The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-09
That was all I knew, and that was oil I


affections Of manner which so many ladies
Imagine please the opposite sex, while In
reality they only disgust or afford material
for ridlcule.
with cheerful conversation the time passed
quickly away, and ut the close Of most en-
| juyable ride ! had almost forgotten the exist
ence OF Capt. Wyndham, until saw his dark,
| ill-omened vsage looking out at tls from one
Of the Hall windows as ] assisted Bessie to
dismount.
For three weeks matters continued much
AZ they had commenced.
That is to say, every morning that II was
possible Bessie and myself joined the riding
party, on which occasion j was always the
young lady's cavalier. Wyndham continued
| to scowl but, as yet, proceeded no further
| | was more deeply In love than ever, and
and-well, as open confession Is the ofder o.
| the day, / was under the impression tina i
| was not altogether dstasteful to Miss Thorn
| ton.
Reginald certainly did all that tho most
matchmaking brother could have effected To
| assist me.
He sacrificed himself In order TO take
wyndham off on long walks or on fishing
| excursions, during which Bessie and myself
could sing and sigh Mt the piano, or anuse
ourselves as pupil and teacher 10 the billiard
| ROOM or pass away the time In q hundred
different ways to our mutual satisfaction.
| One evening was smoking q pipe In Regl-
maids snuggery, and thinking how short
time was left before my leave would eiapse,
/
| what on earth . tho matter with you. Iornf
You look as II you were practiciDg for pro-
fessional mute"
II was thinking" replied, signing uncon-
gei.ously that that j IN few days shall nave !"
what Of that, old man2 You were never
one to shirk duty"
"No. never was; but that was before had
ever seen--that Ia to say before l.
And here broke down altogether.
what is the matter, Tom2 Come, man.
confide In an old chum."
well, Regy, If you must have It out,
have been ass enough to fall In love with your
sister, ~.
"Ass enoughl What do you mean, Tom r.
asked Thornton. with iovial smile.
"Why, that /, a naval lieutenant, on Cl5O
year. should have permitted myself to"
"Ohl that's all Never mind that. just
wait n minute, will your
| And before / could speak he left the room,
shutting the door behind him.
In couple Of minutes he returned, accom-
panied by Bessie. -,
NOW YOU are here. Bessie" said he, Il
will tell you what wanted you for, Tom
has something very particular he wishes 70
say to you, so will leave you alone Tor a Few
moments"
When Reginald returned at the end OF half
an hour he exclaimed:
"Oh, / see It's all right ard you've settled
that little private matter you had to talk
III.
I'd received my flag. And now I'll tell you
that this has been my plan all along for saw
ing you from that brute Wyndham. You don't
understand, | dare say, so I'll explain. knew
nobody in the world that would have given
you to with half as much pleasure ms Tom.
or course knew that oil chance OF the pater
changing his mind was at an end, SO thought
that II you and Tom could only manage to
tumble In love with one another, Tom could
elope with you; and then, when the thing was
nuee done IL would be- Of no ugn making any
fuss about It.
"Elope, Regyl" said Bessie, in great confu-
sion: ,
easier, one day when you 20 out riding, than
to ride away and get married2 Why-haliol
What's that2 There's somebody listening
outsider
And nIngIng open the door, which had not
been shut, Reginald dashed out into the pass
age but just too late rs he was only In time
to see form vanishing into the darkness.
| This startled US all little, and 1t was de-
cided that the next day Reginald should obtain
| a license; for, after some little pressure, Bes-
sic acceded to our united request, and con-
sented to clandestine marriage, and that
| the elopement and subsequent ceremony
should take place the following day.
| The next day arrived, and We were In the
hall waiting for the horses to be brought
round when Capt. Wyndh1m made his APP
Bessie" exclaimed he, In savage voice,
| II forbid you to ride to-dayp
| "Forbid mef echoed Bessie.
| ooh. come, that Is too bad, Wyndham,"
said old Mr.. Thornton, who had come out
from among his books to see us mount Let
her have her liberty now, cage 1t how you
| may In few months time, when she i5
yours"
Ing up spirit and advancing toward her
horse. -
| apcOmDauy yOu.'
BY this time had assisted Bessie into her
saddle, when, as was attending to the girths
OF my own horse, the Captain came out.
The glare OF insanity was In his eye as,
sprpging upon the back OF the nearest horse
to him, splendid hunter, he snatched the
reins out of Bessie g hands then, striking her
horse violent blow with the whip he held,
shrieked out:
'Now she is mine! II not In life then In
death will claim my brldei"
At the same instant both horses started
forward and commenced furious gallop
across the lawn.
Without moments hesitation l jumped
into the saddle and followed.
Wildly beating the horses and shrieking
and shouting, as only q mailman can shout,
he led the way across The ha-ha hedge at the
bottom OF the lawn and across the path.
Foot by foot / could feel my good steed
overtaking them. But would he be in time
to save my darling?
The madman's purpose could only be
sirous, II possible, Of putting an end to him.
self and his fancee at the same time.
Nearer and nearer strides my bonny chest
nut and Bessie looks aound and, seeing me
in pursuit, utters one mournful, almost hope
less, cry:
Save me, Tom p
mo, Io-too late! He cannot save you
now !" shouted Wyndham. "Ha, ha this was
to have been your bridal day, but I-ha ha !
have eloped with you instead !" and then fol-
lowed peal of maniacal laughter.
The tremendous speed at which we had been
going had now taken us across the park, and
we approached the high wall which surround
ed the demesne.
| Now could see his fiendi5h intent. 1t was
impossible for any horse to surmount such an
obstacle, but he meant. riding both horses at
it, in the hope of-death!
Striking the spurs into my horse, the noble
creature sprang forward, and was alongside
of Bessie's animal.