was open
a ladder OF dim reddish light fell
rom it across the grass. she al
Witty and looked In. A huddled fig
Ire SAT there. rocking to anu fro IL
he lamplight.
Aunt Daph." she called. what is
he matter?"
The turbaned head turned sharply
"a,