Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1870-05-12
THE WARNING.

Night had settled down over th
dreary sea coast, and over the throb
bing, restless sea. The wind lifted it
self with swelling sound, and rovet
about lonely-looking fsherman's cot
tage that stood on the beach, shaking
the doors and windows, ever and amor
sinking into low murmurs. Shapelesi
clouds drifted across the dim, blu,
armament. The moon shone at inter
walls, but its fitful light lent no charm
to the dismal scene. There was only
one other habitation in sight, and it wa:
large, old-fashioned mansion, stand
ing far back in the country, yet whose
massive frame stood out boldly against
the steely blue.
Those dwellings were the only visi.
BILE token that man had invaded this
dreary waste; for aside from them,
nothing met the eye save a sinnous,
curving road, great jagged cliffs, and
stretches of barren land, broken here
and there with patches of gaunt, leaf
less trees.
A light glowed in the latticed win
dow of the fsherman's dwelling-it
looked cheerful.
Before fire which burned on the
hearth of the capacious fireplace with
in, a young girl sat, listening to the
roaring, moaning anthem of the winds.
1t was beautiful face that, at times,
bent meditatively towards the fire or
gazed out of the window. A pale, vet
sweet face, with bright eyes, and an
abundance of soft, dark hair-the face
of young girl scarce past her sew
enteenth 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
something remarkable about the young
girl. Looking at her, one would prob
ably call her lovely; but add, weak
and timid. She was weak, truly, as
far as physical strength is concerned;
but beneath her timidity lurked firm
ness 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 arti-
cles; the other into larger room,
which was occupied now by her father,
a man in whose hands she had en-
trusted her happiness,
Carl Connor was a sailors firm,
true friend of old Caspar Wynde; and
although Lila felt only an ordinary re-
gard for him, she had, when he asked
her to be his wife, obeyed the often ex-
pressed desire of her father, and ac-
cepted him. More than once dark |
whispers of Carl's early life came to
her, for she had known him but short
lime; but these she had refused to be-
ieve--or, at least, affected incredu-
ity.
They had been engaged, at the time
we write, upward of year. If they
lad been married then, the current of
ife might have flowed on as smoothly
and evenly as ever, without even q rip,
Die marring its placidity. But destiny
lad decreed it otherwise.
We will not enter into details as to
he manner in which Rhoderick Orvis
became acquainted with Lila Wynde.
Suffice to say, he resided, together with
lis sister, Alice, beautiful girl about
Iila's age, in the capacious mansion
IN the hill. They lived in almost rig
d seclusion, but Lila somehow became
! welcome guest beneath their roof,
md in this way an intimacy sprang up
between her and the young man, which
laily ripened into deeper feelings--ay,
nto deep, pure, endearing love.
But Rhoderick hesitated to breathe
lis passion, and Lila did not know how
leep her feelings were enlisted in his
avor, until Carl, who had kept a
trict surveillance on their actions,
,roke forth in storm of passionate
ealousy. Then Lila knew she loved
ahoderick Oryis, although her faith
vas plighted to another.
Her position was pitiable. To ap-
zeal to Carl's better nature-to tell
lim that marriage vows to him was
les to kill her soul-to ask him to re-
ease her-was, she instinctively felt,
utile. Instead, therefore, of denying I
lis accusations, she burst into wild j
i of weeping, which fully confirmed
lis suspicious, while it added fuel to
he flames of jealousy smouldering in
lis heart. Ills was a nature at once
rafty, evil and cunning. So he pre- {
ended contrition, asked pardon for
oubting her love. protesting to be- ;
eve It was wholly his and changed I
he conversation.
His plans were already laid. What
hey were remains 10 be seen.
All this, and more, passed through
lila Wynde's mind as she sat there,
nd had grown weary of listening tol