Evening journal., 1916-03-04
[G1A1e eS21sANSEE sS2sAA NSSEE NARY PAGE
Cdr Author wh HppeedO o Ma1 -
Pictures by
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in anyone's mind. Twas on the nigh,
Of the party Jim Hanley give. up to tn,
ridge"
win you tell US. please. what occur.
red on that night?''
I had been tae the party and wa
ooomin' home. We had sat sac lang Il
were pretty late. and says TO mysel',
I'll ma go way round by the road, bui
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 bowl in the mid
die Of the wood, when ! heard some.
body singin' IL came strange like In
the night and I am nae ashamed to
say was scared, so I stood-not hidin',
mind We. but waitin' tae see what Il
was. Then seen figure on the 9TH
er side OF the hollow coomin' through
the trees-all in white-and wavin' its
arms, daft-like. and singin' and laugh
in and cryin' all in one"
Gould you see who It was?"
mot at first, It were too far away
but I says to myself. It's nae a ghost
oor a fairy. 'Tis some puir dsftie got
away from its keeper. I'll wait till Il
gets nearer. then try and stop IT,"
Gould you hear what she was sing
ing?"
mae. But presently I heard another
voice-a voice shoutin', and knew Il
we're someone after her. I was minded
to shout back. but was afraid Of scar
in the poor daft thing. so 1 stood
watchin' till suddenly she COON out
into patch of moonlight and I saw
face tnsau Nfarrr
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"
Il dinna ken. exactly" said this
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 I stood still.
watchin'."
"wnl 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 we're scratched and bloody
! and there was something that looked
like a 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 Groom
in song-laughin', too, at times"
Gould you hear any other sound?"
AYE, I heard a voice callin'. 'Maryt
Maryi' And l could hear the smash
in OF the underbrush as somebody
came runnin'. but she didna look
around"
did she pass you7"
mo; she skirted the hollow round
the other SIDE but I could see her. !
wouldna let her out Of my sight, till
she we're safe. but ddna want to lay
hands on a daftie myser. Then sud
denly I saw 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, dearl' The echo I'm 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 a cry. and fell all crumpled
in little heap"
Did you go forward then?"
Il started, but before I could get
around to them. the man had piclSit the
lassie up and carried her down 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, Philipl' And at that. he held her
close and sobbed like a child. and said,
Mary, Mary. are you all right now.
dear? And she said. I'm tired
where have l 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 mel Oh, Philip, I can feel
Il on my shoulder-it burns-it burnsi'
And he kissed her and said There il
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 BARN that is tired. ana
holds up her lips to be kissed, and then
snuggles her puir head in his shoulder.
and he knelt there holdin' her."
you went up to them then, did YOU
not?"
''Well. you know that" answered the
Scotchman with some scorn. Il went
up and l said. Can I help you carry
the puir lassie home? 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. 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 shs
says. 'Oh, I wish was dead-except
for you, DEAR And he said. 7 wish
those who torture you were dead. NV
darling, but I'm going to guard Won
myself in the future Then, still hold
in her in his arms and carryin' her
careful like, he went off through the
trees"
Cro be Continued