Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-04

had loved Bella for more than year. When
say that was over tventy five, my readers Of
the sterne= sex viii. | an snre, be impressed by
M constancy.
Bella had money. Not that this had. of course
anything to do with NY extraordinary devotion
but it served for tine to be the barrier to our
happiness. first met and fell a victim TO Bella
charms when her mother WAS alive Her father
had then been dead several years The old lady
took To me. | i'9vc a klacf. Of getting on with
Old ladies'. Ih:5 IS 4 yyTv useful gift when they
are We'll %. n ii are the mothers OF lovely
daughters. Gd",sc al! Young men 20 cultivate
It, The main point Is aiWays to be more atten-
tive to the mOtaer t!i..a the daughter 1t is
well 10 throw N occasional remarks about the
apparent deGeHeTscv uf the age and aIiude to
the superior constitutions and characters of the
preceding generation.
All was working smoothly fer Bella and me
when cruel fate, in the shape of a drunken car
driver. crushed the mother under its Ju"ger-
nautian wheels We prosecuted the driver and
an intelligent jury. largely Influenced by the
wealth. o. the Cal company. decided that pedes-
TRANS have no rights which cdr-driyers are
bound to respect.
Ii turned out that. by her fathers will. Bella
In the event OF her mothers death. was. until
her tYenty-fiTst wear to be placed uDder the
guardianship of an uncle who was farmer i'm
Vermont This sam" uncle was an admirable
specimen of the typical NernIonter. He could
freeze to the chance of making dollar harder
than Holsters claw to Il small hCy's inyestiea-
ting finger. He had two great huIkinn sons
and determined that Bella should marry one or
the ether Indeed he believed he was acting
most kindly in giving her choice instead of
Insisting on her taking the first-born. When
Old Green found out that | had come into the
neighbOrhOOd and was hanging about the prem
1seS he sternly warned me of. and even limited
at the ferceness AMI number Of dogs which
populated his yard at night. / took his word
for the dOgs-it was about the only thing |
would have taken it for.
Eella was virtually prisoner. The old farm
house was three stories high-a very unusual
thin" in that part of the cOuntTy-and she was
locked in at night in her room on the top floor
With great difficulty managed to get one or
two letters to her; bat So closely was she
watched ard guarded during the day that
speech with her was impossible. | was i'm de-
spar- There was set year to run before she
could claim release from this guardianship Was
there no means of escape possible:
While was bordering over this question i'm
the little hotel where had now been staying
some weeks | heard a strange voice addressed
TO the proprietor in loud tones. and distinctly
caught the words portable fire-escape" In
staGtly an Inspiration flashed through my mind.
Joined the party. and in doing SO heard these
words:
Its Just the simplest thing in the world A
two-year-Old baby couldn't hurt itself No sir.
it I'D like to have one for "a pIaytning. and 'ud
aln,ise itself all day hauling itself to the top O.
the house and letting itself down again. They're
so light and easy. that when folks don't want
escapes often sells them "a baby-iulnpers Jest
try one; it's only four dollars and half Make
II four to you, as an advertisement. SEEM you
Keeps hotel, and you'd ought to have one for
the protection of your guests
"Guess not. Ny place is only two stories
high; and If wehaye fire. they can Jump out OF
burn. just as they durn please" And the care
f0l hOte!keeper stTolled OFF.
"What have you there, my friend?' asked Of
the stranger.
"a portable fire-escape. Simplest thing in the
world But was fool TO come to this section.
anyhow. There isn't house high enough for a
man to hurt himself much if lie rolled off the
Roof. and Nernonter I'd sooner take chances
on his life than spend dime any day
~ tell ycu how you can sell one escape for
$50. and no trouble either"
You Will I'm your oyster"
unIoided my plot, and found a sympathetic
listener. He was to go up to Beila's uncle's
house and trytO sell an escape. OF course we
knew that would be perfectly hopeless. So after
being rebuifed. he was to insist on leaving one
on trial for week or two, until he came around
sgan He was also to try to snug@le q letter
to Bella. explaining that she was at night to get
possession of the escape. attach 1t to her bed
stead, and slide down into my waiting arms
which would be waiting as near as the dogs
would let them On the night she was ready
she was to signal in a certain way with candle
at the window
The pediIer started of, and soon returned,
having been successful! IN getting the letter to
Bella ana having gwen an exhibition of how to
use tne escape For several nights l waited in
saih TOT 'he signal Out ut last it was shown l
~ not near tne dogs about, and gently crept
nearly under ne window: 1t was opened.
Are you there, Bella:" whispered.
res.
gu re not AFRAID dear
''Not very. I've tied the end round the bed
read. and don't think | can slip out of the
Dops. have you buggy Waiting:
" s, dear; at the first turn of the road"
cS seIs Wei am gong 10 try now OH.
She haa iauhened herseii on from the side.
Md was descending beautifully.
rope II you feel you are coming too quickly"
ohe ha'd sot 10 tne second moor, When there
va ,.v On u,i'.Ito st9ppaGe-
w nat the matter: Cried
III won't move
snake the rope
II nave
loosen the check"
1T IS quite loose
Try TO pull up Bit
II can't; am stuck fast"
LET ME shake the rope"
TRY. OH OH Ir's uSe IL won't