Year: 1868

A foot on the stair--a sound of some heavy, struggling weight dragged down--hung to the floor. 1 had heard enough--more than enough. What passed in my heart at that moment words of mine can never tell. In a breathing-space was on my feet, look ing around me in that dreadful cham Der for some avenue of escape.

 ran to the window. It was vain to think of the door, for it opened direct- ly on the stairs. strove with all my might to raise the sash. It was swol- len in its frame, and it resisted me.

 "What is thatr said Nurse Gerty, distinctly, from below. l leaned against the wall. holding my very breath.

 "Get me q rope" answered Roque, with an oath, "and Il tie this cursed girl, hand and foot"

 tried the sash again. It would not move. l caught up the one chair in the room to dash it out, then thought better of the matter, and strove at it again with my desperate, frantic hands. Up glided the window, and gust Of night-wind struck me damp and chill. l "Hark r cried some one from the stair.

 I With frightiul precision that was never mine in cooler moments, l meas ured my chance. The aperture before me was not wide enough to admit of a Heap. 1 drew the chair forward. and Istepping upon it, crawied over the sill. 4

 | Below was the door of the house, and it stood ajar. renpmber streak oi red light sitting ttGoush the opening and falling along the messy sweep of the old well just beyond. l remember the long gray shadows moving on the thrcshold--the black sky lowering overhead. l hung there by my two hands for an instant. Then shut my l eyes, and. with shudder, fell.

 It was distance of ten or twelve feet, perhaps. The shock stunned me, but only for Q moment. l sprang up from the wet, green grass, and as did so, felt haud clutching at the folds of my dress. l turned and saw at my shoulder the face of Roque.

 "Stop!" he said softly.

 One cry ofmortal terror escaped nc, then some one had come between us. The wild, dark face of the girl Terese flashed in the light from. the doorway. She caught my dress and wrcnched it from his hand.

 "Fly, girlT she shrieked; "hy for your life. :"

 cast one look backward. God keep me from the memory of what l saw ! The girl was on her knees with both arms cast about him. He struck her, lsgain and again, fierce, mcrciless blows, but she held him fast. For yard or more he dragged her forward, dead weight across the grass; then there was glinmer of steel in the candle light, swift descent, J cry, and with dreadful oath he struck her down.

 fled into the corn. was already in it when the girl fell. with her bloody face downward, upon the grass. The green stalks parted to receive me: the I little hillocks spread cut undermy feet. I fled for my li:e--ior more than my life.

 Oh mercilul night, hide me and shel- ter mel Oh, pinc-w wood. thick with darkness. take me into your heart. He is behind me, with that girls blood up on his hands. He is dashing down the corn in full pursuit!

 I passed the dividing line betwixt the field and wood. There was neither fence nor wall to impede me. Then the wilderness opened and took me in- to it's arms. 3

 Mover did hunted wild creature run as ran thenl It seemed that my spir- it lad put forth tangible wings in aid of the weak. agonized flesh that held it. was wild for the time.

 The green things of the woods thrust out long, sinuous fingers, and caught at my dress as l passed; the great black tree-boles hedged my way like paralyzed giants far, far above my head their plumy tops whispered and sang. had no conception of my own speed, nor of the ground over which l was going. but afterward l knew that I ran on thus for miles.

 It was a sudden inward shock, as of something giving way, which first ar rested my flight. My first instinct was to pause and listen.s All was quite still: no sound anywhere in the great wilderness but the soft murmW ot leaves, and now and then the fitful splash of q rain-drop from above. sank down where stood. just at the foot of q pine-trec. and laid my face against the damp, sweet earth.

 All the unnatural strength that had sustained me thus far was over and gone. I was only poor human atom now, lost in a tract of pathless mid night forest. l put out my arms and clasped them about the rough bark of the tree ii sighed above me in the darkness like friend. A little flower. growing in the moss at its roots, and full of summer fragrance, brushed against my cheek. Overhead l heard the futter of bird, startled out or his sleep. sssA4

 Hay moiionlessand hall unconscious