The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-04-13

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. III wait till 1t
gets nearer. then try and stop it,"
"Couh you hear what she was sing.
mgr
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. 80 l stood
watchin' till suddenly she COON out
into patch OF moonlight and l saw
her face. It was Mary Pager
A little gust Of whispering comment
r1ppled 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"
II dinna ken. exactly" said the
wOodsman th0ughtfully. "'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, 30 I stood still,
watchin'."
win 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 We're scratched and bloody
and there was something that looked
like great sore on her forehead She
moved like blind person, stumblin'
over stumps and bumpin' into the
trees. and yet she KEEP on that strange
croonin' song-laughin', too, at times"
could you hear any other soundr'
AYE. I heard a voice calm, Mary!
Mary! And I could hear the smashin'
Of the underbrush as somebody came
runnin'. but she didna look around"
did she pass your"
NO: she skirted the hollow round
the other side, but could see her.
wouldna let her out of my sight, till
she were safe, but didna want to lay
hands on daftie myself. Then sud
denly 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. dearr 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
Young sapling cut at the root. Then
'ihc gave a cry. and fell all crumpled
in little heap"
did you 60 forward then?'
II started. but before I could get
around to them. the man had pickit
the lassie up and carried her down by
by tho brook in the hollow"
could You still see themT
AYE. like in theatre, for the moon
shone down there. while l stood above
them in the trees. The man, who was
MIR. inn.don. 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 n child. and said.
Mary. Mary. are you all right now.
dear?' And she said. I'm tired-where
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 NEEDN'T let him
touch me! Oh. Philip. | can feel it
on my shoulder-it burns-it burns
And lie kissed her ana said. There is
nOthin Oh 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 James?' And he says. Not even
James, d him! Then she gives Il
little sigh like Il hairn that is tired. and