The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1879-09-17

florry confidently expected it, so prepared
myself and waited in the thick olumps OF
shrnbbery, near the gate''
Suppose had concluded to remain, what
then - asked Horace.
Then should have gone Immediately to
Harry and claimed his assistance. l proved
these refreshments, both for our own need
and those to whom we are going"
As she spoke she raised the lid of her bask
ct, and disclosed some tempting cake, sand
wiches, raisins, oranges and bottle of wiue
think we had better eat something in the
night before we reach there"
You are dear good girl said Horace,
and he could scarcely refrain from kissing the
little hand that rendered him the delicate
food.
:" Have you any fire arms ?" she asked
" Yes. Ihave a revolver and dagger
always keep them III this carriage In this
great city, swarming with midnight assassins,
one needs something to intimidate, if not to
put to actual use Scofeld also carries a brace
of pistols"
"That is fortunate. The characters sur
rounding Meg. Stebbins are none of the best"
replied Bell
Horace gave grdan of anguish as he
thought of Ettie's situation. He laid the re-
freshments upon Bells lap, and burst into
tears.
The sight of that strong man weeping like
child. affected Bell, and she mingled her
tears with his.
The carriage stopped and SEQ. leaning
down to the window, asked for further or
ders
Bell looked out and saw to her delight, the
moon peeping over the distant horizon. She
also deserted the gnarled oak close beside
them, and road leading off to the south.
''That is the road am sure" she said
:. We drove along it for some miles when we
came to a small village inhabited mostly by
Dutch. Then we turned in another direc-
ton, by a tavern with stag over the sign
but do not remember on which side of the
road it is, you had better look out of that
window and l will watch by this. She put
back the untasted food in her basket and for
the next hour not word was spoken. just
as Bell was beginning to think she had mis-
taken the way, the village hove IN sight, tay-
ern, signpost and stag included. There were
two roads leading off from this, and SHE could
not recall which her aunt had taken.
Shall inquire !" asked Horace.
Perhaps You had better"
There was no sign of life, no bark of watch
dog nor anything to tell the village was in
L. al 10
of tho INN, 6~sly I3siahs.aan- made his ap.
pearance. But il was impossible to make him
understand, and so they gave up the attempt
ana trusted to chance as Bell could not re-
member her aunt making any turn after they
had left the village, they again took up their
watch.
Horace gave Bell brief account of the
way he became acquainted with Elite and
the singular discovery he and his uncle had
made that evening. Then they relapsed into
silence. Only the chatter of the horses feet
upon the beaten road aud the buzz of swift
revolving Wheels broke the stilluess Of the
night The moon was now high in the zenith,
lighting up with almost supernatural brillian-
cy the surrounding scene, and the dark shad-
ow Of the horses was clearly defined upon the
white road Onward they flew, past houses in
the distance, fields, dreary wastes and patch
es Of woodland. AT length Horace took out
his watch and broke the silence.
g 1t is almost two hours since we left the
village, we must have gone many miles at
this rapid rate"
We are approaching dense piece Of
woodland" replied Bell saw none such
on our way before"
scofield was ordered to reverse the carriage
and retrace the way slowly.
. We may have passed some road leading
to it, and it win give the horses time to
blow" Horace said
But none appeared and after time they
found themselves again at the village. The
other road was now taken
II is one O'Clock, said Horace. " How
much longer will we have to seek her"
The suspense became almost unbcarabe to
him, and IN the strange, brilliant moonlight,
Bell could not tell whether The objects they
passed were familiar or not. This road was
more lonely, houses being seen only at rare
intervals After they had gone, as Bell
thought many more miles. she turned to Hor-
ace and 10 whisper asked the time.
1.-Two o'clock"
am afraid we are wrong again it can
not be farther than this Hush . he exclaim-
ed, what is this we are coming to-
Bell looked out. 1t is the place." she
said.
He pulled the check string and the carriage
stopped.
. think we bad better alight bere,s' said
Horace, taking bis revolver. And win tell
SEQ. to remain under shadow of these trees
and be ready if wanted, while we go forward
and reconnOitcr."
When they reached the door OF the dwell.
fng--which Bell very readily recognized
they found it open stepping into small
ball or vestibuie on the left, they looked III
upon scene that filled them " it'll horror and
indignation.
+" TO think that aunt could have been SO
base as to consiGa her TO such place as this, .
she whispered.
On the table stood greasy tallow lamp,
partly extinguished, together with two or
4 a..