Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-06-07

time our story opens, and we now pro.
coed to take up the thread of the nara.
tive
1t was the afternoon preceding the
day in which Rose was to be forced to
become the wife of Silas Hall.
In spite of her protestations her uncle
did not alter in his avowed purpose
1.-THE wife of Silas Hall you shall be p
he cried. 81 have sworn it, and / will
not be turned from my purpose"
"Never, never" cried Rose in des-
peration. "Do not hope for it; my lips
shall never speak the words that shall
bind me to that old william; I will die
first !"
"You need not speak them unless you
wish to. Parson Sabine will not be par
ticular. License gives consent"
The afternoon in question Rose sat
alone in a little apartment off from the
drawing-room. She was thinking of the
coils that were closing around her, and
the chances there were for her to escape
them The black boy, Pip,had returned,
and the message he brought awoke a
hope in her heart If it was possible to
save her she knew that Captain Blake
would do it. She knew his heart we'll,
and felt he would give his own life freely,
if need to be, to save her.
She was thinking of him, and hoping
that it would not be long ere she would
be folded once more in his arms, when
her thoughts were disturbed by rap at
the door. Thinking that it might be the
maid or the boy Pip, she babe the APP
plicant enter. The door opened, and,
much to her disgust, she saw Silas Hall
standing before her.
She arose from her scat with the inten-
ton of quitting the room. The presence
of her sutton was at all times distasteful
to her, and his coming upon her now was
doubly so. He devined her motions,
and took step forward as though for
the purpose Of arresting her steps.
Rose, do not be so cruel as to leave
me-" he said. Tomorrow is to be our
wedding day, and there is much that
would say to you"
She made no answer to the words of
the man she abhorred, but with state
ly mien moved as though she would leave
the apartment.
Silas Hall stepped forward, and made
a motion as though he would lay his hand
! upon her shoulder.
Back, villain p she cried. sIeave
the room, your presence is unwelcomt
here !"
r "Why so cruel, Rose; what does i
matter =? Tomorrow you'll be mine
Let us speak now of the happiness Their
is in store for US"
: He laid his hand upon her arm ant
attempted to draw her toward him.
She shook him off as though his toucI
Q polluted her, and the next instant sh'
had drawn long slender dagger from
9 her bosom, and held it towards him in
! menacing manner.
$ He fell back step, holding out hi
t hands as though to ward of the expect
Q ed blow.
D "Put up that toy, Rose; this is but
, foolish play. Of all the men in tn
, world you would not harm your promises
husband"
mo, l would not harm him. He i
not here. 1t is against you, black heart
; cd villain, that would defend myself =
This is foolish talk, Rose you know
, that in few hours you are to be M
wife,
II know no such thing, Silas Hall
Rather than be your wife, if | were
forced to take my choice would plunge
this dagger into my own heart !"
She turned the point of the weapon
towards her, and made q motion as
though she were half-minded TO strike
the blow Of which she had just spoken.
Evidently Silas Hall thought she
meant to do what she said and as her
motions indicated, for be took another
step towards her as though for the pur-
pose of arresting her hand.
"Leave the room, Silas Hall, unless
you wish me to do the Decd" she said,
still holding the weapon menacingly,
and the villain seeing that she was thor
ougbly in earnest, skunk away leaving
her alone.
IL will keep my word" she said 10
herself. eff Robert does not come TO
save me tonight, / will die. will new
er be forced to this thing which SO
much abhor. The grave is far better
than life with that villain.
She placed the weapon in its hiding
place, and few minutes later sought the
privacy Of her own apartment.
The night came on apace--a night
filled with the deepest gloom.
Dark and threatening clouds rushed
athwart the sky, completely blotting out
the light Of the stars.
No rain was falling, although at any
moment it seemed that a new delugc
might be hurled upon the earth.
Alone Rose waited the coming Of her
patriot lover.
Midnight was near at hand. Her un-
Gle and Silas Hall had retired 10 rest. -
80 far as she knew only herself and .trus-
ty Pip we're awake.
The latter had repeated that the red
coats without were snugly sheltered and
that unless alarmed they would not stir
again that night.
The moment was near at hand on
which SO much depended
There was n low football without the
door--a footstep which she remembered
well.
Rose !"
The voice thrilled her 10 her utmost
I -o,f