The Glasgow courier., 1916-03-24

".
straight through the woods. knew
them too well to lose my way. even in
the dark. had COON almost to thc
Hollow. which is like howl In the
middle Of the wood. when / heard
somebody sfngin'. 1t came strange lik.
In the night. and ! am nae ashamed
to say I was scared. so | stood-not
hidin'. mind ye, but waitin' tae see
what It was. Then | seen figure on
the other side Of the hollow coomin
through the trees-all in white-and
wavin' its arms daft-like. and singin
and laughin' and cryin' ali in one"
'COuld you see who it wasp
mot at first. It were too far away.
but says to myself. It's nae a ghost,
or a fairy. 'Tis some puir daftie got
away from its keeper. I'll wait till It
gets nearer, then try and stop it,"
''Could you hear what she was sing
ing"
mae. But presently heard another
voice-a voice shOutin', and ! knew it
were someone after her. was mind
ed to shout back, but l was afraid Of
Scarin' the poor daft thing. so l stood
watchin' till suddenly she COON out
into a patch of moonlight and | saw
her face 1t was Mary Pager
A little gust of whispering comment
rlppled through the room. aud the
Judge, leaning forward. broke in
sharply:
"How far distant was this figure
when you first thought you recognized
it as Mary Page?"
II dinna ken. exactly" said the
woodsman thoughtfully. "'twas no
more than maybe twice the width of
the space Of you door," nodling 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'.'
"Will you tell us how Miss Page
looked?"
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 blind person. stumbin'
over stumps and bumpin' into the
trees. and yet she KEEP on that strange
croonin' song-laughin'. too. ut times"
Gould you hear any other sound?"
"Aye. I heard voice callin'. Mary!
Nary! And l could hear the smashin'
of the underbrush as somebody came
runnin'. but she didna look around"
did she pass yOuf"
"No: she skirted the hollow round
the other side. but could see her I
wouldna let her ont Of my sight. till
she were safe. but didna want to lay
hands on a daftie myself. Then sud
denly ! saw a man come runnin'
through the woods. and when he saw
her. he gave 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'-lilse
Young sapling cut at the root Then
she gave cry. and fell all crnmpled
In little heap"
Did you go forward them
II started. hut before | could get
around to them, the man had pickit
the lassie up and carried her down by
by the brook in the hollow"
could 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.. IAngdon. here. KEEP victim his
handkerchief and bathin' her poor face
till sh" opened her eyes and said. Phil
ip. Philip" And at that. he held her
close and sobhed like child. and said.
Mary. Mary. are you all right now.
dear And she said. I'm tired-whcre
have | been? And he said. Never
mind. dear. You can rest nOw--you
are safe in my arms Then sudden
ly she gives Il 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 ont of
your head nothin' can harm you while
| have YOU safe And she says. Not
even James? And he says, Not even
James. d him!' Then she gives a
little sigh like BARN that is tired. and
holds up her lips to be kissed. and then
her puir head in his shoulder.
and he knelt there holdin' her"
''Iou went up to them then did you
not!"
'Well. you know that" answered the
Scotchman with some scorn. II went
up and | said. Can help you carry
the puir lassie home?' And he said,
NO. | shall not move her till she has
rested a Bit Then he wraps her in
his coat and sits watchin' her. but aft.
er a bit he says. She's been sleepin'
sound, 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 still safe with