Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-06-26
not dead, and thus he was making one
wild effort for liberty. Marion Hyde

uOt u0Au, anu luuS uc WAS udA1uS Out
wild effort for liberty. Marion Hyde
stood and watched him.
She could not have called out just then
if he had been the most desperate anC
hardened criminal within those walls
Besides, the poor wretch was only mock.
ing himself. He could not escape ever
now unless by a miracle. She saw him
stop presently beside window, which
opened into an upper hall, and after an
effort raised it, and slowly dragged him.
self through.
Obeying an impulse which she could
not at that moment control, Marion
softly opened her door, and passed on
without her crutches for fear of the
noise. She reached the hall just as this
poor wasted creature, after brief rest,
was ulging his half-paralyzed limbs to
renewed effort. At the sight of her he
gasped and dropped in a swoon, and
Marion hurried to his side. She dared
not leave him, so she waited, rubbing
his cold hands between her tender
palms, till be at last opened his eyes.
and she made him comprehend that
she wanted him to come with her.
II want go back to prison, - he .whis-
pered between his set teeth.
"YOu need not" she saids simply,
and led him to her own chamber. ~
There was positively no other place
that was safe from the strict search that
she knew would be instituted as soon as
he was discovered missing. She pro-
cured him some garments which had
belonged to her brother, and she got
him some food that would be safe for
him to eat after his long fast.
He regarded all her movements with
the incredulous wonder of child.
What has been the matter with
me?" he asked after awhile. "I could
not stir any more than though I was
dead, but / knew all that was going on
about me. Ugh it was frightful wait
ing there in that disseeting room. be-
lieve it was only the horror of it helped
me to break the frightful SPELL"
II supposed you were in a sort of a
trance" Marion said, thoughtfully.
"What are you going to do with me?"
he asked again.
IT don't know, 1 am sure" she said
with Sigh. "But you are safe here
till I can think"
IT don't expect you to believe me,
but am as innocent of the crime for
which I was brought here as you are +"
"Guilty or innocent, pity you, you
are so young"
Concealing him till the hue and cry
was over, Marion smuggled him through
the gates in wOman's dress and with a
basket of soiled linen. And so the mys
terry of Aymer Preston's escape remain
ed.
The years moved op. Marion was
twenty five Her father was dead Her
idolized brother had .perished in a brawl
She was alone in the world an invalid,
living on the merest pittance earned
with her needle, but the same sweet
faced, sweet voiced girl who had won
the hearts of the prisoners in the gloo.
my abode of which her faith er had been
warden.
One day she was sent for, to sec about
some embroidery. She was received by
q young lady. and something in the
young girls bright face drew Marion IS
glance unconsciousIy. Where had she
seen those eyes, so large and so intense
ly black?
why do you look at me sO?' asked
the young girl, with maize eagerness.
| "You remind me of some one have
known.u Marion answered simply.
ssNO one ever accused me of looking
like any one but Robert BEFORE" laugh
ed the girl.
sAh. yes you do. I see the resem-
blance now quite strong" and Marion's
face flushed with emotion. "Perhaps
you are related to him. His name was
Aymer Preston"
"Oh !" cried the young girl, spring
ing up, ''and you are lame, and YOU
name is Marion Hyde. Tell me, ISM,
it? I knew it. Oh, Robert, what will
you say?"
She vanished from Marion's astonish.
ed eyes, with the words on her lips
She was back, however, in trice, and
| with her came tall, dark haired, hea-
Willy bearded gentleman.
marion Hyde? Is it possible ?' he
exclaimed, clasping both the little
trembling hands in his and putting
them over and over again to his lips
which were quivering with emotion
| "Surely you know me ?"
'tYou-you are Aymer Preston,
stammered Marion.
IT was Ayner Preston, am Robert
Liesson. A relative of my mothers lef
me his property on condition of my tax
ing his name. 1 have searched for yot
vainly, Marion Hyde. My prosperity
has been bitter to me till now find you
Oh you shall never touch needle OF
work again.
mo, indeed, that you shall not,
chimed in she who had been the mean
of this happy recognition and as sh
said it, both her arms were aroun,
Marion's neck, and she was sobbing an,
kissing her alternately. Robert AWAY
said he would never marry anybod,
but you, and you'll have him, won
you. dear?"
II have proved my innocence of tha
charge of robbing my guardian" sal,
Robert, gravely. "But it was long be
fore could do so. l followed up tn
man whose testimony convicted me, til
he lay dying, and he gave me writer
confession of false witness. My guard
ian paid him to injure me. He wante
me out of the way, I will not be so ab
rupt as to ask you to marry me now
but as this rash sister of mine has sal
so much can do no less than testify t
its truth. I have always loved you
sweet, dear face, Marion. shall nev
er cease to wish it my wife's face til
that wish is realize :"
And then he left Marion to his sister
petting and soothing.
''Thls morning I was alone-not
friend in the wide world, and.now"-
A burst of tears came to her relief.
She is Robert lessons wife now
and her beautiful eyes are as dove-lik
as ever, with compassion for the unfol
tunate.
FRANCIS D. MoULToN SUpPoRTIN
Mrs. THEODORE FTILTON.-In the Sc
tlement of the case of Moulton again
Beecher for malicious prosecution, Tho
q. Shearman, as the attorney for M
Beecher, obtained an extra allowanc
which aggregated 1925. Mr.. Shearmal
Immediately on the receipt of the chec
of Francis d. MoIlton payable to h
order, indorsed on the back of it. "Pa
to the order of Mrs. Theodore Tilton,
and forwarded it to that lady, thinkin
it would be of more value to her than
himself. Mrs. Tilton indc rsed her nan
on the back of it, and it reached M