Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-03-19

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 Orvis. Then
a cloud passed over her face as some
unpleasant 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 Carl sat; but now there
was lull in in their conversation,
and the silence of death rcigned
everywhere.
1t must have been instinct that
prompted Lila to walk to the closet,
take Il book, matches and small
lamp from shelf near the door; as
she came out, 4 few words Carl ad-
messed her father fell upon her ears
and transfixcd her to the spot. She
listened lreathlcssly.
! 81 tell you he has the money-will
bring it from the town tonight"
Carl said, eagerly. "a thousend
pounds are not to be picked up every
day."
NO." her father answered; there
was a strange hesitation in his voice,
she thought.
"And we must have it."
ale may made desperate resist
ance. Are we prepared for it?'
For answer, Carl drew out Il revolv-
er, and laid it on the table beside him;
his eye flashing detiantly, and his face
was aglow with very wickedness.
'No, no! not that!'' the old fisher
man said hoarsely.
"And why not?'' Carl responded,
savagely. "Why not, when the
money will enable lis to live like
men: This is my plan: we will get
the money--we must not let a life
stand in the way. Once in our pos
session, we will fly the country, Lila
and all! 1t will be too hot to hold
us" he added, with 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 ceased speaking, the truth
dawned upon her. The man whom
they proposed to rob, and, perhaps,
murder, was Rhoderick Orvis.
He had lately purchased tract Of
land adjoining his own, and the
money was to pay the person from
whom he bought it. 1t was an awful
moment for the young girl! For an
instant 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 a
minute was to be lost Carl and her
father were making ready to start
10 snatch Il 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 Il
second. She untastened the door,
closed it noiselessly, and found her
self 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
gauge, when the sound OF wheels
coming swiftly over the rough road
fell upon her ears, and presently a
phaeton containing Rhoderick and
Alice Orvis came in si@ht.
With Il tcrvcnt prayer on her white
lips, the young girl glided forward as
they drew near the spot where she
was tremblingly stationed, and the
phaeton halted when the occupants
observed the dark-robed figure stand
ing in the centre of the road, effect
ually barring further progress. Lila
addressed them ut once.
"Back, back!' she cried, in sharp,
exciting tones. eff .,ou value your
lives, turn back! Death turks in the
path you are pursuirgo'
a thrill OF superstitiouS awe ran
through her listeners. Alice uttered
Il cry of mingled terror and alarm;
but Rhodcrick rose up, saying, rs he
did so, ''Who are you?'
"a friend! Do as l bid you, and
all will he WE'LL" was answered.
Remember, you are warncd!'' tloated
back to them on the still night air.
And Lila was gone.
There was no mstaking the sim
cerity of her words. Rhoderick felt
this, and acting upon the impulse Of
the moment, and the wild entrcaties
of his sister, he sprang from the vehi-
Gle, assis ted her to alight, and secur-
ing the horse to Il tree, turned into Il
path that led across the fields to their
house. 1t was his intention to return
as soon as he had conducted his sister
home, take charge of the horse, and,
if possible, learn more respecting the
nights adventure. Neither rccogniz-
ed the person who gave them the
timely warning; and Rhoderick had
not the faintest idea that it was gen
tie Lila Wyndc who had saved his
life.
Their rctreating footsteps had not
died away before old Casper Wyndc
entered the glen, and glancing about
him at every step, as though he feared
their prey had escaped. What his
conjectures were on finding the horse
and vehicle there, we cannot say;
but a gllmmering of the truth must
have come. to him there; for, after Il
moments hesitation, he sprang into
the chaisc, seized the rcins, and drove
rapidly down the glen to the spot
where Carl was lying in conceal
ment. AT the bottom of the vehicle
wasalarge fur cloak, which Rhoderlck
had worn and forgotten in his hasty
departure; and almost unconsciously
the old man drew this about his
shoulders. Attired thus, casual
observer would have easily mistaken
him for Rhoderick Orvis. Their
height was almost similar, and their