Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-02-18

81 wont keep you a prisoner mo-
ment longer than 1 can help. Mrs.
Ormskirk," he said, jumping up. He
pulled the rope vigorously, but the lift
did not move.
Don't you understand the mechan-
ism?" cried Rosalie, in sudden alarm.
"Yes, of course" he retortcd, a trifie
irritably; .'but-but there seems some
thing wrong with it,"
Mrs. Ormskirk sprang to her feet
with little scream of terror.
"Oh, Major Bourchier, we shall be
killed, know we shall. There is some
thing wrong with the lift! We may be
dashed to pieces-the thing may fall
or-or something. Oh. what will be-
come of usP" she went on, bursting in
to tears. "Can't-can't you save me.
Vincent?'
She chung to him in her terror.
Don't be frightened, dearest" he
said, trying to speak cheerfully; sit
may not be so serious as you think. Do
you know if this is an hydraulic lift? If
so, the stoppage may be caused by the
failure of the water"
IL don't know-I don't know what
an hydraulic lift is" moaned Rosalie,
sobbing. "Such thing has never hap
pened before. Oh, Vincent, can't
can't you save me?"
"Would to Heaven l could! l would
die for you, gladly"
II don't know about dying for me, :"
she sobbed out, 'but-but there seems q
very good chance of your dying Nth
me-"
Bourchier smiled.
II don't think things are quite so bad
as that, Rosalie."
"How do you know? Why, any min
ute we may be dashed to pieces! Ihave
heard of such things"
His arm was still round her waist; in
her terror she did not seem to notice it
at least she made no attempt to with
draw herself from his embrace.
"Life seems all the more enhancing
row, of course" he ventured to say.
trying not to speak bitterly. "You
were always ambitious, Rosalie, and as
peeress
"Who told you 1 was going to be a
peeress?" she retorted, with spirit.
IF you are going to take advantage OF
the position TOTO bully me"
''My darling, such an idea never
crossed my brain. l love you far too
well," interrupted Bourchier, with his
lips close to her pretty ear. The temp
tation was irresistible. He kissed her
velvet cheek once. twice, and then, as
she did not attempt to move her fresh,
rosy lips. "Rosalie, do you love me?"
She was silent save for slight
catching of her breath, that might have
been either sigh or sob.
''Yeu will not marry Rockminster,
will you. you will marry me, he went
on, passionately. .NO one loves you
as do, Rcsalie. Think of it; 1 have
loved you for ten long years.
sis that true?" she whispered, in her
most musical tones.
Il swear it. VIII you marry me,
Rosalie?''
"f-if we ever get out of the lift
may"
1.-The lift! I love the liftr' cried
Bourchier, enthusiastically, "why, but
for it"
II might have married Lord Rock
Minister" she said, with an odd little
laugh. "You told me / was am
bitiOus!'
"Poor Rockminster! and happy mer
laughed Bourchier.
''In the meantime, sir, I insist on
being let out of this lift at once; 1 OBJ
ject to be kept hanging between earth
and heaven, like Mohammed-or his
cofiin-I forget which it was"
Bourchier, of course, retorted that,
far from thinking himself in such po-
sition, he considered that the lift was
his heaven, and for his part he was per-
fectly happy where he was.
"But | am not" said Resale, with
some return-real or assumed-of her
fears, sit is almost as bad as the Black
Hole of Calcutta
Just then the lift gave violent lurch.
Mrs Ormskirk screamed and buried her
face in her handkerchief. Bourchier
jumped up and caught hold of the rope,
and, in moment, the machine glided
smoothly upward.
Come. Rosalier' said he. smiling,
as they stopped at the seventh floor.
Calls well that ends well. You have
only been prisoner for one short kalf-
hour; am going to put on chains for
life-chains of roses, of course" he
added hastily. You have had fright;
have won a wife-thanks to that de-
lightful institution, the Liftr'-London
Truth.
o.>An>x:-- IS