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

~ now and then send a chill Of ter.
ror through her frame, that perhaps
Richard was at that very moment ex,
ecnting some revengeful plan against
her lover.
She longed for, and yet dreaded the
coming of the train, lest Harry's alb
sence should seem to confirm her fears.
Tortured by such thoughts, she stood
in the doorway of the summer house,
listening with strained ear to the
rumbling sound she fancied she had
caught in the distance, when she was
startled by a sudden football close be.
side her. Turning quickly, Richard
Oakley confronted her. One fright
ened glance of recognition, and the
next instant shawl, half saturated
with chloroform, was cast over her
head, and drawn tightly about her
face; whilst strong arms pinioned hers
4 in a vise.like embrace She oouldnot
cry out. The sickening vapor seemed
almost sufocating 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. -rs
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 too 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 a horrible fear crept through
every fibre of her being. That she
was in some underground abode was
evident from the rough stone wall
that rose 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
Pickering light about the place, that
gave it strangely weird appearance.
The walls were rough and jagged, and
the shadowy inches seemed so many
openings for the entrance Of demons,
Edith thought. There was only a
chair and 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 a
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
3 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"
7 Edith saw that he meant no harm
and swallowed the stimulant.
' Where am ?" she at length asked
/ II don't mind telling you" was thu
f reply, "since you cant possibly 9e
e away. This is a cavern, which
n CHANGED to discover more than yea
0 ago, near the bank Of the river tina
e runs close by your house. We arr
= not more than four miles or 50 from
Is there now, but are as safe as if VI
were thousand miles distant.
what are you going to do viii
!, me-" was her next question.
y MARY you, of course. The shiI
?, that il TO receive US this very night
}. anchored not many miles away TIL
it captain is my stanch friend, and tn
ceremony will be performed at sea
d We shall proceed to some forelg
It country at once, and remain 10 Ion
n az I shall deem it for our interest. 5
!, you see that ! mean all right, and
e, hope You will submit quietly 10 m
10 plan"
"I'll never marry you, Rlchar
os Oakley, never" exclaimed Edith, anl
& rily.
lie "Why, yes, you will, my dear 20
ii can't help it. | am not especiall
re anxious to have our nnion sanctione
to by law; however, that shall be lie