Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-05-11

ued. Il suspect Leon drugged me.
and conveyed me here while l was
helpless. Oh! how l have wanted
your he added. passionateiy. "and
have prayed for deliverance." He
leaned his head against the bars and
great tears rolled down his face. "Oh!
that n brother could do this!' he said.
was maddened Mt his grief.
"Don't don't for heavens sake.
Geoffrey!' | begged; IL will release
you.
Leon hates me because l love you
Cecil"
Curse him. i replied. vehemently.
'to make you suffer so: may all tho
evil he wishes you fall on his own
soul!' ended in an agony of venge-
full prayer.
Don't say such things, Cecil. dcar-
est" he begged.
You don't know how he has lied"
l resumed. Ito his mother and me-"
and l handed him the note Leon had
sent
He read it and looked grieved. THAT
is why you came to find me-"
Yes; it was not your handwriting.
gate" | said. "And your mother
thinks you are i'll at your uncle's in AL
bany. and that Leon has gone to take
care of you; also that l came on INVITA-
ton. "All this my dear Geoflrcv, is
Icons deception. and now ood-bye
until | come shortly"
Goodbye. darlngr he said. soft
ly.
talked TO Mrs. Lamar in Thekla' $
hearing, of the beauties of tho orchard
in its grab of leaf, and bud and BIOS
som, and dwelt at length on the lowell
ness of the lake to the west all this TO
make the servant believe ! had been
elsewhere than in the woodla and.
To break locks was an offense.
thought, bu: how else should | releas g
Godfrey | had no key and | could
not procure one. A happy thought
struck me like a heavenly inspirat on.
| would take the door off its hinges!
had noticed them-great bars of things
on the outside; ahn! | could do
that.
Fortunately knew where the tool
house at Rose Hill was, and HE'D me
hither. while Thekla was indoors. Pro-
Il Il
speed away to the little ravine.
Here am, Godfrey | exclaimed.
all out of breath with haste and excite
ment-
God bless yOu!' he said. ferventlv.
Then he waited TO see what | intended
doing. How are you to remove the
lock?' he questioned presently.
TO tamper with locks is bad bust
ness" | answered. loosely. while my
heart was full OF hatred for the absent
brother, land shall not meddle with
this one; / intend to take the door of
its hinges"
Can you?" Godfrey asked. dubious.
! ".
/ Certainly" said l. kneeling down
/ to begin on the lowest hinge Theirs
were four OF them, similar to those
used on shop doors; but fortunately
/ they had not been there long enough
to become rusty. And although IL was
the hardest task of my life. l resolved
TO do it or die. BY faithful application.
| soon had the pleasure of seeing the
| great screws withdraw, and finally the
! very last one was ready to drop,
''Do YOU really think you can remove
/ them?' asked Godfrey. anxiously.
peeping through the bars in doubtful
/ fear.
"Geoffrcv." said /, "as if couldn t;
what is 10 hinder me?"
IL don't know. l am sure" he repl-
ed more hopefully
NE Their do l." | answered, with
emphasis. as I gave the last screw a
! jerk and let the miserable prison door
sag. Now. push, Geoffrey.'
Your out oh! Godfrey! and !
threw my arms around him in raptur-
Gus relief
He took my redeemed and blistered
hands in his and said great deal
which perhaps would sound foolish
elsewhere than at that time and place
Come. Cecil" he said. presently,
''let us go up TO the house; you said
| Leon was absent"
IL think / know where Leon has
gone" he said thoughtfully.
"Wherep' asked.
To get me struggled into an insane
/ asylum, Gee ]. ."
"Oh Geoffreyr'
Yes; dark deed TO be sure; but
Leon is capable of it. / hope | may
be mistaken. however, he added. fer
verently.
Thekla looked as if she hoped the
! earth would open and swallow her into
oblivions depths, when she caught
sight Of us.
you had better keep perfectly quiet
about this matter" said Godfrey, as
we passed her in the hall.
She shrank back. white to the very
lips. and did not utter a word, while /
looked the triumph l felt
"You may find mother. now" said
! Godfrey TO me. Tell her / have re-
covered and have returned, but that
Leon remains away dav or two long
err, Don't breath word Of Leon s
villainy to her please; she is our
mother.
II understand" said /, going in
search of Mrs. Lamar.
Late in the evening the doorbell rang
violently. and Godfrey answered il
himself. followed him into the hall