The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-01-02
m N N n "a "a n n n n - MN
|. OUT OF The FOG !.
BY M. Nice. MILLER.



VAAAMA - ~ Nh Nv
Willard sighted relief as the cross ,
roads signpost doomed through the
FOG. He was lost in strange land,
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 a pungent, penetrating, almost
overpowering smell. He had loved It
as he set out that morning for day
long tramp. II 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 I reckon We be neither sugar ner
salt" the landlord had said with a
glum face, yet half smiling, as he took :
nay for his entertainment. Willard
had been glad to get away-so glad
It 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.
l. 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 flickered out. When he sought
another his case proved to be empty.
| As he heard rapid hoof beats, then
girls voice vainly crying, hushedly,
yet anxiously: "Are you there? I was
so afraid Say something-quick-I
have felt lost this last hour"
II am here, all right enough" Will
lard began. The voice interrupted JOY
I 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. I 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 little relieved sigh,
saying: ut would have killed me
not to find you waiting. Yes-killed
me. The shame Of going to meet a
laggard sweetheart! Obi You must
be good to me always"
IT will-God helping me-" Willard
interrupted fervently. He felt her
, tremble as she leaned lightly against
him. and slipped tiny bare hand with
In his free one. Clearly she mistoek
him for the laggard with whom she
had planned to elope-as clearly 1t
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 weight carrier
also evidently built for a hunter. Bad
as the footing was, he went CALAMITY,
up hill, down dell, along levels Of slip.
perry clay surface. Presently he whin-
MED, keen and shrill, and was an.
swered from afar. At the sound, he
struck into gallop, left the beaten
road, and cut across open woodland,
leaped a ragged brush fence edging
1t, and held on to darker blur, evil
IDENTIFY stable. Once again he called
Ito be answered in several keys. Al
most before they knew 1t, he fetched
up plump against 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 we're, ole Selim2" he cried
affably. II knows 20 whicker-fur as
I kin hear It"
"Tell your master it's-the runaway
couple-to come qulck-with the L.
cense-he has tive won't get down."
the girl cried, clinging to Willard, her
voice tense and edged. Here, indeed,
was a crisis. Suddenly 1t 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 upl Don't ex-
pect me to go ont In the wet, do YET"
Selim was duly guided to space a
yard In front of him, and held steady
under a tight rein, while the mar
riage 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 Turrentine1l make a big howdy-doo
over this piece Of work-and upset Il
ct he can-don't want to give him a
chance"
Follow this. then the spelling is
bound to be 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 tunnel In the gloom.
Night had fallen-a few stars peeped
through. Also lights from a house of
fair size little way of the road.
Without word Willard made for it.
as silently, as masterfully he lifted
Ethel down, and started to knock but
the door flew open before them. In.
side an anxious, whlte-haired woman