The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-06


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 i will you tell us, please, what occur | red on that nght?"
 1 T had been tae the party and was coomin' home We had sat sac lang 1t were pretty late. and I says to myself, I'll na go way round by the road, but straight through the woods.' I knew them too well to lose my way, even in | the dark. I had coon almost to the Hollow, which is like a bowl in the mid | dle of the wood, when I heard some | body singin'.' It came strange like in | the night and I am nae ashamed to say was scared, so 1 stood-not h.un'. mind ye. but waitin tae see what 1t was Then I seen a figure on the oth- CT side of the hollow coomin' through the trees-all in white-and wavin' it's arms, daft-like and singin' and laugh in and cryin' all in one"
 Could you see who it was?" | Not at first it were too far away, | but l says to myself. It's nae a ghost. GOT a fairy. 'Tis some puir daftie got away from its keeper. I'll wait till 1t gets nearer, then try and stop it.
 Could you hear what she was sing ing?"
 Nae. But presently I heard another | voice-a voice shoutin. and I knew 1t were someone after her. I was minded to shout back, but was afraid of scar in the poor daft thing, so I stood watchin till suddenly she coon out into a patch of moonlight and I saw her face. It was Mary Page!" 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 Page?"
 T dinna ken, exactly" said tho 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 stood still. watchin."
 ] twill you tell us how Miss Page Iooked?"
 "Her dress or her petticoats was all torn and muddy, her hair was hangin down onto her shoulders, and her face and arms were scratched and bloody 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 kep on that strange croon- in song-laughin', too, at times"
 Could you hear any other sound?"
 Aye, heard a voice callin', Mary! Mary!' And could hear the smash in of the underbrush as somebody came runnin', but she didna look around"
 Did she pass you?"
 No; she skirted the hollow round the other side, but I could see her. I wouldna let her out of my sight, till she were safe, but l didna want to lay hands on a daftie mysep. Then sud- denly I saw a man come runnin' through the woods, and when he saw her, he gave a 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 go 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 little heap"
 Did you go forward then? T started, but before I could get
 
 lassie up and carried her down by the brook in the hollow"
 Could you still see them?" Aye, like in theatre, for the moon shone down there, while stood above them in the trees. The man, who was MT. Langdon here. kep' wettin' his handkerchief and bathin' her poor face T till she opened her eyes and said, Phil ip, Philip!' And at that, he held her close and sobbed like child and said, Mary, Mary, are you all right now. dear?' And she said, I'm tired : where have I been?' And he said, Never mind, dear, you can rest now you are safe in my arms Then sud- denly she gives a scream and cries, Don't let father touch me-don'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 I have you safe And she says, Not even David?' And he says, Not even David. damn him!' Then she gives a little sigh like a bairn that is tired. and , holds up her lips to be kissed, and then 7 snuggles her puir head in his shoulder, ana ne knelC there hOlQln' ner. "You went up to them then, did you not?"
 Well, you know that" answered the Scotchman with some scorn. T went up and 1 said, Can I help you carry } the puir lassie homer And he said, No, shall not move her till she has rested bit.' Then he wraps her in his coat and sits watchin' her. but after a bit he says She's been sleepin' sound, I can carry her now and he picks her up in his arms and starts !. off,"
 Did Miss Page speak when she was moved?"
 Yes; she said Am I still safe with you. Phil?' And he says. Yes And she says. oh, I wish I was dead-except for you. dear And he said, T wish those who torture you were dead, my darling, but Pm going to guard you myself in the future' Then, still hold in her in his arms and carryin' her careful like. he went off through the Gro be ContinueD sps vsoy pxss yrez~ pc.ypsx~ss