The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-02-18


struggled with it sharply-no use, the door was
locked.
Muttering curse on the stupidity OF the
sexton, l strobe to the outer door. In shutting
the door it, too, had become locked, and was
as fast as fate.
Great drops of perspiratlon stood out on my
forehead What was to be doney | asked
myself the question, and mopped my face with
my immaculate handkerchief, but tailed to
find the answer
i Then flew back 20 the inner door and list
ened The organ was playing gaily, and a
subdued hush told me that Nellie was entering
on the arm of her father, and here was stand.
ing Gagged like rat.
o, how tried to open that door, Ny white
gloves split, and the perspiration dropped oil
the end of my nose; but not one inch could
move IT.
| have wondered since how should have
looked If | had succeeded IN bursting open
the door, and been suddenly projected upon
the creme de la creme, with limp collar, torn
gloves, red face and distended eyes. | can
smile now, but can assure you saw no fun
IN 1t then.
tried the door till positively no hope re-
NAMED in that direction.
Then | flew again to the outer door, and
pounded and even shouted loudly, but to no
purpose.
Utterly hopeless, | returned to the inner
door once more. All was silent Should l
thunder upon its panel and proclaim my pres
enCe, and demand to be let out? Nobody
likes to look like fool if he can help lt-so
| | hestated.
glanced around. Then the window caught
my eye-why had not thought of it before
| could at least make my escape, and the cerc-
mOny might be delayed still Nell would not
| be utterly put to shame.
| Like the mailman was, | seIzed the table,
dragged il to the window, sprang upon it, and
climbed on the high and narrow window sill.
Throwing up the sash | prepared to leap
out, but reckoned without my host, the cord
that held the weight was broken, consequently
the moment my hand left the sash it descend
ed with lightning rapidity, striking me full
upon the head and knocking me off the mar
row sill, dashlng my head against the sharp
corner of the table, and at last landing me full
length upon the floor.
| tried to raise Something warm ran over
my face put up my hand to clear my eyes
my hand was covered with blood.
| felt glddy and weak, still | staggered to
my feet and then a black mist rose before my
eyes and knew no more.
This was Thursday eve. Saturday after
noon the sexton returning to his duties, found
me lying upon the floor half dead, wholly
delrious, my face covered with blood, and
hole in my head large enough to let the blood
out of any man.
That nine was spared was because | had
fallen with the wound down, and the soft pile
of the carpet had acted like INT to stop the
flow of the blood.
AS soon as could control my thoughts,
begged to know of Nellie. Poor little girl,
she had been quite overwhelmed.
When | failed to appear, Hates husband
rushed out to inquire of the sexton II he had
seen me.
He was positive that had been there and
equally positive that had left in company
with my brother-said he could not be mis-
taken-both seemed in a great hurry, and had
jumped into a carriage and been driven away
rapidly.
Messengers were sent to my hotel, but with
out gaining cew to my whereabouts; so,
after Notifying wait Nellie had been taken
home, and the very morning OF the day | was
discovered the whole family had sailed for
Europe.
AS soon as | was able to stand l sailed in
search of the woman | had so lnnocently hu-
inflated
Not knowing her whereabouts, 1t was two
monts before found her. At last, one even
ing, wandering on the sea shore of quiet
little English town, espied her-and alone.
was plain from the look she gave me when
she recognized my presence,
Now that found her, was determined she
should know the truth of 1t all
Nellie" | cried, hurrylng to her, and grasp
ing both her little hands before she had time
to escape.
"Weil, sir" she replied, haughtily, trying,
but in vain, to free her delicate hands.
my darling" pleaded, will you at least
hear man before you condemn him."
Her face flushed angrily.
NV hat can you say" she burst out hoty,
that will make your conduct less dastardly ??
Have you not made me the object of every
ones rdlcule and contemptuous pity, offering
public insult no woman could ever forget
Have you not made me hate everybody-my
self most of all? What more do you wish,
Bertram Langey-yOu villain?"
1 winked little at the word as | thought Of
my broken head, though God knows did not
blame her, believing rs she did.
"Why are you here? And why did you run
awayr' she demanded, with whole world of
scorn in the words run away"
| 81 did not run away; | was locked up"
LOCKED up! For what? Where?" cried
poor Neil, starting back, look of horror
creeping into her brown eyes.
| al verify believe she thought for an instant
that had added murder to my other crimes.
why, in the vestry," explained little
foolishly. Come and sit down and let me
tell you, | am quite III yet"
This was master stroke. Nell seated her
self without demur, and |, half sitting, half ly.
ing at her feet, related to her the chapter OF 10y
mlsiortunes.
Dear little glrl-her face frightened before
| was half through; indeed, | am sorry to say,
she laughed quite heartily; but she became
sober when told her about the window com
ing down. and leaned over and kissed the scar
on my head tendery and knew that peace
and confidence were restored.
| After while We fell to talking it over IN Il
general way
at was a dreadful blow to me-" said Nell, ,
pensively. II thought my heart was broken