Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1916-04-15
PAGE 8

mot at first, II were too far away,
but ] says to myself. It's nae a ghost,
or fairy. IT'S some puir daftie got
away from its keeper I'll wait Till 1t
gets nearer, then try and stop IT."
Gould you hear what she was sing
ingg"
Nae. But presently | heard another
voicc-a voice shoutin', and / knew IL
We're someone after her. / was mind
ed To shout back, but was afraid Of
scarlh' the poor daft thing so ! stood
watchin' till suddenly she COON ont
INTO a patch OF moonlight and ] saw
her face 10 was Mary Pager
a little gust Of whispering comment
rippled through the room, and the
Judge, leaning forward, broke in
sharply:
How far distant was this figure
when you first thought you recognized
It as Mary Pager
81 dinna ken, exactly" said the
woodsman thoughtfully, "twas no
more than maybe twice the width of
the space Of yon door," nodding to-
wards the entrance into court, "but to
get to her would have had to skirt
the lip OF the hollow, SO l stood stin,
watchin'."
"Will you tell us how Miss Page
lookedT
'TIer dress or her petticoats was all
torn and muddy, her hair was hangin'
down onto her shoulders, and her face
opd orr,S mana eorotobad onJ INIooJr
and there was something that looked
like great sore on her forehead. she
moved like a blind person, stumblin'
over stumps and bumpin' into the
trees, and yet she KEEP on that strange
croonin' song-laughin', too, at tines"
Gould you hear any other sound?"
AYE. / heard a voice calm, 'Maryi
Mary" And 1 could hear the smashin'
of the underbrush as somebody came
runnin', but she didna look around"
"Did she pass your
mo; she slirted the hollow round
the other side, but l could see her.
wouldna let her out Of my sight, till
she were safe. but I didna want to lay
hands on a daftie myself Then sud
denly | saw man come run0'n'
through the woods. and when he saw
her, he gave n great cry and shouted.
Thank God" Then he called again.
Mary. Mary-wait for me-wait for
me. DEAR The echo in the hollow
caught it up so that the whole woods
were full of the cry, and at that she
turned, and stood swayin'-like a
young sapling cut at the root. Then
she gave cry. and fell all crumpled
in n little heap"
did you go forward then"
81 started. but before | could get
around to them. the man had pickit
the lassie up and carried her down by
by the brook in the hollow"
Gould you still see them?" -.
aye, like in a theatre, for the moon
shone down there, while stood above
them in the trees. The man, who was
Mr.. Langdon, here, KEEP victim his
handkerchief and bathin' her poor face
till she opened her eyes and said, Phil
ip, Philip! And at that, he held her
close and sobbed like q child, and said,
Mary, Mary, are you all right now,
dearY And she said. I'm tired-where
have l beenT And he said. Never
mind, dear you can rest now-you
are safe in my arms. Then sudden
ly she gives a scream and cries, Don't
let father touch NEEDN'T let him
touch me. Oh. Philip. / can feel it
on my shoulder-it burns-it burns"
And he kissed her and said, There is
nothin' ON your shoulder except my
kisses, Mary. Put the fear out of
your head; nothin' can harm you while
have you safe And she says. Not
even JamosT And he says, Not even
James, d him" Then she gives
little sigh like q BARN that is tired, and
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