The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-01-01
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!. OUT OF The FOG - -
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N BY M. Nee. MILLER. E
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Willard sighted relief as the cross
roads signpost doomed through thu
fog. He was lost In strange land
one made weird, even spectral, b,
thick white vapors. The earth wa
dank and slippery and dead leaves II
the autumn woods on either side CAV,
out pungent, penetrating, almost
overpowering smell. He had loved Il
as he set out that morning for day
long tramp. If he had been weather
wise he would have stayed at the los
tavern Notwithstanding its rough fare
and lack of comfort.
"FaIlin' weather, shore as shootin'-
but / reckon We he neither sugar mel
salt" the landlord had said with q
glum face, yet half smiling, as he took
pay for his entertainment. Willard
had been glad to get away--so glad
1t amazed him now that he could re,
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
be 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,
vet anxiously: "Are you there? l was
so afraid! Say somethlng-quick-I
have felt lost this last hour"
81 am here, all right enough" VIII
lard began. The voice interrupted JOY
Ously: "Then make haste and get up
before me. / couldn't get the other
horse-but Selim carries double--and
won't mind the weight He knows the
way. l could have you ride behind
me"
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: ut would have killed me-
not TO find you waiting. Yes-kllled
me. The shame of going to meet
laggard sweetheart! oh! You must
be good to me always"
81 will-God helping me-" Willard
interrupted fervently. He felt her
tramble as she leaned lightly against
him, and slipped 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.
Selim was indeed a weight carrier
also evidently built for a hunter. Bad
as the footing was, he went CALAMITY,
up hill, down dell, along levels of slip !
pery clay surface. Presently he whin-
MED, keen and shrill, and was an
severed from afar. At the sound, he |
struck into a galcp, left the beaten
road, and cut across open woodland, |
leaped ragged brush fence edging
II, ana held on to darker blur, evil
IDENTIFY stable. Once again he called
to be answered in several keys. AL
most before they knew it, he fetched
up plump against paddock fence
across which heads were thrust in
welcome.
A Pickering lantern showed a groom
them--his figure gnome-
like in the light. "Whut all you done
brung back yere, ole Selim?" he cried
affably. 81 knows 20 whicker-fur as
! kin hear it,"
"Tell your master it's-the runaway
come quick-with the Ii
cense--he has tive won't get down."
the girl cried, clinging to Willard, her
voice tense and edged. Here, indeed,
was 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, "Rlde up! Don't ex-
pect me to go out In the wet, do ye?"
Sclim was duly guided to a space a {
Yard in front of him, and held steady
lnder a tight rein, while the mar I
'iage service was gone through. As .
Willard passed over q handsome fee, !
he parson said: "Better spell your !
luiut ltI me, JOiL, ~ . may gu thp a
'ecord plumb right. Baptis' Broth c
n Turrentine1l make big howdy-doo {
,ver this piece of wOrk-and upset 1t h
f he can-don't want to give him a a
nance" I
"Follow this, then the spelling is i
,ound TO be right" Willard said, hand =
ng over a card. h
The fog was lifting slightly, the rain p
lacked. Reluctantly Selim went J.
round to the house, down a ragged b
avn, to stretch of turnpike that a
bowed like a tunnel in the gloom. a
light had fallen-a few stars peeped =
trough. Also lights from house of !,
air size a little way off the road. {,
Without a word Willard made for it I,
s silently, as masterfully he lifted
thel down, and started to knock, but u
ne door flew open before them. In q
de an anxious, white-haired woman '
RED to them: Ethel! Dear, how ID
id you get here? Thank God-in :
me-"
Inside man lay gasping his last,
asst speech but not past consciousness.
thel sank. sobbing, at his bedside,
ssed him once; then, with one glance
Willard. quietly tainted.
Explanation was easy The dead
Tnbn ho1 I.,or 60