Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-09-05
ANARROW ESCAPE.

4
to paps. Howldo / do. papa2' I demanded. |
bursting upon him III all the splendor Of
Eth, my little girl, he said, looking
up from the book me was reading, ARE
you going nOwf's y ~ y 70 -
Eyes; promised to be the first arrival.
you know and, please, l want your can
did opinion on my appearance Nurse
thinks look lovely"
''. am afraid nurse is partial critic" he
retu ned with a fond smile. You look
yery nice indeed, darling. You ale Cow
ing wonderfully like your mother.
knew that bis was the highest praise
my dignity and my extensive train, | ran
to him and clAsped my arms round his
neck
You dear old pspal You're sure you
1on't mind my leaving you-qulte sure?
And you won't feel lonely without me
will your,
"No my child-no.
AS drove long with nurse in her
prim black uonnet seated opporite to me,
my hear beat high with nervous aticipa-
Lion. l was going to my first party;
for though was eighteen, papa and
oad lived such retired lives that IL lately
[ mad known nothing of the gaities usual
20 The girls of my age, Six months previ-
'usly, however, the Mortons, some old
| friends of my fathers had tettlrd In the
| ueig oornood, and at their house l had
| oegun to appear in society. AlreAd on
| ID strength ola few musicals evenings
and garden party or two, felt mysth
qu IL dlssIpa tu person.
When We reached Holme Lodge, the
large, comfortable, old count y mansion
was ablaze with light, and from the open
| door streamed an inviting floor of warmth
| and brilliancn.
Ia the hall 1 was seized upon by Louie
| aid LoLtie Morton, the twin sisters.
| Come up stairs to our ROOM" cried
| Lottie, I'VE will have time for a chat be-
lore The people arrlve." ...
The, sitting room, specially appropriated
| TO the girls use, Was pretty costy apart
| ment. A splendid wood fire Was burning
on the tiled hearth, aud near by little
Ia bile was set forth with dainty repast OF
coffee and delicious cakes.
| After we had examined and commented
on each others costumes, Louie began
dIling our cups just as young lady enter
| I'd the room.
she was friend staying on a visit
Isabella Saloni by name, and by bHth
calf Italian and b ali English.
She looked remarkably well, in a dress
of heavy saf on-tinled brocade, and neck
lace. ear>rlngs, and bracelets of dull gold
and as / g,,zed at her / comprehended
how rarely lovely she was.
| was engaged to RUPERT Morton fol
the first waltz; butwe had only taken I
couple of turns ronnd the room when h'
| whspere1:
"Do you particularly wish to finish thi
dancer If not. will you come into the con
versatory? It is, cool and pleasant there
was about to make some laughing re
joinder, but a look in his gray eyes stop
ped me, and merely bowed assent. a
"Getrude," he said, softly, as we stoo
by q marble basin wherein tiny Eountau
sent up d sparkling cascade of silver. drops
do you guess why l asked You to- com
her+?"
glanced up at him saucily.
Certainty, because it is SO cool an
pleasant" 7s.i % --.-E1 ~ @e --s az-@
= "A hi that was only the pretext. the excus'
/ surely you can guess my real reason, Oar
ing. YOU know 1 lo~ Q you, do You nott
strove TO cover my burning cheet
with my thands; but he gently remove
! them, and held them in his own as
bent his head to the level Of my downea
eyes.
"Have you word to say to met O.
you not give. me one word of hopeF9
l could not at first speak, but he read b
answer in my silence. -
Rupert" L murmured presently, raj
!, ing my head from Its resting place on b
sh1 ulder, ''do you know III thought
I was afraid that you liked Miss Salonl
. You were indeed mistaken. No m,
could help admlring hire; but believe N
beyond admiration | Lave meyer givensh
nthUught' zz-.,s .sa...ss.-esy...ss
If | had been happy beforeS was ten tim
happier now. i danced every dance. al
!, vt supper Rupert conlrived to secure
secluded corner. waere he detained me
= 10 that l MORALLY offended one partn
who sought me high and low in vain.
l Was 10 remain At Holme Lodge, and
> homesthe neat day, nurse having oroug
every thing r, quRit for my stay, and pi &C
q ready before she returned. 81 81
, having exchanged my ball dress Tor
- com Portable dressing gown, aud my sal
shoes for turIi cd slippers, / sat by I
fire in my bed room, dreaming brig
1E dreams, and weaving fairy faneies
loved and was be owed. WAS not that
hight OF human bliss2 Could any ott
j y compare with it: Truly is it written
: There's no ing If SO sweet in life,
act As loves Dung dream,
or II was long ere g1t into bed, bat OF
.~- there l f. II INTO deep, slumber, and Il
ID Their memories of the pasL Enor plains
the future disturbed it. 60 --s
no. Sudden ly awoke-awoke with full 8,
- consti .usness of the presence of some {
"a or something ter IDLE in the room. w he
N what it was | could not tell, and l da
~ not TO empt TO find cut. l lay with
face turned TO the wall, every limb &
and still, and the blood in my veins Gu
ling with fear.
At last an roy ingeritouched me; and
though under sumo ufesmerlc lnhuene
slowly moved my cad.
The fire had died out, but night.la
was dimiy burning, and by its light
- 1 saw a loosely robed figure. will
~ cloud of raven hair falling almost t.
sH knees; lurldty glowing eyes, set IN des
~ palld lace; and in one appraised b
,af q cleaning stiletto-jswelled handled
ldL finely pointed 80 .--rvt d.
nd could utter no cry; could make
movement / remained spellbound
IN dumb, my eyeballs staring and my
:. blanching, knowing. that I was at
JS- mercy of mad woman, and recoeniz
1i- in that mad woman Isabella SALON..
Again she touched me; and, thou.
m, suffered I could not draw away.
he you sleep seundly, che said. "but
nc have awaked at last. TIE sleep of dea
)r. the soundest of all sleeps. for there il
" awakening from i'll And SO he told yol
I. loved you--yoaDot mel What do
r. know of loye?,vs What does be know
- loye2 It is / who loye-1-sI--I' and
WI voice rose shrilI and high. am g