St. Paul daily globe., 1888-05-13
FIGHT FOR A FORTUNE.

IL Will OiilJ tQhO a 1CW NOluo W w
scribe the terrible predicament was in.
l had returned to England on receiving
the news of my uncle's death and found
my cousin George Warden waiting to re-
| ceive me. had not seen him for ten
| years, so did not suspect any treachery
| on his part. He told me that he had
arranged with friend for us to spend
| the night in his house and in the morn
| ing we could go together and see my
| uncle'S solicitor.
| was worn out with travel SO l read
lily accepted Varden's proposal. He in
| troduced me to- his friend and in five
hours discovered that l was a prisoner
| in private mad house.
When woke up i'll the night in the
| lonely room where they had put me l
| found that was bound hand and foot
| and that the air was filled with smoke.
/ saw it all then in moment. Var
| den would be the next heir to my uncle's
wealth if l died. so he had cOncocted
| this devilish plan to get me out of the
| way.
was struggling madly at my bonds,
| when | was aware of the presence of a
woman in the room. She said nothing,
| but moved toward me with one finger
| on her lips. In a moment l was free
and then she whispered, This way"
l staggered after her, almost over
come with the smoke. No sound was
heard but the cracking of the flames
| and the noise of falling timberS.
/ followed the tall, slight figure that
| glided on before me until, descending
some stairs at the other end of the cor
| ridOr, we came to small door that was
heavily chained and bolted. By our
united efforts the fastenings were un-
| done, and as the door was hastily
all IrI 1f
| told me that the last barrier between
me and liberty was removed!
Seeing freedom so suddenly before
me, turned in an ecstasy of gratitude,
and claSped the slender hand that held
the door open.
"How can l thank you? What can 1
do to thank you for deed like this?" L
cried eagerly.
''Only go quickly; do not linger a
moment. Ii you follow the path in
front of us it will take you to the river
| side. Turn to the left and follow the
winding of the water for about half a
| house, The man will row you across
and put you in the right way to catch
| the early morning train to London"
| But" exclaimed l, OBTAINING the
small hand that struggled to free itself,
''at least tell me your name?"
Il am Mrs. Saunders sister, Ella Le-
Ugh: But pray. hasten! they will be
! looking for me!'
81 will not go until you promise
may see you again. Promise me this!"
| She hesitated. The sound of voices
| in loud alteration reached US.
| Ella Leigh motiOned me to go, but
I did not move. a look of entreaty was
| in her eyes; and then hastily she mur-
INJURED, Yes, l promise" and disap-
| peared, shutting the door behind her.
All happened as Ella Leigh had told
me, and noon found me safely in Lon
| don, and, without wasting moment, on
! my way to our old family solicitor AID
! friend.
The dear old man welcomed me
| heartily, and with much sympathy
listened to my strange recital of the last
| twenty-four hours.
From that moment all seems rest
less, fitful dream, and | remember
nothing clearly until one morning.
| opening my eyes, L found myself in a
strange bed in strange room and saw
standing by my side my old friend, Mr..
| Burt. L tried to sit up, but fell back
helpless on my pillow.
do not move: you will soon be all
right. How thankful | am to see you
looking yourself againv
| SnOrUly aIter L was we'll enough to
hear all that had been going on; how
George Warden had presented himself
as next of kin to Uncle Walter; his
terror and subsequent flight on hearing
that still lived; how my kind friend
had himself searched Tor and found Ella
Leigh, who had taken refuge with an
| aunt in Leicester square; how she, bless
her! had come every day to hear news
of me, and how all the technicalities of
my inheritance were completed.
Need l say that the first visit | paid
on my my recovery was to Ella Leigh
or that many visits followed that one
until, knowing her well, l learned to
love her very dearly in place of the
gratitude that had first filled my heart.
And now in my fair Devon home she
reigns its queen and mistress, and be-
tween George Warden and the dearest
spot on earth to me, | and three lives
my own and those of our two bonnie
boys.