The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-02-12


The sudden pain made her faint for a
moment and she sat down upon the stone.
work supporting the railings to recover
herself. Beside her, not 4 stone's throw
away, dark, narrow alleyway ran long
the high brick wall of the church yard
and the girls heart sank with chill OF
terror as she heard a mans voice in the
alley say:
Didn't hear step, Bill 2"
A woman. She's turned off some.
where. He amt come yet" was the an
RWer.
"He's late tonight" said :he first voice
in gruff undertone
"You are sure he's taking the dia.
monds home -
"Sure as death. was At IS when
he gave the order. Send them to my
shop at O'clock says ~ and l will
take them home with ssreisf And Ire gave
the address Of cambridge 4 Son."
" But are you sure he will pass here -
"Of course he will. He lives in the
next street. He'll come"
Suppose he shows fight -
" You hold him, and I'll soon stop bis
fight"
Every word fell on Dolie's ears clear
and distinct in the silence of the night.
They would rob him, these dreadful
men, If nobody warned him They would
spring out upon him az he passed, and
strike him down before he knew there
was danger
He must not come alone, unprepared.
False lover, false friend as she felt he was,
she could not go on her way and leave him
to death.
When she stood up the pain of her an.
kle was almost uncomfortable but she
chung to the railing and so limped along
one street. The others seemed intermin-
able
Often she crawled through the wet
slush of the streets; often on one foot
hoped painfully along, till the shop was
reached at last, and the light in the count
inghouse still burned
The side door for the working girls was
still unfastened, and Dollie entered there,
reaching the counting-house, soaking wet,
white and trembling, to confront both Ed
gar Bainbridge and his father.
Cnheeding their exclamations Of dis
may and surprise, she told her story with
white lips but steady voice.
Waiting for me-" cried Edgar Balm
bridge. "The scoundrels "
lou bought diamonds at IS to-
dav:" asked his father
"a parure for Miss Wilson, sir.
wish to present them, with your perms
sion, on Thursday. All, look at that poor
girl"
For, overcome by pain, fatigue and
mental torture, poor Dollie had staggered
towards the door and tainted upon the
floor.
hasty call summoned the porter, and
in few minutes the porter's wife ap-
peared, rubbing her eyes, but full OF wo-
manly resources for the comfort of the
girl.
A cab was procured, and clothed in dry
garments, furnished by the good hearted
woman, and escorted by the porter, Dol
lie was driven home.
The next morning walking proved to
be impossible, and Dolle was obliged to
call upon her landlady for assistance to
dress, wondering at herself little for car
ing to get up.
But before noon, sitting in the parlor,
her lame ankle upon cushion, she was
surprised by two gentlemen calers-no
other than Bainbridge and son in person
and a lady who introduced herself az
Miss Wilson.
I'VE have all come to thank you," the
lady said, and | have come to carry you
home with me. These gentlemen owe
you their lives; | owe you my dia-
monds"
"But what did you do?" asked Dollie.
I'VE captured the robbers by mas
terly stratagem," said the old gentleman.
Edgar sauntered past the alley-way with
a revolver all ready in his hand, while |,
with three policemen, went round and en-
tered the alley softly behind the villains
Taken by surprise, their retreat cut of,
they were easily made prisoners. You
understand, We could not arrest them un-
less they actually attacked Edgar As it
was, however, there was a very pretty little
tussle before we came up. Bless me, dear
child--don't faint-he's all right ~
My foot ~ Dollie murmured,
sprained my ankle last night 1t was to
stop to rest it that | sat down on the
church wall"
"You didn't come all the way back
with sprained ankle"
Yes, sir"
"You are a heroine - cried Miss Will
son. "But, my DEAR" and here the heir
ess drew nearer to Dollie and took her
hand in a close clasp, eve have been
hearing this morning pretty little love
story, Of which you also are the heroine,
and have come to see it you will be my
guest until Thursday, and then make poor
Edgar there the happiest of men by as
sisting at double wedding"
Dollie's eyes, slowly dilating as the
other lady spoke, were open to their full
est extent as this climax was reached.
"Edgar!'' she said 81 thought he
was to marry you on Thursday ?''
A musical laugh answered her.
Calling the gentlemen at the same time
from the window, where they had saun-
tered during this little scene, Miss Will
son looked up at them.
"Convince this young lady, Edgar"
she said, "that your affection for me is
only that of dutiful son, and that shall
have a motherly affection for her likewise
when become the wife of your father,
Edgar Bainbridge, senior"
And then Edgar took the chair his step
mother-elect vacated, while the elder lady
and gentleman went outside to arrange a
cushion in the carriage for the sprained
ankle.
What Edgar said may be imagined !;
but certain it is that Dollie drove home