The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-07-05

night. 1t would he very wrong when
Miss Pryor knows nothing about it. II
she had found us out or threatened, and
we were Obliged to run away" I'm
mediately saw that, with girl of Zil-
lah's fierce Obstnacy, discovery would
be most dangerous. | put out the light
and kept quite still.
II can't, indeed can't" pursued Zil-
lah's voice, in answer to some urging
which was inaudible; adding, with a
childish laugh, You know, Cousin Au-
gustus, 1t would never do for me to 90
and be married IN a cotton dressing
gown; and Miss Pryor keeps all nv best
clothes. Dear Miss Pryor. I would
much rather have told her, only you say
she would be so much the more sur
prsed and pleased when | came back
married. And you are quite sure that
she shall always live with us, and never
return to Yorkshire AGAIN."
Her words. so childish, so unconscious
Of the wrong she WAS doing. perfectly
startled me. All my romantic notions
OF girlish passion following its own wild
will were put to flight Here was a
mere child led away by the dazzle of a
new toy to the brink Of precipice.
She evidently knew no more of love and
marriage than a baby.
For little time longer, the wicked
lover | cannot call him-suitor, urged
his suit, playing with her simplicity in
amanner that he must inwardly have
laughed at all the time. He lured her
to matrimony' by puerile pet names,
such as My angel by idle rhapsOdies
and promises Of fine houses and
clothes.
II don't mind these things at all, :"
said poor Zillah, innocently; II would
not go with you, only you say that when
! am married l shall have nothing to
do, and you will never scold me, and l
shall have Miss Pryor always near me.
Promisel" 7
Here was a pause, until the child 81
simple voice was heard again: II don't
like that, cousin. / won't kiss you
again. Miss Pryor once said we ought
never to kiss anybody unless we love
them very much.'
And don't you love me, my adorable
creature?'
Tin not quite sure; sometimes 1
love you and sometimes not; but sup
pose | shall always when we are mar
ried."
That blissful day must be very
soon," said the lieutenant; and 1
thought / heard him trying to suppress
a yawn. Let us settle it at once, nv
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 will 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
lightened her own error, the more it in
creased the crime of that bad man who
was about to ruin her peace forever.
\ little he tried to reverse her plan
and make the marriage earlier, but I'll
lah 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 10 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
ITO be Continusd