Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-09-24
CHAPTER III.


From that night forth Flora was never
permitted to leave her fathers house on any
pre'ext whatever, but
"Stony limits cannot hold love out,
And what love can do, that dares love
attempt"
Despite looks, bolts AMI bars the lovers
daily communicated with each other, and 1.
was fully arranged that they were to elope
together the very day Flora came Of age.
A week before thai time the theatrical
season terminated at Aberdeen. and the com.
pany took their departure for Inverness.
Dssmpster, who had kept a vigilant eve
on 1.-THE play actor fellow" as DO called
Curly, finding that he had really left the
town, relaxed his watch, and Mac Allister
himself breathed more freely. He was de.
votedfy attached to his daughter. and tried
by every means in his power to make her
forget the stormy interview on tho night Of
thu ball. Tho effort was in vain, for be
could not unsay what he had said, while she
was implacabls, and remained dlsdainfully
Silent As for Deempster, she did not even
notice the mans existence
Three months passed. away, and Flora Mt
tanned her 21st birthday. The time for thu
elopement had arrived. 1t was a night of
storm and tempest Willie ACCOMPANIED
Curly from Inverness to see him start on
bis perilous Journey When all the house
was at rest Flora, attended by the faithful
JEANNE, went forth into her lovers arms.
Then, her courage subdued by her love, she
melted into tears.
oh, my love! My princep she said,
fold me to your heart Let me feel your
strong arm around na that l may know
am yours"
mime, and mine only, and always the
young man replied.
AT this moment Willie emerged from the
other side of the coach, to which be had dis.
creetly withdrawn with the postilions when
lie saw Flora coming.
Dearest" said Curly, "le. me INTRODUCES
my best friend to YOU"
Mr. Jameson" sail Flora, extending
her band, my husbands friends are mine. y
Madam" said Jameson, should YOU
ever need friend you may rely on me-"
u shall remember" she replied
Then she embraced JEANNE, and steprx,d
into the coach. The girl turned away
towards the house, silently weeping. The
young men clasped hands, and babe each
other goodbye; the postillions set spurs to
their torses, and drove away.
When the carriage was lost in the dark.
ness Willie walked rapidly toward the coach
Office to catch the Inverness mail. so as to
return to his duties on the morrow. "They
are bonnie couple" he said '.and l think
she has ballast enough to keep him straight.
They ought to be happy-and yet-Tve an
ill-divining heart I shall miss him more
than l thought / should; he has frank and
pleasant ways-and then he's so like nv III.
tie brother Sandie, that's ,lead--the same
laugh, tho same curly hair, the sams bright
blue eyes. Idon't know whether it was the
laugh, or the hair. or the eyes that first
drew me to him All! here We are" So
saying he entered tie arohway OF the White
Horse, where the mail vas waiting.
That very hour Deempster dreamed that
the woman he loved bad fled her fathers
home With the play actor fellow Tba
thought maddened his brain and burst the
bonds Of Sleep Without IN instaut,s deiav
he slipped into his clothes, and, regardless
CT the rain and the darkness, hs rushed
down this High street. From the oppo,ite
direction cane the tramp Of horses fee. at
a gallop, the rattle Of wheels and the lo,,d
tantara OF the guards horn. 1t was the
northern Nail On its way to Inverness Thu
sounds got nearer and nearer, till at length
they were close upon him As be stepnad
aside, AMI chung to the wall to let the Coach
pass, vivid sheet Of lightning for a INC. !
nent illulnined the horizon as BRIGHTLY a, /
u IL mad been noontide. Looking up he saw
Jameson On the box; the next moment the |
coacn had vanished. The sight Of the young |
confirmed his suspicious, and BE- |
gfowlsd; -"Cqrse The. leng.lea9ea brute.