The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-12-23
NO. So.

slant. She had spoken truly; yet
possibility flashed through her mind. =
Her hero, her knight, might win her
could he but have a chance.
If you love no one else, then you
shall learn to love me-" said the master
of The Cedars.
II encourage no false hopes" said
the girl coldly. " L never can, Mr..
Cashelp'
"Why not?" he questioned, more
angrily than before. 'I have no marks
upon me to make you hate me, have II
You speak strongly when you say that
in all the future there is no hope, =
more strongly than the case demands"
Barbara sprang to her feet, anger in
her eyes.
'If you have finished, Mr. Cashel, you
will excuse me-" she said haughtily.
do not choose to be insulted."
The mans anger cooled
81 beg your PARDON" he said, hum
bly, enough. 'I will go myself"
And he left Barbara's presence. She
ran to her room.
Oh, why does he love me ?" she
cried, bursting into passion of tears
Between us there is nothing in COM
mon. hate him 1 hate him and
cannot help it. have been blind, ut
terly blind for the possibility of this
never came to me. 1t fills my soul with
dismay. Oh, why does he love me ?"
The master of The Cedars ceased to
come to the De We're residence. Once
when Barbara was out riding he passed
her. AS he did so, he gave her merely
cold glance.
The first of August approached. Bar
bara made an announcement to the De
Veres.
II am going to Baltimore" she said.
You don't mean that" Victoria
said. II thought you were going to re-
main with us till winter"
81 positively must go in week."
Barbara replied seriously "but, Vic
toria, will try to return by the middle
of August"
You will tryl' exclaimed Victoria.
zone would suppose that it might be
impossible. Barbara, will never for
give you if you not come back and re-
main until Christmas. Unless you
promise me that, L will not let you go at
ALL"
promise to return; "but'--
want no conditions" interrupted
Victoria imperatively. Promise in
full.n
81 will return but after that we will
decide how long 1 am to remain" per-
sisted Barbara.
One pleasant summer afternoon, late
in July, Robert De We're drove Barbara
over to the station. The train rushed
up, and she found herself on board
Then she was away. M
Several hours passed. Night came
down on earth. The train plunged on
through the darkness.
All of the incidents that had occur
red while she was at the DE Vere's
passed before Barbara's memory, from
the adventure with the vicious dog to
the declaration of the master of The
Cedars. The great gray stone mansion,
to think of which always thrilled her,
because she knew it should have been
her home, rose up before her imagina-
ton. 1t pleased her to think of The
Cedars, and caused her to shudder to re-
member the possessor of the estate.
Barbara became wearied. Nature as
serted herself, and the girl fell into
slight doze. She had terrible dream
She imagined that the master of The
Cedars was pursuing her, face hideous
and distorted, she fleeing before him in
dread. Suddenly her flight was stopped
by coming to steep precipice. She
glanced down into the yawning gulf be-
fore her feet, and beheld his fierce, VII
cous-looking dog, his red mouth open,
his white, cruel fangs cleaning.
With wild scream she threw herself
from the preciplce, thinking that the
monster below could not be more cruel
than the one above. There was an
answering scream, and then Barbara
awoke She found herself standing erect,
cold chills of terror running over her.
The shrek of the locomotive had awak-
cd her. There was fierce grating sound
beneath her feet, and In an instant there
came terrific crash. Darkness seemed
to envelop Barbara, and she became un~
conscious.-To be continued.