Smyrna times., 1879-12-24

as she followed thankfully her conductor
mp the stone steps and into broad hall.
Come this way" and she went up a
photographed stairway, and was shown
into handsome parlor.
In a few moments some refreshment and
glass of wine were set before her. She ate
with avidity, for she was almost famisbing
" DRINK the wine dear; that is what you
need to strengthen you. Now" when she
had put the cup to her lips and drained it,
rest \ few minutes longer until | come
back"
The last Edith remembered was of feeling
drowsy and sleepy and of making one or
two Intellectual attempts to rise and shake
it off.
Edith opened her eyes in handsome
chamber, with strange, unreal sensation
AS she looked around.
g must have tainted" she thought as
she raised her head and look ed around
The shaded gaslight threw a subdued radi
anCe over the furniture. She had a full
view OF herself in her rather plain clothing
IN tai mirror opposite. "lf | were well
dressed" she thought, 4" should not feel
at all out of place amid these surroundings
Dear, dear, | wish | had nice things Per
haps this kind lady will take fancy to me
and adopt me. | have heard Of such
things
Inc door key turned softly. A gentle.
man, well dressed and middle aged, entered,
and came towards her. She saw the glitter
OF diamond on his finger as he seated
himself beside her, and began to question
her as how she felt now.
Where am /? Where is the lady who
brought me here?'
-" The lady is here, and you are safe" he
said in tone meant to he soothing, but
which had the opposite effect OF her.
want to 90 home now" she said,
throwing off the caressing hand he laid
upon her shoulder, and rising to her feet
quickly.
" You cannot go home, for it is past mid
night, and 1t would not do for one so young
and beautiful to he out so late"
Where is the lady who brought me
here?"
she has left you in my care; come to
my arms, my darling" and he made
a decided attempt to embrace. halEbeliev.
ing, skeptical man of the world that he was.
that her ignorance was only feigned. Then
the situation flashed upon her. She had
been entrapped, and by a woman. She had
learned how Saten, in womans form
might be transformed into an angel Of
light.
All the pride of womanhood, all the will.
fitness OF her strong, passionate nature
arose and aided her. The man tried per.
Suasion and oft-voiced batteries. She
warded off his touch and stung him by the
bitterness Of her tongue, the scorn of her
defiant eyes. He tried force. but the
strength OF ten women seemed to be con
centrAted in her single self, and she flung
him from her with all the fury of a ioness.
Mean, cowardly villain! Viper! How
dare you try to take advantage of a
drfenSless girl p
And she conquered. Baffled. and not
caring longer to encounter such a she.
panther, as he designated her, he left her
locking the door after him.
Then her strength left her, and she sank
down upon the floor and prayed for help,
Tie hrst real prayer she had ever made.
She heard clock outside striking three
it would soon be daylight. Good God !
what would she do if that man came back :?
But be did not come. He had reported
meanwhile that "she was the hardest one
To tame he had ever known, but he guessed
ned manage her yet"
When the morning dawned she raised
one OF the windows, threw open the shut.
ter', and looked down the street lust awak
ing to life again. Then she realized that
she was higher up than she supposed.
They must have carried me up here
while | was ins-nsible last night" she
thought with a shudler. She wondered If
Il would not be- better to spring to the nave
ment below than to stay there to re
victim. AS she gazed wistiullv up and
down the street she saw figure coming
toward her point that looked familiar.
Guild it br possible? Yes, walking SLOWLY
along the sidewalk was George Floyd!
"G-orge-George help me out of this
place"
lie heard the familier voice with Quick.
ened heart throbs, and looked up to see
the dearest face on earth to him lookinp
down with agonizing entreaty.
A police officer near heard the cry. He
advanced and joined Floyd.
Help me, help me out of this awful
place." she implored, as the two stood talk
ing.
They did help, and it was not long be-
fore she stood face to face with her former
sighted lover, and flung herself into his
when did you come to the city, and
how happened you to be out so early p
she asked him, when, in the shelter of her
cousins room, to which he had, conducted
her, she told him her story.
came yesterday, on business. | had
restless night at my hotel-kept dreaming
and thinking that you were in danger.
thought | would take an early stroll. Il
didn't at all surprise me when heard your
voice"
What would have become of me if Won
had not saved me?'
Won't you come to me now. dearP Let
me take you away from all this worry and
temptation and care. You won't refuse me
again, will you Ehth? You will never find
one who will love you more tenderly and
truly"
How can you ask me again, George ?"
You didn't understand then, dear: Won
do now. You will be more contpntpd and
happy as my wife than you would have been
without this experience"
Sne could NO longer resist his tender
pleading. AT last he had won her. But no
one, not even his mother, ever knew from
what peril he had rescued her.
-
ONES CHANCES OF LlFE.-The following
is one OF these Northumberland tables in
use among London assurance companies.
showing the average length of life ut
various ages. In the first column we have
TIA" present ages of persons of average
health, and in the second column we ore
enabled to peep. as it were, behind the
scenes OF an assurance Office and gather
from their table the number of years thew
Will give US to live. This table has been the
result OF careful calculation, and seldom
proves misleading. or course, sudden and
premature deaths, as well as lives unusually
extended, occasionally occur, but this is a
table OF the average expectancy of life Of
an average man or woman:
ASE' TO LIVE
Il 80
20 ~