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

| tremb;lpg;y stationed, and the phaetOn
halted when the occupants observed the
dark-robed figure standing in the centre
of the road, effectually barring further
progress. Lila addressed them at once.
"Back, back" she cried, in sharp, ex-
citing tones. ''If you value your lives,
turn back. Death turks in the path
you are pursuingl"
4 thrill Of superstitions awe ran
through her listeners. Alice uttered a
cry OF mingled terror and alarm; but
Rhoderick rose up, saying, as he did so:
"WhO are you?"
"a friend. Do as | bid you, and all
will be WELL" was answered. "Remem-
Der, you are warnedu' fioated back to
them on the still night air. And Lila
was gone.
There was no mistaking the sincerity
of her words. Hhoderick felt this, and,
acting upon the impulse of the moment.
and the wild entreaties of his sister, he
spraug from his vehicle, assisted her to
alight, and securing the horse to a tree,
turned into a path that led across the
fields to their house. 1t was his in.en-
tiOn to return as soon as he had conduc-
ted his sister home, take charge of the
horse, and if possible, learn more re-
recognized the person who gave them
the timely warning; and Rhoderick had
not the faintest idea that il was gentle
Lila Wynde who had saved his life.
Their retreating footst ,ps had not died
away before old Caspar Wynde entered
the glen, glancing about him at every
step, as though he feared their prey had
escaped. What his coDjectures were on
finding the horse and vehicle there we
cannot say; but a glimmering of the
truth must have come to him there; for,
after a moments hesitation, he sprang
into the chaise, seized the reigns, and
drove rapidly down the glen to the spot
where Carl was lying in concealment.
At the bottom of the vehicle was large
fur cloak, which Rhoderick had worn
and forgotten in his hasty departure;
and almost uncensciously the old man
drew this about his shoulders. Attired
thus, casual observer would have
easily mistaken him for Rhoderick Or
Wis. Their height was almost similar
and their figures were certainly much
the same.
b. this time he had gained the end of
the glen and passed on. A moment
after, the report of pistol rang out, and
bullet whistle along the beach. That
shot was fatal one.
Lila, burrying breathlessly hcmeward
heard it and shudered. She had meant
to avoid the spot where she guessed her
father and Carl lay in wait for their vic
tim; but now, impelled by a stronger
curiosity than she could resist, she ran
thither
1t was an open spot at the end of the
glen, covered almost with huge bould-
I, iaI,
a great white serpent; and when she
reached the place strange sight met
her eyes.
Carl CoEnor was lying beside the pros
trate form of her father; far down the
road she saw horse and phaeton going
at fearful speed, certes running away.
Lila grew pale as the dead. She took a
step nearer Carl, and this was but to
confirm the fear that suddenly smote
her-her father was dead! Yes, deadI
and the moonlight streaming about him
showed fatal wound in his breast, from
which the blood was ooZing in a crimson
stream.
When she saw Rhoderick's cloak lying
near him-eyen then she recognized it
her mind grasped the truth. Carl had
mistaken her father for Rhoderick Orvis
and shot him dead. And it was so--the
old fisherman rode straight to his doom.
Slowly the Mortified girl turned to
Carl. His face looked, in the weirdly
glimmering moonlight, the color ofdeath
itself; a violent tremor shook him from
head to foot; heseemed paralyzed with
horror. He moved towards her, but she
waved him off.
"Go!" she said, slowly. solemnly,
sternly. Go, and never let me look
upon your face again. Go, and may
the Orphans curse forever follow you!"
Without word, without daring to
cast a glance at the rigid form of his
miserable victim, the guilty, terrified
villain skunk away. never to return.--
Then Lila Wynde's sense reeled, and,
pale and ghastly, she sank to the earth
beside the body of her dead father.
1t was a year before Lila recovered
from the effect of the dreadful shock she
received that night, or ceased to think
of her fathers terrible fate. And when
she became Rhoderick's wife, even the
unlimited love he lavished upon her did
not suffice to Danish it entirely from her
mind.