Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-09-10
She began to feel delighted with the idea

30 dawned new1ife upon Helen White;
q life her mother little dreamed OF
w aHlSs passed.
ShasalssS tlisssss Die alsS reccivcs Icvc
letters from strangers.
She was naturally u silly girl, and had no
strong principle to sustain her.
Guided by her companions, and the easy
prey Of circumstances, she behaved most
toolshly and forgot all of the old ideas of
propriety which had once been her guide.
To one of the admirers, who signed him
self Carlos" she wrote as girl ought
scarcely to write to her betrothed lover.
And she forgot how guilty she would once
have felt had she kept secret from her
mother.
Mrs. White was delighted with IIelen's
progress.
Miss Minerva gave her volume, "rhe
Guide for young ladies'" as prize for fine
department, and nobody had any suspicion
that her head was full of nonsense and her
pockets full Of love letters from an utter
stranger, to whom she had told all the par
ticulars of her life, and the full extent of her
fortune, and tn whom she had given vows
OF eternal consistency; not exactly in black
and white, for black ink was voted vulgar
at Miss Minerals, but in purple
At last the climax arrived.
Something beiell her that had not bciallen
any OF her room mates as yet
She read the letter aloud 10 Emma, Rose,
Grace and Maria, and, all in a flutter, begged
their advice in the matter
'.lIe, says he's Prince said Helen with
glow on her cheeks, "and, you know of
course, I'll be a Princess if marry him;
and, Of course, we shall invite you to our
castle. Last night met him--l coaxed Bid
dy TO watch and let him inland he was all
wrapped up in cloak but he was splendid.
He hns II foreign accent and black nous.
tachc"
"Oh cried Maria, II love foreign ac-
cent"
"And I've promised to run away with him
tonight said Helen. lie says ma will he
sure to forgive us; and he's awfulIy rich.
And oh, how splendid feel, girls"
"Of course you do. But it will be 50
nice" said Maria.
They never have bridesmaids on an cope-
ment" said Rose. ooh, how would like
to GO"
And while Mrs. White was sitting with
dear FRIEND who also had grown daughters,
but who kept them at home congratulated
herself on dear Helen being safe at school,
this atfcctionatc daughter, from whom she
had just received charming epistle, cor
rected by Miss Minerva and touched up by
the writing master, was packing her bundle
in preparation for flight, aided and abetted
by four young ladies, to whose example she
owed 50 much.
At twelve Of the night she slipped down
stairs with her little parcel in her trembling
hand
All in the house were asleep save the four
friends in the iirst-class dormitory. Bridget
had left the key in the lock. IL was danger
Gus II she were not the first one up in the
morning II might lose her place.
Ont in the moonlight hurried the young
girl.
The white beams showed her pretty, fool
ish face, pallid as that of ghost
She had never set foot in the street alone
at such an hour before.
A terror seized her-a sense of her own
wickedncss.
Perhaps she would have turned back, but
that dark figure in cloak came at that
moment from the shadow Of a porch and
seized her by the arm:
"Ah, my own Helen" said a voice.
1t was Carlos-Princc Carlos--her own
Prince.
Romance came 10 her aid.
She forgot her fears and entered the car.
riage, waiting round the corner, with him.
Away they drove, how far Helen did not
know.
Suddenly the arm that cncircled her was
withdrawn, and voice said
Look here, young woman No noise, III
choke you if you try to scream. You have
your watch and jewery with you, hope,
and the money you promised 10 coax from
your mother Hand them all over"
"Oh, II il not my Carlos - cried Helen.
"Oh, what shall dol"
III is Carlos-at least it Is the man you've
been corresponding WITH" said the voice
under the hat "But I'm no Prince and
husband for you. Hand over the money
and jcwclry aud III not hurt you. haven't
much fancy for n bread and butter Miss, and
an idiot who would run of with man she
didn't know 10 boot Hurry Pm Whiting"
Poor Helen She felt rs though the sud.
den end Of The world would be comfort.
She was ready " die Of shame and mort.
dcation.
But she gave her purse, hcr watch, aud
all her small possessions b. the rpbbor, who, |
with a loud laugh, gathered them up and
jumped out Of The carriage, calling 10 the
driver
"rakc that girl back 10 the school, John,
will you"
The driycrdid as he was told
Helen White stood on the doorsicp ~ Miss /.
Minerva seminary again, but not alone
with her stopd the driver In furious rage.
lie demanded pay She had no money
Ne swore he would BE- paid, and rang the I.
bell aud battered the DOR until not only The 1
aryanb. hut Mis Minerva and four and
twenty scholar appeared 10 the ball and on
The stairway in nh soris of impromptu dra
pcry, aud having decided that il was neither
hrs nor murder. oponod the door ~ behold
Helen White and her angry companion.
"Pay me- criod the worthy "Y0u, misses,
that drives the machine, pay mo. lleres
gent lires me u carry of tbisg And when