Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-09-09

sAS1k1s Ao8s4 eve
~ now and then send chill of ter
ror through her frame. that perhxp.
Richard was at that very moment ex
scuting some revsngefal plan against
her lover. is
She longed for. and yet dreaded the
SEEMING Of the train, lszt Harryssb.
: ssi,se shonld seem 10 ssoAf;rm her fsal.
Tortured by such. .theashis. she stood
IN the doorway of the sapmer house,
listening Sxith ear to the
rsNhPipgA sprsd sgAs If.esiearhe had
cahgh u The Sditss distance. when she wa,
startled by sudden football close be.
side hsE. Tprpipg auiekly.rRicAard
oskley eonffonfed ! 49, Hsel{t;s
ened glance of recognition, and the
next instant a shawl, half saturated
with chloroform. was cast over her
head, and drawn tightly about her
face; whilst strong arms pinion ed hers
In a vise-like embrace. She could not
cry out. The sickening vapor seemed
almost sutfocating her.
Violent were her struggles for es-
cape; but, despite her efforts, she felt
herself lifted from her feet and borne
away at swift pace.
She knew no more until she became
vaguely conscious of Richards voice
calling her name. At first she thought
she must be dreaming, but she was
not long permitted to enjoy this illu-
sion. All tco soon past events crowd.
ed upon her, and helped to make the
vision real that met her gaze when
she opened her eyes.
Silently, and without moving, she
took in the range of objects in view
from her reclining position. and as she
did so horrible fear crept through
every fibre of her being. That she
was in some underground abo le was
evident from the rough stone wall
that rose a few feet from her, and
formed the low-arched roof, as we'll as
the earthly floor. A candle that stood
on the ground in one corner threw a
light about the place, that
gave 1t strangely weird appearance.
The walls were rough and Jagged, and
the shadowy inches seemed so many
nnan,n"s Fn- the ~".--~-~ sc 1~-,~-
Edith thought. There was only
chair and a box in the cavern, that
she could discover, beside the pallet
Of straw and buffalo skins on which
she was lying.
She feigned sleep for some time, in
order to try to devise some plan that
might possibly effect her release. She
had no weapon, nothing even with
which to take her own life, should
there be no other means Of escaping.
Yes, there was the onyx ring and
wild throb of JOY shot through her
heart. The tiny blade, if it possessed
no other power, could let out her own
life blood.
Her face had been directed from
Richard, but she presently turned,
and met his triumphant gaze with a
look of defiance. He saw it, and
smiled mockingly. Drawing from his
pocket flask, he poured little bran.
dy into small tin cup. and held it to
her lips. She half put it away.
"You needn't be afraid" he said.
at is not a narcotic. You have had
enough OF that, the Lord knows.
Here, drink. it will revive you."
Edith saw that he meant no harm,
and swallowed the stimulant.
Where am l >" she at length asked.
II don't mind telling you" was the
reply, "since you can't possibly get
away. This is cavern. which l
CHANGED to discover more than a year
ago, near the bank of the river that
runs close by your house. We are
not more than four miles or so from
there now, but are as safe as il we
were a thousand miles distant.
What are you going to DO with
me?" was her next question.
Marry you, of course. The ship
that is to receive Us this very night is
anchored not many miles away. The
captain is my stanch friend, and the
ceremony will be performed at sea.
We shall proceed to some foreign
country at once, and remain so long
as shall deem il for our interest. So
you see that I mean all right, and I
hope you will submit quietly to my
plan
"I'll never marry you, Richard
Oakley, never!" exclaimed Edith, ang.
rily.
why, YES. you will. my dear; you
can't help it. / am not especially
anxious to have our union sanctioned
by law; however. that shall be left
with You. But mine YOU must be, in
su - W. .u.x.~1 -. =.