The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-05-21

swayed in the saddle, his arm relaxed
from round her waist. She would have
fallen. but another arm lifted her, and
Herbert Archer : voice exclaimed:
Fear nothing, Miss Granger; you
are safe.
Heaven bless you, she murmured
as she, with his aid. began removing
the mufiier from her face. "Oh! she
added in condemnation ''yOu are shot.
for Herbert Archer had uttered a sharp
"AhI'' and reeled.
1T is nothing. Miss Granger. A
wound won in a righteous cause IS
never to be regretted he laughed
lightly. "It was the final saUtatiou Of
your late asSallants, he continued as
he released hcr from the folds OF the
wrapper.
's0f, Where are they?" she murmured,
yet trembling.
zone, wisely, has taken to his heels;
the other IS there.
Flo. looking, turned quickly away,
for her capt0r laid face downward on
the sod.
- Yes. " continued Herbert Archer.
This is no sight foT you Miss GRAIN
ger. Let-us leave it.
''What could have been their iuteutT'
said Flo. WHY could they treat me
thuSr''
simply, l conceive, for ransom" he
''IIow can I thank you, AIr. Archer2
My gratitude is beyond expression.
Pray let us return at once home. Now
I am safe | am full Of concern for my
uncle and aunt. What VIII they lmag-
ine-what sUffer-fTOm my absence?'
1--WE viii return at once" he an
swered. "Ghab Is. when You have
rested awhile. Indeed, you are too
much overcome for another six hours
ride vet s"
E'sSix hours rider calculated Flo, her
brain too confused still for her to no
I tice it as singular that her companion
should know the time she had been
from the station. Can it be SO long as
( that?"
II fancy it must be. See. it is noon.
Sit here; you are faint. There is a
, stream close by; III fetch you some
water"
Flo was indeed faint The excite
ment over, her strength began again to
fail. and gladly She sank down at the
foot of the tree to which he had led her.
During his brief absence she began to
reflect upon her position with renewed
anxiety. She was alone In the bush
with one whose love had once been 50
passionate as to create fear in her. and
she grew yet more WIShfUl to return.
w hen Herbert Archer returned, with
( a broad leaf held as 4 cup, fun of
water. she earnestly urged her desire
/ upon him.
Yes, after you have rested, = was his
reply.
7 she finally remarked, and can better
! bear the fatigue than this anxiety.
! Pray, Mr. Archer, let US 60" +-- .
y She half rose; but, his hand quickly
on her arm, he restrained her,
: Miss Granger Florence" 4" he said
/ in a low tone, There are worse things
to bear than either fatigue or anxiety
/ Looking up she met the passionate
/ expression of his dark eyes. They
thrilled her with a new fear. She
1 shrunk timidly back, while she muir
/ INJURED. cOntUSeGy:
''What-what do you meanf"
"MeanF Surely you lnOW2 To love
/ and be loved" "
Mr. Archer. you promised"
Promised Did l not recall that
! promise at his death2 Am l a mailman
| to give place to a dead rival? a mad
| man. perhaps, to love one so hard, so
pitiless. That l cannot help. l do love
yOu-I must!n
The girl was trembling in every limb.
| Nevertheless Sheimanaged to reply in
steady, indignant tones:
This is cowardly, Unmanly to adj
dress me thus, Mr.. Archer. | would
not VIII nOt-beieve you guilty of
such baseness. to insult me when l am
I in your power" .r..
= "Yes, you are in my power; Fate has
so chanced. We are in the heart of the
bush. safe from all intrusion he re-
Joined. But, Florence, [ do not Insult
you. | but say I love, and ask return.
I have rescued you from Heaven alone
! knows what fate. \ on say you owe me
gratitude; there is but one way 1 can
be paid-I lCiU be paid-yOur lOve,'
| He threw himself on the grass IN
front of her, imprisouing her hands,
his eager eyes fixed on her countenance.
She was overwhelmed with terror.
Rise, l entTeat YOU she pleaded.
If you love me, think how you are
making me suffer-
Where is the differenceP You do
not love me, and you cause me agony
ne TejOiued. The sight of yOu-Of
| your beaUty-GreS my brain-makeS my
| pulses beat as If the blood were molten
lead consuming them. Florence, my
pain is the worst. Be merciful. Tell
me-swedr to me-that you viii be my
| wife-that you viii forget Philip Bath
urst, and we viii return
Forget Philip.r calculated Flo, al
most iuvOlmtarilv. 'ImpOSsibe.'
Remember him. but be my wife
! Yes, Florence, 1 VIII be content, and
! try as ! meet your gaze to forget thai
the love in your eyes is for Philip, moi
for me"
1t is impossible. Mr.. Archer. I can
not swear 1T, for | should break my
oath. Never can l call another huS
band"
'Then?-' she repeated. anxiousIy re
gaTdng him as lie arose and looked
| down upon her.
We do not return. We shall remail
| bcre-alOne. together i'm the bush.
"Remain here" She gasped in horror
Eyes. remain here until you promis
20 be mine. For mine, j IOrence, I hav
sworn you shall be:
D oh, Heaven she cr.sd, rhelp me-
save me from this man" 1929
/ 1t will not hear, Florence, or VIII
! may its pity not be for me-"
This is shameful -cOwardly.' . sh
, exclaimed. Indignantly. "Is this wa
to win a wOman'S love? ! would Tathe
= die than wed you'll" r-
1 He laughed. and in despair she bOwe
her face on her hands and burst int
tears. For 4 space he watched hel
then once again was at her feet.
Florence, why are you so deter
2 mined?' he calculated. why will yo
reject an affection such as mlneS'
worship you. See, at your feet l pra
i entreat YOU to hear me-"
; More passionate words yet fell froI
: his lips. as. prone before her. he hel
al her feet and pressed his hips on tffen
. | terrifying the unhappy girl into silence
Florence, do not think to move IN
e Even your tears, though they pam. can
=: rot dO that Sntufl me, dash this fOl
= hold iu MY face and1 Will yet KISS
Il will vet love YOU. Whatever | 50
t and do. remember that it IS my loN
that is the cause. Reflect what such
I | love must be. No mans has ever su
passed it. Florence. do not reject
y One word and | follow; | obey you as
u slave. If you refuse to speak It-yC
:, ! must obey me-
Am your prisoner then?,