The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-01-16
pose I shall always when we are mar

thought heard him trying to suppress
a yawn. Let US settle it at once, my
dear, for it grows late. If you will not
come tonight, let me have the happi-
ness, the entire felicity, of fetching you
tomorrow.
NO, no." Zillah answered; "Miss
Pryor win want me to help her to pack.
We leave this day week; let me stay till
the night before, then come for me, and
I'll have my best frock on, and we can
be married in time to meet them all be-
fore the boat sails the next day.
In other circumstances / should have
smiled at this child's idea of marriage;
but now the crisis was far too real and
awful; and the more her ignorance
hghtened her own error, the more it in
creased the crime of that bad man who
was about to ruin her peace forever.
A little he tried to reverse her plan
and make the marriage earlier, but Iii
lab was too steady. In the obstinacy
of her character-in the little influence
which, lover as he was, he seemed to
have over her-I found her safeguard,
past and present. 1t would just allow
me to save her in the only way she
could be saved.
listened till / heard her say good
bye to her cousin. creep back INTO the
dark room through the open window.
and fasten it securely as before. Then
| stole away to the parlor, and support
ed by the strong excitement of the mo-
ment, wrote my letter to Mr.. Suther-
land.
There would be in the six days just
time for the arrival of an answer, or
himself. | left everything to him,
merely stating the facts, knowing he
would do right. At midnight went to
lNn1 Il. f..r .rlA II 10
awake, hour after hour, | thanked
Heaven that the poor child, deluded as
she has sbeen. .fknew nothing of what
love was in its reality. She was at least
spared that sorrow.
During all the week | contrived to
keep Zillah as near me as was possible,
consistent with the necessity of not
awaking her suspicious. This was the
more practicable, as she seemed to
cling to me with an unwonted and even
painful tenderness. The other girls
grumbled sadly at our departure; but
luckily all had been definitely ar
ranged by their father, who had even,
strange to say, given me money for the
journey. He had likewise gracefully
apologized for being obliged to let us
women-kind travel alone, as he had
himself some business engagements,
while his son had lately .rejoined his
regiment. | really think the deceiying
and deceived father fully credited the
latter fact. Certainly they were
worthy pairl
l made all my plans secure, and
screwed up my courage as we'll as |
could; but own on the evening previ-
Gus to our journey-the evening which,
from several attesting proofs, | knew
was still fixed for the elopement-I be-
gan to feel good deal alarmed. OF
Mr.. Sutherland there was no tidings. At
twilight / saw plainly that the sole
hope must lie in my own presence of
mind, my influence over Zillah, and my
appeal to her sense of honor and affec-
ton. / sent the children early to bed,
saying / had letters to write, and pre-
pared myself for whatever was to hap
pen.
Now many may think me foolish,
and at times l thought myself so like
wise, for not going to Zillah and telling
her all | had discovered; but | knew
her character better than that. The
idea of being betrayed, waylaid, con-
trolled, would drive her fierce Eastern
nature into the very commission of the
madness she contemplated In every
thing / must trust to the impulse of the
moment and to the result of her sud
denly discovering her own position and
the villainous plans laid against her.
Never in my life do | remember
more anxious hour than that | spent
sitting in the dark by the parlor win
dow; whence, myself unseen. / could
see all that passed without the house:
for it was a lovely night, the moon
high up over the Tough, and making
visible the Antrim hills. think in all
mr. mi q nf hfo t.,t.
so did /.
AT eleven there was a sound of wheels
on the beach, and the shadow of man
passed the window. | looked out. 1t
was the most unromantic and common
place elopement with an heiress; lie
was merely going to take her away on
an outside car. There was no one with
him but the carman, who was left
whistling contentedly on the shore.
The moment had come; with the en-
ergy Of desperation, put off the shawl
in which had wrapped myself in case
! had to follow the child, for follow
her | had determined to do, were it
necessary. Quietly, and with as ordi-
nary a manner as | could assume, /
walked into Zillahs room.
She was just stepping from the win
dow on to the beach. She had on her
best frock and shawl, poor Innocent
with her favorite white bonnet, that /
had lately trimmed for her, carefully
tied up in kerchief.
/ touched her shoulder. 'Zllah,
where are you going?o
She started and screamed
TEL me; | must knowl'I repeated.
holding her fast by the arm, while Au-
gnstus rather roughly pulled her by the
other.
"Cousin, you hurt mel'' she cried,
and instinctiyely drew back. Then for
the first time the lieutenant saw me.
l have often noticed that cunning and
deceitful people--small villains, not
great ones-are always towards. Mr..
Augustus drew back as il he had been
shot. took no notice of him, but still
appealed to Zillah.
Tell me, my child, the plain truth,
as you always do-wlere were you GO
ingp"
She stammered out: II was going
toto Belfast-to be married.n
married to your cousinp"
She hung her head and murmured:
Yes"
At this frank confession the BRIDE
groom interposed. lie perhaps was all
the Drawer for rejecting that he had
only women TO deal with. He leaped
in at the chamber window, and angrily
asked me by what right interfered.
Il will tell YOU" said |, IF you have
enough gentlemanly feeling to leave my
apartment, and will speak with me in
the open air.
He retreated, / bolted the window,
and still keeping firm hold on the
trembling girl, met him outside the
front door. 1t certainly was the oldest
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