The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-06-10
CHAPTER II.


! CHAPTER II.
! Bella Gilmore hal been confined in he
room tyo days and nights, without anythin!
to eat but come dry bread and water, broug,i
her BY Ashly himself. Once she had nearl,
escaped. She had unlocked the door with
nail; had put on her bonnet and cloak, AM
was creeping quietly down the long stairway
Her heart beat fast with hope, her pretty fac.
glowing with excitement, and her breath
coming quick and fast, the outer door wal
| reached, and she vas ABOUT to grasp its knoll
/ and throw it open, when heavy hand wa,
laid on her shoulder, and turniag she saw
her guardian standing beside her.
my bird is trying to fly, is it? he said
half leading half dragging her back to hel
| room. "Nell, we must clip its wings a littlt
closer veil cat of the bread and water foi
/ the future, and see how that works !" and
| pushing her through the door Of her cham
Der he locked it again-tirss removing the
| nail she had used to ogen it with, and then
he retra:ed his steps down stairs.
The halfstarved captive threw herself on
| the bed and sobbed with grief for long,
| long time. When she raised her head again
| the moon was casting her siysry beams
through her windows. She arose, went to
one Of them, threw up the sash, and looked
out Oh the quiet moonlit street.
| Her room was ON tie third floor, and she
could see objects in the street very plainly.
| a young man was standing in the street
when she looked out, this quiet moonlight
| night nearly under the window, with His face
turned toward her. She could not mistake
that bright handsome face. She would
know it among a thousand, and the neon
shone fall upon it. It was Frank Marsden
who stood under her window, and as her heart
| bhrobbed quick ard hard against Ter bosom,
she seized pencil and paper, and, with a
trembling hand, wrote the following rapidly
"FRAsE Il am a prisoner in this room,
and food is denied me. nv Guardian has
threatened to starve me, because [ have re-
fused to marry him. Oh if you love me,
| try to release ne.
She tossed this out Of the window, and
| it Guttered slowly down and fell close by
Frank Marsden's feet lie picked it up
eagerly and going to street lamp near by,
perused it; and then after an eager look at
The pale, beautiful face at the window above,
he started rapidly down the street, and soon
disappeared from the eapt;ve's sight.
aWi]l he return, OF vii he leave ne here
| to perish Z" she said to herself, sorrowfuily
| soh, no! I am sure he will not desert me-
He is returning now, and there is police
man Hith aim, and they are carrying a FIRE
man s ladder. Oh, dear, dear Frank hey
l wrongsa him by thinking for Il moment he
would desert me in my peril They are under
the window now; they place the ladder
against tie house-it reached the window,
and dear Frank is ascending it
Marsden soon reached the Eindow, and
clasped the overioyel gil to his heart. AT
ter pressing kiss Gu her dewy lips, he clasp
ed her tightly with his right arm and said
gai,y Now, love, for an escape by the lad
der, and placed lis betrothcd safely On the
ground
He Their placed gold piece in the police
mans hand, and conducted Bella to a hotel
close by There he secured room fer her
and IS he kissed her and BIZ Ter good night,
| he said (:
'The steamer Meteor leaves St. Louis to
morrow morning at nine o'clock, and after
| have made you my own little wife, dearest
We will take passage on her for New Orleans
So you may expect me here in the morning
| at eight, with m;nister-noW don't say yor
are not ready, for circumstances will that yoy
should put yourself under my protection =
There is really no need Of running away from
here after you are my wife, but it's always
best to be on the safe side, aud I want my
little birdie clear of that villainous Ashly's
4 clutches. So pet, look for ME and the minis
ter early in the morning, and after you arr
mine We'll take passage on the Meteor
And now, good night, ordered supper to b'
sent up to your room )" and after pressing /;
Kiss on her lips, the yoaug man left her, tt
prepare Tor the morrow.