A Daughter of Maryland — page 97: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

g0 4 DAUGHTER OF MARYLAND. until far and wide the gray gloom of night was starred and crinkled with these living lanterns. : Carroll Southard had already left his concealment, and advancing with rapid steps he soon reached the road near the bridge, when taking an opposite course from that lead- ing to Sylvania he hurried along the highway. He had not gone far, however, before he heard footsteps behind him, and looking back he was surprised to find that he was followed. Thinking at first that this pursuit was purely accidental, he kept on, gradually quickening his gait as he advanced, hoping to soon outdistance his unknown follower. To his - surprise the other did not allow him to increase the space between them. Beginning to think that he had reason to fear the man, he glanced back over his shoulders to get a> look at him. It was too dark to distinguish any one with certainty. | ; When this chase had continued for nearly half a mile, and the fugitive realized there was no reasonable possibility of leaving him, unless he took to flight, he resolved to turn and meet him. He might not be an enemy after all. Thus Carroll Southard turned suddenly at bay, to calmly await the stranger’s approach. He was not kept long in suspense before out of the shadows of the evening the well- known figure of Esten Berners took shape. ‘*Good-evening,’’ he greeted. ‘‘I did not dream it was any one I knew or I should have stopped sooner.’’ ~ ‘‘That might depend upon who it was,’’ was the curt reply. ‘‘It looks very much as if you wanted to avoid me as long as you thought there was a chance of doing so.’’ ‘“You speak in riddles. Iam really pleased to meet you. It is a great satisfaction to meet an acquaintance where there are so many strange faces.’’ He extended his hand as he spoke. Ignoring this the other exclaimed: : **You know better than to talk like that. There can be no pleasure in a meeting between you and JI, Carroll Southard. ”? | Eomicboo cS (ee)