Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-04-29
Guardian and Ward.

gazed down Upon the lovely, hali aYerteu lace
Of his companion.
"Bo your wife, Guardy?' And the large
grey eyes, in whose depths there luTked
world Of merriment and fun, were raised with
surprised look to his. Surely, you are not
in earnest Why, you are nearly old enough
to be my grandfather The idea is ridiculous"
And with a merry, ringing laugh, Elise Wilde
caught her hat from the table, and tripped
lightly from the room stopping at The door to
say,-"f am going down into the glen after
some cones, and if you will promise not to get
any more such absurd notions into that dear
old head Of yours, will lot you come along
and carry my basket"
Indeed Really, you arc generous, said
VIII, with M amused smile.
"You will not 90 then Very well Unless
an greatly mistaken, yonder person up the
lane is Mr.. Paul Croswell am sure he will
be only too happy to accompany me y And
playfully throwing him kiss from the tips OF
her little fingers, she Uttered through the open
door, leaving the discounted lover standing
Nth folded arms and thoughtful brow, gazing
at the door through which she had vanished.
lie was tbiEty-four, handsome, welliniorm-
Cd and very wealthy Many spcculating
mamma had cndeayorcd to entrap him with
her marriagcablo daughters But lie was re-
served, did not mingle much in society, and
they had all given up in disgust, until it came
4 to be an acknowledged fact in Sea View, that
the owner Of stately old Elmwood Hall would
never marry.
On his dcath-bed, his old friend and college
-matc, Ralph Wide, had consigned to his care
4 his little daughter Elise, then only ten years of
age. He had taken hor to rho haH, intending
to send her to boarding school; but by her
asomc ways and loving manners she en-
iwincd herself around his heart until he could
not bear to have her away from him any
| length Of time. a governcss had been en-
( ployed and The time fitted rapidly away
Little Elise was, as the housckeeper assorted,
the very life and light Of the old hall. VIII
was satisfied and cohtented, never once look
ing forward to the time when she would leave
him.
Tt'hen Elise reached her seventeenth birth
day, and the books had been cast aside, Will
awokc TO the consciousness that his little Elise
was little no longer. The thought Of separa-
ton now for the FIRST time presented itself, for
Elise already had scores Of admirers, and many
Of the numerous visitors of the hall were at-
tractod thither by the lovely Elise Wide
lie awokc also 10 the consciousness THAT he
loved her with all The strength Of bis mature
years and it panied him, 0 so deeply to have
her treat his love so lightly.
Standing for a moment IN the open vindow,
he caught glimpse Of Elise and her escort, as
they sauntercl leisurcy along the lane that
led down to the glen. It was with a heavy
sigh be turned to bis writing-ddsk, and light
ing a cigar, was soon busily engaged in cut
ting the leaves Of q new book-so busily, in
fact, that more than once the keen little dag
ger ran through the middle instead of the edge
of the leaf
lie had been seated, but a short time, when
he heard hurried steps ascending the front
steps, and in a moment Paul Croswell dashed
into the room. His face was ghastly pale, and
he .rembled 50 violently that he could not
stand. but sank into the nearest chair
"Elise.'
"Gracious Heavens has anything happen
cd to hcr?"
Great beads Of perspiration gathercd upon
VIII Vane's pale forehead
"Whcre is Elise? Speak, man, spcakY
And he shook the frightened CrosweH Violent
ly.
But so completely had fear taken possession
Of the man that he could but gasp
"Eiise The glcnl'
Casting Croswell from him, viii dashed
from the house, and vas soon tearing along
The lane which led to the glen. lie had gone
but a short distance into the gloomy pine
covert, shet a spectacle met bis gaze that was
well calculated to try the strongest nerves 4
few yards distant, half kncclng upon the
ground with her hands clasped upon her
breast, vas Elise Wide, and, crouchibg few
feet from her, with cleaning eyes and work
ing tail, was huge tiger.
viii took in the situation Of affairs In an in
slant; the tiger was evidently one that had es-
capped from travelling rnenagerio few days
previous. He still held in his hand tic dag
ger which be had been using short tine be-
fore, and thinking only that bis darling Elise
was in danger, he sprang toward the tiger
Seeing him approach, the huge monster turned
from Elise, and utterins a sullen roar, be dart
cd ike flash Of light through the air.
1t was a brief, but fierce aud deadly strug