The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-10-11
am F-i Va sA "a "a NJ ~ "a IA Ra - eVG
y = OUT OF The FOG - =
IA VI
IA Ma
m BY M. Nice. MILLER. VA
sifd N NM
BY M. Nice. MILLER.


/ one made weird, even spectral, by
thick white vapors. The earth was
dank and slippery and dead leaves in
the, autumn woods on either side gave
out pungent, penetrating. almost
overpowering smell. He had loved it
as he set out that morning for day
long tramp. If he had been weather
wise he would have stayed at the log
tavern notwithstanding its rough fare
and lack of comfort
"Fallin' weather, shore as shootin-
but l reckon We be neither sugar ner
salt" the landlord had said with a
glum face, yet half smiling, as he took
pay for his entertainment. Willard
had been glad TO get away-so glad
vert longingly to the heaped log fire,
| the bread of pounded cornmeal, the
| buttermilk and fried bacon that had
made his supper and breakfast.
He peered up at the cross-arms.
Once they had been lettered boldly. In
clear daylight the lettering might still
he legible. He felt for matches, struck
one-it fiickered out. When he sought
another his case proved to be empty.
AS he heard rapid hoof beats, then a
girls voice vainly crying, hushedly
yet anXiously: "Are you there? l was
so afraid! Say something-quick-I
have felt lost this last hour"
81 am here, all right enough" Will
lard began. The voice interrupted Joy
ously: "Then make haste and get up
before me. I couldn't get the other
horse-but Selim carries double-and'
won't mind the weight. He knows the
way. / could have you ride behind
ms"
Willard mounted obediently, took
the reins from her, and held them
loosely, while she settled herself be-
hind him with a little relieved sigh,
saying: at would have killed me-
not to find you waiting. Yes-killed
me. The shame of going to meet a
laggard sweetheart! Oh! You must
be good to me always"
81 will-Gcd helping me-" Willard
interrupted fervently. He felt her
tremble as she leaned lightly against
him, and slipped a tiny bare hand with
in his free one. Clearly she mistOOk
him for the laggard with whom she
had planned to elope-as clearly it
would be the height of cruelty to let
her discover her mistake, so long as
they were alone in this hidden world.
| s,l fpl, nj or
also evidently built for a hunter. Bad
as the footing was, he went gallanty,
up hill, down dell along levels of slip
perry clay surface. Presently he whln-
MED keen and shrill, and was an
swered from afar. At the sound, he
struck into a gallop, left the beaten
road, and cut across open woodland,
leaped a ragged brush fence edging
IT, and held on to a darker blur, evil
IDENTIFY a stable. Once again he called
to be answered in several keys. Al
most before they knew it, he fetched
up plump against a paddock fence
across which heads were thrust in
| welcome.
A Pickering lantern showed a groom
approaching them-his figure gnome-
like in the light. "Whut all you done
brung back yere, ole Selim?" he cried
affably. 81 knows 70 whicker-fur as
II kin hear it,"
"Tell your master it's-the runaway
couple-to come quick-with the IL
cense-he has tive won't get down"
the girl cried clinging to Willard, her
voice tense and edged. Here, indeed,
was q crisis. Suddenly it flashed on
him that, as her husband, he might be
able to rid her of home tyrants. So
when the minister called to them from
his back piazza, ride up! Don't ex-
poet me to go out In the wet, do yeW
Sclim was duly guided to a space a
yard in front of him, and held steady
under a tight rein, while the mar
rage service was gone through. As
Willard passed over a handsome fee,
the parson said: "Better spell your
name fer me, john, SOS | may git the
record plumb right. Baptis' Broth
er Turrentino'll make big howdy-doo
over this piece of work-and upset 1t
Of he can-don't want to give him a
chance"
"Follow this, then the spelling is
bound to he right" Willard said, hand
ing over a card.
The fog was lifting slightly, the rain
Stacked. Reluctantly Selim went
around to the house, down a ragged
lawn, to a stretch of turnpike that
showed like a tunnel in the gloom.
Night had fallen-a few stars peeped
through. Also lights from a house Of
fair size a little say off the road.
Without a word Willard made for it
as silently, as fnasterfully, he lifted
Ethel down, and started to knock, but
the door flew open before them. In
side an anxious, white-haired woman
cried to them: "Ethel! Dear, how
did you get here? Thank God-ln
time"
Inside n man lay gasplng his last,
past speech but not past consciousness.
Ethel sank sobbing, at his bedside,
kissed him once; then, with one glance
at Willard, quietly tainted.
Explanation was easy. The dead
man, John Tarbett, had been fatally
hurt by skidding car as he was go
Ing to keep his tryst. Hence his fail
ure to meet Ethel. Chance or Proyi-
dence sent John Willard instead Of
him. Willard showed his mettle fine
ly-holding the sobbng girl tenderly
| t..A ~, - 10, a.,