Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-06-28

' expected signal. Presently, hard was lai,
upon the lock. Silently crossing the room
she sopened the door. Philip stood there
5 with his fingers on his lips.
; "Is it all right" asked Jesse, in a low
, ugitated whisper.
"All is right" returned tie man. "Be
quick; he is waiting for you"
Gliding through the door, Jessie went
: noiselessly down snirs. As she passed into
the open air, Leverng received her, handing
as he did SO, purse of money to the treach.
erous servant as his promised reward.
few minutes prior to this, a scene more
exciting took place short distance from the
mansion Of hIr. Carlton, where a carriage
stood in waiting fo- the fugitive. The driver
had left his box, and was standing neor his
horses, when suddenly, man was by his
side, pistol in hand, utterng, in low, per.
emPtory voice, "S!ent and you are sale.''
The driver started back a few PAGES in
alarm, while the stranger who had presented
his weapon kel it directed towards him.
"Now leave these grounds as quick as you
can CO." said the intruder.
The driver hestated, when the sharp click
of pistol luck was heard.
"Go, instantly" repeated the :man. "Your
horses and carriage are safe. You will find
them at the Stag and Hound in an hour from
this. Now go, if you set the value of hair
upon your liie!'
The diver by this time thoroughly alarmed
fled. AS soon as he left the ground the
stranger mounted the box and grasped the
reins. Hardly had he taken his place, ere
Levering and Jessie appeared, and hurricdly
entered the carriage.
"Where did you say must drive!" inquir-
ed the man, leaning over from the box.
"To Mr.. Listons. And see that no grass
grows beneath your horses feet"
The man spoke sharply to the spirited ami
mails and away they dashed at full speed
Liston, was minister who had been engaged
to perfrom the marriage ceremony for Lev
ering and Jessie. He lived in town VIII, n
lay short distance from the beautiful coun-
try residence of Mr.. Carton. In few MIN
utes the horses were refined up at the DWELL
irSS OF the minister, when Leverng sprang
from the carriage; and lifting Jessie, as she
attempted to descend, actually bore her in
his arms across the pavement and into the
house. Just as the fugitives disappeared, an.
other vehicle drove up at rarr;:al pace. The
self.constituted driver oi Levering's left his
own horses, and hurrying to ;he door of the
second carriage, spoke rapidly few words
to some one within; then turning away en-.
tered the minister's house, and throwing of
his rough hat and coat in the hall, presented
the figure of we'll dressed gentleman Fol
a few moments, he stood as if awaiting some
one, while his ear was bent towards the door
of the room that opened from the passage
to hear what was going on within. Then
he placed his hand upon the door, and gent.
y pushing it open he entered. The Young
couple were already on the floor; and the
minister in his robes stood before them ready
to commence the ceremony. So softly had
the stranger entered, that no one had per-
celved his presence but the minister who did
not permit the intrusion to interfere with
what he was doing. He began, and progress
sed until ne came to that part of the cele-
mony in which 1t is demanded of those pre-
sent to show cause why the parties about to
be joined in holy wedlock cannot lawfully
enter into that state, when the door of the
room was suddenly thrown open, and a wo-
man rushed in, exclaiming, 81 forbid the
5annsr'
"Who are you, and by what right do you
forbid them" enquired the minister in an
agitated voice.
lowering and Jessie started at the unex-
pected interruption; and turning, looked in
astonishme mt both at the woman and the
man.
"Mss Carlton said the woman, coming
up to Jessie, and grasping her arm, "you have
no right to this man; he belongs to me by a
prior claim that will not see cancelled
There is your natural protector she
drew her, with a sudden jerk, across the room
toward the man who had just entered before
her--"your father" And in Heavens name
let not man like this tempt you thus madly
to his side agan!''
Jessie scarcely heard the closing words OF
the sentence. Overcome by SO dreadful q
termination of her elopement, she sank into
the arms of her father-for it was he who
had driven her to the minister's.
Before the vile companion of his unSridl-
ed hours, Levering stood, for few moments
covered with shame and confusion.
"Now go, young man." said Mr.. Carlton
firmly, as he supported the form of his child
ego with this f"ail unhappy creature whom
you have reduced from virtue to level with
J yourself. Go, consort with her as your equa
but dream not again of an alliance with the
pure being have saved from your unhalow
ed grasp. She can never be yours. If, be
fore, you could deceive her in:o the belle
that you were an angel of light, the power
of deception is now gone, for you now stant
before her in all your native corruption and
deformity. Go SIR"
f Confounded by announcement so painful
and humiliatng, Levering, as soon as he
, could collect his bewidered senses, sprung
, from the room. AS he gained the open air
5 the driver who had been SO suddenly depri
: we'd of his carriagc, came up. Levering hur
d riedly entered the vehicle, exclaimng-
< "Driye me home"
The man needed not a second Invitation
d to mount his box. Quick as thought he ha,
s the rens in his hands, and the horses wer
s soon sprnging before him at gallop.
Il L. all 81