The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-04-26

] am half mad now, and itwould take no
Hrea. insult induce me to blow out any
,nams brains, What then if man wanton-
ly deceives me' | would send hm to
hell before he could say Amen"
Baker took the money.
"Nos f How me" he said, "and | will
guide you to the Iady-fair."
They went up the stairs in Senter's
house, and when they arrived ut the door
OF the room in which Ida WAS ooufned,
Baker took the key from his pocket, and
handed 1t to Arthur. lie then retraced
his steps. "
Arthur cautiously opened the door, and
as he entered, locked himself in. He did
not even notice where Ida was. Now
however he looked around the. rcom.-
Crouchcd IN a corner, in the attitude of
prayer was the miserable prisoner. Ar.
thur stopped and watched her. She no
ticed the pause, and looked towards him.
Had he have advanced, she would have
looked towards him. Clutched in her
grasp, she held her bane and antidote,
that, which though it killed the body,
shielded virtue in its innocence. That
same dagger with J. b. engraved on the
handle, had been left BY Senter on the
mantel, the wretchcd girl had seen it, and
now had possession Of it. 1t was her sue
cor in distress, her alleviator in trouble.
A righteous God would not condemn her
for freeing herself from the arms Of dis
grace. Her eyes beamed with unwontcd
hire, the tears which had accumulated,
frightened their lustre. Arthur paused
and looked at her. She trembled. She
anticipated the horrors which her abduc-
ton aud Imprisonment signfed, but he
Of all others she dreaded. She always
dreaded him. lie had her in his power,
where would his cruelty stop. Arthur
advanced step or two. Fla rose to her
fe:t and raised the dagger.
Touch me" she said "and / plunge
this into my BOSOM"
Arthur thought she intended it for him,
but when she threatened her own life. it
made him pause. Kill herself, no. lie
might be accused of her murder. And
there stool the lion and his prey.
''lda don't mean to hurt you. l love
YOU, Ida. | always have loved you.
do not seek to make you miserable. l
would have you be happy. would do
any thing for you Ida. My life evea,
would lay down for you; lie my wife, and
will love, guard you, do any thing for
you, yes, | would die for you."
Arthur Munroe, you have insuted me
by bringing me to this place, and now
you insult me 10y making such a psoposi-
ton. You know am engaged TO your
brother; do not love YOU. love him.
Combining me here, will do you no good
for would die sooner than become your
Wife"
Arthur Munroe's ewes flushed, he bit
his lips until the food almost gushed from
TEN.
you scorn my love! BE it so. You
will have the satisfaction Of seeing this
baby sweetheart confined in a felon's cell,
and the day will come whcn you will
have wished you had have accepted nay
proposition. But it will be too late. |
will glut my vengeance. You will call
on friends, but no one will hear Your
dear Arthur will be your daily and night
ly companion till he tires Of You, and then
you will seek birth in some city to keep
you from starvation. When the admired
and courted Ida Wentworth becomes an
inmate Of one Of our city hells. she will
wish she had accepted Arthur Munroe's
proposition"
You seek to frigh.en me- said the girl
with II stronger voice but your efforts
are fruitless. Before would he polluted
even by your touch, this kind steel would
r. lease me from bondage. You may try
to frighten me. But although l have no
father or brother to seek me, there is one
who stickcth closer than a brother, he will
net forsake me. You may threaten, you
a. kill, but only the body--the soul is
beyond your reach"
Arthur Munroc did not reply, he REQ.
pened the door, and locking it securely
after him, left the, house.
fro DE CoSrISUED)