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

Lila smiled; she was thinking o
Rhoderick Orvis. Then cloud passel
over her face as some unpleasan
thought came into her mind, and drop
ping the curtain she turned away has
tily. A bright fire burned in the 9th
er room where her father and Carl sat
but now there was a lull in their con
versation, and the silence of death
reigned everywhere.
1t must have been instinct tha
prompted Lila to walk to the closet,
take book, matches and small lamp
from shelf near the door; as she
came out, few words Carl addressed
to her father fell upon her ears and
transfxed her to the spot She lis
tened breathlessly.
Il tell you be has the money-wil
bring it from the town tonight. >
Carl said, eagerly. "a thousand
pounds are not to be picked up every
day."
.sNos" her father answered; there
was strange hesitation in his voice,
she thought.
"And we must have it,
"Hem may make desperate resistance.
Are you prepared for it?"
For answer, Carl drew out revolver
and laid it on the table beside him;
his eyes flashed de6antly and his face
was aglow with very wickedness.
"No, no! not thatn' the old fisher
man said, hoarsely.
"And why not?" Carl responded,
savagely. Why not, when the money
will enable US to live like men? This
is my plan: We will get the money
We must not let life stand in 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 Bit
ter, reckless, ringing laugh.
Her father made some reply, which
Lila failed to overhear; but she caught
these words, after the lapse of some
minutes-'1n half an hour Twill be
after midnight then; and the dark,
lonely glen is just the place. No pry-
ing eyes there"
All this Lila heard distinctly heard
as one hears in a dream. Long before
they had ceased speaking the truth had
dawned upon her. The man whom
they proposed TO rob, and perhaps
murder, was Rhoderick Orvi5.
He had lately purchased a tract of
land adjoining his own, and the money
was to pay the person from whom he
had bought it. 1t was an awful mo-
ment for the young girl! For an in
slant she seemed about TO lose her
senses; the next she grew calm, and
her heart rose up proud, defiant and
courageous. She would save him!
But she must act quickly; not min
ute was to be lost. Carl and her father
were making ready to start. To snatch
a heavy cloak from the opposite wall.
wrap it about her shoulders, and move
swiftly across the room to the door,
was for Lila the work of scarcely more
than a second. She unfastened the
door, closed it noiselessly, and found |
herself in the little yard outside. 1t
was some distance from the house to
the glen; but the journey was one of
rapid execution. And hardly had she
gained the top of the narrow gorge,
when the sound of wheels coming
swiftly over the rough road fell upon
her ears, and presently phaeton con-
tanning Rhoderick and Alice Orvis
came in sight.
With fervent prayer on her white
ips, the young girl glided forward as
hey drew near the spot where she was
remblingly stationed, and the phaeton
lalted when the occupants observed
he dark-robed figure standing in the
enter of the road, effectually barring
urther progress. Lila addressed them
It once.
"Back, back!" she cried, in sharp,
xciting tones. "If you value your
ives, turn back! Death turks in the
ath you are pursuingl'
A thrill of superstitious awe ran
trough her listeners. Alice uttered
ry of mingled terror and alarm; but
'hoderick rose up, saying, as he did
0:
"Who are you?"
"a friend Do as l bid you, and all
ill be well," was answered. Gre
lember, you are warned!' foated
ack to them on the still night air. {
md Lila was gone. S
There was no mistaking the sinceri- '
? of her words. Rhoderick felt this, l
nd, acting upon the impulse of the t
loment, and the wild entreaties of his S
ster, he sprang from his vehicle, as 7
sted her to alight, and securing the '
orse to tree, turned into path that q
ID across the fields to their house. 1t
as his intention to return as soon as
e had conducted his sister home, take C
barge of the horse, and if possible, il
arm more respecting the nights ad' c
enture. Neither suspected the person K
no gave them the timely warning; and L
hoderick had not the faintest idea c
lat it was gentle Lila Wynde who had C
wed his life. o
Their retreating footsteps had not t
led away before old Caspar WYnde C
ltered the glen, glancing about him II
every step, as though he feared
Ieir prey had descaped. What his con-
ctures were on finding the horse and t.
,hicle there we cannot say; but Il
immering of the truth must have g
,me to him there; for, after mo- b
ent's hesitation, he sprang into the h
raise, seized the reins, and drove rap
ly down the glen to the spot where
arl was lyingin concealment. At the s.
,ttom of the vehicle was a large fur n
oak, which Rhoderick had worn and 5
rgotten in his hasty departure; and b
most unconsciously the old man oi
Few this about his shoulders. At al
red thus, a casual observer would