Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-04-14
Ssleet Story.
TIE WARNING.

on the beach, shaking the doors aiu
windows, ever and anon sinking INTO
low murmurs. Shapeless clouds drlIted
across the dim, blue armament. Inc
moon shone at Intervals, but It's htiui
lipht lent no charm TO the dismal scene
There was only one other habitation in
sight. and it was large, old-fashioned
mansion, standing far back in the coun-
try. vet whose massive frame stood out
boldly against the steely blue.
Those dwellings were the only visible
token that man had invaded this dreary
waste; for aside from them, nothing met
the eve save sinuous, curying road,
great Jagged cliffs, and stretches OF bar
rem land. broken here and there with
matches of gaunt, leafiess trees.
A Iight glowed in the latticed window
of the fishermaE's dwelling-it looked
cheerful.
BEFORE a fire which burned on the
hearth of the capacious fireplace within,
young girl sat, listening tothe roaring,
moaning anthem of the winds. lt was
beautiful face that, at times, oent
meditatiyely towards the fire, or gazed
out of the window. A pale, yet sweet
face, with bright eyes, and an abundance
of soft. dark hair-the face of a young
girl scarce past her seventeenth year.
This was Lila Wynde, the only child
of an old fisherman, who had dwelt in
this cottage on the beach as far back as
can be remembered. There was some
thing remarkable about the young girl.
Looking at her, one would probably call
erlovely; but add, weak and timid.-
She was weak, truly, as far as physical
strength is concerned; but beneath her
timidity lurked a firmness of purpose
which waited only the proper moment
to bring it into life and action.
There were two doors leading from the
room in which she sat-one to sort of
closet, used as a receptacle for books and
various miscellaneous articles; the other
into larger room, which was occupied
now by her father a man in whose
hands she had entrusted her happiness.
Carl Connor was sailor-a firm, true
friend of old Caspar Wynde; and al
though Lila felt only an ordinary regard
for him, she had, when he asked her to
be his wife, obeyed the often expressed
desire of her father, and accepted him.
More than once dark whispers regarding
Carl's early life came to her, for she had
known him but short time; but these
she had refused to belieye-or, at least,
affected incredulity.
They had been engaged, at the time
We write, upward OF year. If they
Ilstu Uetn lu6 Ol
life might have flowed Oh as smoothly
and evenly as ever, without even rip
pie marring its placidity. But destiny
had decreed it otherwise.
We will not enter into details as to the
manner in which Ri oderick Orvis be-
came acquainted with Lila Wynde.-
Suffice tossay, he resided, together with
his sister, Alice, a beautiful girl about
Lila's age, in the capaciouS mansion on
the hill. They lived in almost rigid
seclusion, but Lila somehow became a
welcome guest beneath their roof, and
in this way an intimacy sprang up be-
tween her and the young man, which
daily ripened into deeper feelings-ay,
into deep, pure, endearing love-
But Rhoderick hesitated to breathe
his passion, and Lila did not know how
deep her feelings were enlisted in his
favor, until Carl, who had Kept a strict
surveillance on their actions, broke forth
in storm of passionate jealousy Then
Lila knew she loved Rhoderick Oryis,
although her faith was plighted to an
other
Her position was pitiable To appeal
to Carl's better nature-to tell him that
marriage vows to him were lies to kill
her soul-to ask him TO release her-was,
she instinctively felt, futile. Instead,
therefore, of denying his accusations,
she burst into wild fit of weeping,
which fully confirmed his suspicious,
while it added fuel to the flames of
jealousy smouldering in his heart. His
was nature at once crafty, evil and
cunning. So he pretended contrition,
asked pardon for doubling her love, pro-
Tossing to believe it was wholly his and
changed the conversation.
is Inn ,l.
they were remains to be seem
All his, aud more, passed through
Lila Wynde's mind as she sat there. and
had grown weary of listening to the
clamor of the wind. The fire died out;
the oid-fashioned- clock in the corner
struck twelve. Lila rose, walked to the
window and pushed aside the curtain
The sea shone like molten silver in the
dim moon light, girdled by the weird
locking beach, which stretched away
into the shadow of night, along which
the incoming tide was breaking with
no little tumult. Lila smiled; she was
thinking of Rhoderick Orvfs. Then a
cloud passed over her face as some un-
pleasant thought came into her mind,
and dropping the curtain she turned
away hastily. A bright fire burned in
the other room where her father and
SN'ST 'NS 'ACh tACtC WAS u lEll IN
their conversation, and the silence of
death reigned every yHhere.
1t must have been instinct that
prompted Lila to walk to the closet.
take book, matches and small lamp
from shelf near the door; as she came
out, a few words Carl addressed to her
father fell upon her ears and transfixed
her to the spot. She listened breathless-
ly. 9-ola
81 tell you he has the money-wiIl
bring it from the town to-night,n Carl
said, eagerly. "a thousand pounds are
not to be picked up every day"
No." her father answered; there was
strange hesitation in his voice, she
thought,
"And We must have it,
HE may make desperate resistance.
Are you prepared for it?n
For answer, Carl drew out n revolver
and laid it on the table beside him: his
eyes flashed defiantly and his face was
aglow with very wickedness.
No, no. not that" the old fisherman
said, hoarsely.
And why not?" Carl responded.
savagely. Why not, when the money
VIII enable MS to live like men? This is
my plan: We will get the mouev--we
must not let a life stand I'M the way.-
once in our possession, we will fly the
country, Lila and all. 1t will be too hot
to hold u.s." he added, with a bitter,
reckless. ringing laugh.
Her father made some reply. which
Lila failed to overhear; but she caught
these words, after the lapse of some
minutes-"In half an hour. Twill be
after midnight then; and the dark.
lonely, glen is just the place. No prying
eyes there"
All this Lila heard distinctly-heard
as one hears in dream. Long before
they had ceased speaking the truth had
dawned upon her. The man whom they
nrnnnsad to rnh nnl ,>orI...... - :