The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-10-02

was the most unrOmantlc and common
place elOpement with an heiTess; he
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
l had to follow the child, for follow
her | had determined to do, were it
necessary. Quietly, and with as ordi-
nary manner as | could assume, l
walked into Zillah's room.
She was just stepping from the win
dow on to the beach. She had on her
best frOck and shawl, poor innOcentl
with her favOrite white bonnet. that l
had lately trimmed for her, carefully
tied up in a kerchief.
l touched her shoulder. ''Zillah
where are you gOing?'
She started and screamed.
Tell me; l must know!' l repeated
holding her fast by the arm. while Au-
gustus rather roughly pulled her by the
other.
Cousin. you hurt me!' she cried,
and instinctively drew back. Then for
the first time the lieutenant saw me.
/ have often noticed that cunning and
deceitful peOple-small villains, not
great Ones-aTe always cOwards Mr.
Augustus drew back as if he had been
shot. l took no notice of him, but still
appealed to Zillah.
TELL me, my child, the plain truth.
as you always dO-where were you go
ingI'
She stammered out: II was going
TOTO Belfast-to be married"
Married to your cOusin?n
She hung her head and murmured:
Yes"
At this frank confession the bride
groom interpOsed. He perhaps was all
the Drawer for rejecting that he had
only women to deal with. He leaped
in at the chamber-WindOW, and angTily
asked me by what right l interfered.
4 viii tell YOU" said l, IF you have
enough gentlemanly feeling to leave my
apartment, and will speak with me in
the open air"
He retreated, I bolted the window,
and still keeping a firm hold on the
trembling girl, met him outside the
front door. 1t certainly was the oldest
place for such a scene; but l did not
wish to admit him inside the house.
Now, Miss Pryor, said he impera-
lively, but still pOlitely-a LePOer could
not be otherwiSe-''willy you be 80 kind
as to Telinquish that young lady, who
has cOnfded herself to my care. and in
tends hOnOring me with her hand?'
is that true, Zlllahy DO you love
this man, and voluntarily intend to
marry himE'
Yes, if you will let me. Miss Pryor.
He told me YOU would be so pleased.
He promises always to be kind to me,
and never let me work. Please don't
be angry with me, dear Miss Pryor!
Oh, do let me marry my cOusinl'
Listen to me few minutes, Zillah,"
said /, land you shall choose" And
then | told her in as few words as l
could, what her position Was-hOw that
1t had been concealed from her that she
was an heiTess, and how by m2~r'-in0
her, her cousin Augustus W, z
master over all her wealth. -
worldly was she, that l think the <
herself hardly understood me; but TIE
Lieutenant was furious.
1t is all lie-an Infamous cheat"
he cried. Don't believe it. Zillahl
Don't be frightened little fool,
promised to marry you, and, by Heav-
en-, marry you l viii"
Lieutenant LIE Poer," said [ very
quietly, THAT may not be quite so easy
as you think. However, l do not pre-
vent you, as indeed | have no right; l
only ask my dear child Zillah here to
grant me one favor, as for the sake of
my love to her'-lhere Zi1lah sObbed)-
4 doubt not she Will: namely, that she
should do as every other young woman
of common sense and delicacy would
do, and wait until tomorrow, to ask
the consent of one who will then prob
ably be here, if he is not already ar
Tived-her guardian, Mr.. Andrew Suth-
eTland."
Lieutenant Augustus burst out with
an oath, probably very mild in the
mess-rOOm, but very shocking here to
two WOmen's ears. Zillah Crept farther
from him and nearer to me.
III not be cheated sol" stOTmed he.
Come, child, you'll trust your cousin?
I OuU come away tO-night?' he
tried to lift her on the car, which had
apprOached-the Irish driver evidently
much enjoying the scene.
NO, cousin; not tonight" said the
girl, resisting. I'D rather wait and
have Miss Pryor with me, and proper
bridemaids, and a wedding-dTess, and
all that-that is, if | marry you at all,
which | wont unless Miss Pryor thinks
you viii be kind to me. So goodbye
till tomorrow, cousin"
He was so enraged by this time that
he tried fOrcibly to drag her on the car.
But | wound my arms round my dear
child'S waist and shrieked for help.
Faith, sir" said the sturdy Irish
man. interfering. half in amusement,
half in Indignation, ''ye'd betther lave
the women alone. I'd rather not med
die with an abduction"
So Zillah was set free from the lieu
q
scoundTel Is often a great coward. 1
drew the trembling and terrified girl
into the hOuSe-he following with a
storm of Oaths and threatenings. At
last | fOTciBly shut the door upon him.
and bOlted him out. Whether this in
dignity was too much for the valorous
soldier, or whether he felt sure that all
chance was over, | know not; but when
l looked out ten minutes after the coast
was clear. / took my erring, wrOnged,
yet still more wrOnSed than erring
child into my bosom, and thanked
Heaven she was saved.
The next morning Mr.. Sutherland ar
rived
'fter this nights events | have little
to say or rather I prefer to say but lit
tie, of what passed during the remain
der OF tha.. GUNNER. We all travelled
70 England ther, going round by
\ orkshlTe in OI,- to leave Mr. Le-
Peers daughters their own home
This was Mr.. SutheE- IDS kind plan.
that the two girls might Dt, Kept in ig-
nOrance of the whole affair. a. I espec-
tally OF their fathers ill-deeds. - What
they suspected L know not; they r-ere
merely told that it was the desire IF
Zlllah'S guardian to take her and her
governess home with him.
So we parted at Halifax and | never
saw any of the family again. l had no
scrupies about thus quitting them as 1
found out from Mr.. Sutherland r-ct 7
had been engaged solely as rovorness
to his warl, a1d that he hal himself
paid my salary in advance: the whole
of which, IN some way or other had
been intercepted by Mr.. LIE POer. The
money of course was gone; but he had
written to me with each remittance,
and thus l had lost his letters. That
was hardl
I o1-o fo,A,,d ont ,r-;+b o-,oo4 ;,xr o,,1