Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-10-29

OF you Godfrey, but | have welghty
reasons. l want you to carry Dora
off tomorrow evening, or seem to do
so.
Garry Dora off z" asked Godfrey
in surprise.
YES" said Vanley, land this is
the reason. When child, | be
trothed Dora jwho was and is igno-
rant of it, to a Vanley. He is a
cousin of hers, rich, wellborn, but
sluggard and coward. Howbeit l
am bound by my contract, and can
not break it, except because of some
weighty reason. +"
"He paused a moment, and Geo
frey turned to whisper to Dora who
had turned very pale at these strange
words. The old mans eyes flashed
fire, but the next moment his face
resumed it's ordinary stern express
sion.
II have written for him to come
to. morrow and claim his cousin.
Start not child-he will never gain
you. We shall be seated in the bow
window of the hall which commands
a view of Dora's balcony. Godfrey,
you armed and masked, will ascend
by the trellis and feign to carry her
off. You, Dora, must seem horror
struck and scream for assistance.
You, Godfrey, with your sword will
menance her with the point. Then
I shall start up, but complaining of
weakness, call on her cousin to as
sist her. He will crouch and vince
in terror, pale as a girl at the sight
of cold steel. Thereupon, take Dora
down, enter the hall with her-the
coward will be ashamed in the sight
of all, and I shall have good cause
for breaking my word finally"
"Struck with establishment the
lovers, questioned the old man
closely; but he would condescend to
no further information, and eventu-
ally they agreed to do as he wished.
"And for today farewell, Dora, y
said Godfrey; tomorrow night |
will climb your trellis, and act this
comedy"
gFarewell dearest" said Dora
"till tomorrow, when, as you say,
we will play out the comedy" and
she disappeared into the house, leav'
ing her uncle standing in the gar
den.
"Comedy !" Kissed he through his
closed teeth, looking after Godfrey
with bitter hate. "Comedy ! Trag
edy rather, land it's name Revenge y
and with a terrible laugh he wended
his way into the house.
! Homeward went Godfrey, and
found his father and brother in the
old hall. Calling his brother apart
he said:
"Dear Richard, am so happy,
must and may tell you without dan
ger. I am going TO marry" az
"To marry Godfrey ?'' said his
brother; "whom ?"
may, that 1 will not say, tt
make certain till the wedding morn
ing" replied Godfrey.
''Best so,'' said his brother; an(
Godfrey, / have fallen in love late
ly, and shall succeed, 1 trust, in m.
suit"
81 am glad to hear it, brother
mine, returned Godfrey. May you
succeed as well as l."
.'All that day and the next the
brothers were much in each other
society, and about 2 in the evening
Richard rode away, saying that h'
should return late. The old fathe
held long converse with his eldes
son, who disclosed the whole histor.
of his love affair to him, and parties
with him at dusk, when he was tt
ride over to the Vanley Court.
"Good by, father, said Godfrey
foot in strip. 81 shall be bacl
shortly"
Light, cheerful words, but hoV
awfully to be fulfilled
Arriving at his destiny, Geoffre
tied his horse to the iron ring at tn
gate, ran lightly round the gardel
and made for Dora's window, whicl
was in the wing of the house, run
- ~.~b1 oooIae xry;tb tba ryrao