Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-10-11

write for me to join him after he is
safely beyond pursuit"
"And what crime has he commit
ted ?" asked VIVA.
"Oh, it was no crime" answered the
girl. "lIe has been falsely accused of
murder"
FALSELY accused" murmured Viva;
chow terriblel Have they convicted
him?'
"No; he has not been tried yet lie
was in st. Louis only short time ago,
when friend Of his, from whom he
had but recently parted, was found
killed in his hotel Hugh was arrest
ed on the charge of having murdered
him, but escaped"
"And why should he not have faced
his accusers?" questioned VIVA "Was
he afraid to do sop
"No,' said a voice In the doorway
Viva looked in the direction whence
he voice had come.
Avery handsome young man, though
worn and haggard-looking, had just
entered. 1t was Hugh.
81 see. Ella he said. that you are
trying to enlist the sympathics of this
lady in my behalf But have you
thought of what a reckless thing you
are doing2"
you need not feel any fear Of me
sir" said VIVA quietly. Il should
have no motive in betraying you, even
though | thought you guilty"
Hugh is as innocent as I am" cx-
claimed his sister, in aplaintive, tear
ful voice.
The young man was now close at
Viyia's side. The dimncss OF the room
had not previously let her see how
handsome he was. He fixed his dark
ly-brilliant eyes intently on Viyia's
face, and said:
"lf | had passed through a trial /
might have been sure that circumstan-
tial evidence would have convicted
me Can you understand thisY
"Yes," said Viva, but surely. II
you are innocent, it would have been
better to suffer conviction than 90
through the rest Of your life a fugitive
from Justice"
Il do not think so"' cried Ella at
this point. 81 would have him live at
any cost"
More than a hour elapsed before
Viva went home again. And she
visited that house many times more
during the next few weeks. Both she
and Ella believed that her exits and
entrances were watched. and that
IIugh's presence there was suspected
by certain spies posted in the neighbor-
hood, but they were not by any means
sure.
BY this time VIVA hal silently
admitted to her own heart that she
loved Hugh Robertson. II had been
love at first sight" with her. His
beauty and his melancholy fate had
both produced disastrous results with
her young, romantic soul.
She had determined 70 help him 20
escape. She was a girl Of strong will
and innexihle determination. One day
she said TO him:
IL have been working out a plan
The house directly in the rear Of yours
IS mine. purchased it yesterday
Tomorrow night it will be quite
vacant You can cross by the back
fences. and get into the next street
through that house There will be a
carriage waiting for you a few doors
below. 1t will drive you wherever
you wish to be driven"
Hugh's face lighted with softly
grateful smile. Ella threw both arms
about Viyia's neck and rapturously
Kissed her.
On the following night they all three
met for few last words Of farewell.
just before Hugh's venture was tried.
In the back garden a ladder was
ready, by which Hugh would climb
into the garden Of the other house.
Hugh, Viva and Ella all stood in n
room which communicated with the
rear piazza Hugh first said farewell
to Ella, who clung for a few minutes
sobbing about his neck. Then he
turned to VIVA lie was frightfully
pale.
"What have to say" he began.
ELLA ought not, perhaps TO hear. It
may kill her. 1t will probably give
You, Viva de Forest. an Intenses an
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