The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-02-23
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CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III,
Good morning, fathcr" exclaimed
hearty voice, and glancing up, from his
paper, Sir James Bolton beheld his son.
Springing excitedly from his seat, he
exclaimed
"You. Arthur? Where
"Why, father" cried Arthur, "you do
not seem very glad to see me-
But Sir James, recognizing his rash
ness, had recovered his self-control. Ex-
tending his hand, he exclaimed:
"Pardon me. Arthur. but your return
was so unexpected, and so welcome,
that l.
Enough, father dear the young
man gently returned, 81 know that |
am welcome, especially when I have q
satisfactory report of my work to hand
in. But | can not stay with you long
Associations here aretoo sad, too bitter "
And his blue eyes looked inconceivably
unhappy, for lie was thinking of her who
had written him aoon after his arrival il
Cuba one short, cutting note, declining
his love.
So it was arranged, greatly to Sit
James satisfaction, that Arthur should
start the next morning, to spend few
years travelling in the new world
1t was evening. The clear blue sky
was studded with twinkling stars, whose
soft glimmer melted into the stronger
halo Of the moon. The garden of the
Bolton mansion was bathed in q graylsl
mist which hickered among the tall
trees, and cast weird shadows on the
old castle.
Arthur Bolton was slow Y strolling
through the deep paths leading III and
out among the shrubbery. The fire ot
his cigar burnt fercely MS he pulled
uervousiy away at it. How often he had
walked here with buoyant steps and
light heart, looking toward the future,
when Lucy Grey was to have become his
wife!
GLOW cruel!' he 1nurmured. "Crnel
--cruel Ok, how shall ! bear it-how
shall endure? Would to heaven that
here and now | could lay down the bur.
den of my life and sink into oblivion
Lucy, who was my life and love-who Is,
and ever shall be, my love-is not
| faIsc-but the note"
Hour after hour passed away, and still
he staid. il was about midnight that he
stopped opposite the old tower.
''Ilark!' he exclaimed, springing for
ward and assuming q listening attitude.
"Arthurl Arthur! Save me"
Like lightning his blue eyes sent
CLEAN up to the window above. A white
! object huttered moment, and then iel
at his feet. Picking it up, he read IL
family penciled characters the follow
ing;
ITO the person finding this handker
chief. For the love Of all you hold deal
in this world or the next, take this t'
DR.. Grey of Hazelton, and tell him tina
| am confined prisoner, by Sir James
Bolton, in the big room of the old tower
and that he swears shall not receive my
freedom until / become his wife"
Without reading further, Arthur Boi
ton sprang like blood d-hound toward the
house He knew it all now. SIR james
was suddenly awakened that night by
terrible crash, and hurriedly throwing
on his clothes, he rushed toward the DE
room in the old tower.
Crashl With wild shrek, he spranF
forward. Crash, crash And down flew
the door, rotten with age, and Sir Jane
arrived lust in time to glare through tn
open space on Arthur and Lucy, tondi.
ciasped in each others arms, while th
Young mans hot kisses were raining owe
the brow. cheek and neck OF her VIII
was his life and love. ,.,
"Fiends!' screamed Sir James, Will
the blood rushed in torrents to nj
head
With one wild bound the old man at
tempted to reach the pair, but, falling
short he tottered. fell, and remained a.
one dead. ;, -, A,
Tenderly he was laid on the bed. al
ready Arthur and Lucy had forgiven him
and for many week. hung over his pli
low: and when he became convalescenlt Y
: none we're happier than they. But tn
punishment came. Sir James sight hat
gone in his illness, and henceforth, al
That made life worth the living to him
q was to sit between Arthur and Lucy, VIII
had become man and wife, with ham
of each clasped tightly in his own, an
hear them declare their forgiveness an