Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-06-28
CHAPTER XII

/
now.
Toinette saw. with thrill of unspeak-
! able JOY duh CLEAN Of daylight stream
/ ing into the room.
/ A great branch had been torn from one
/ of the giant oaks by the storm and hurled
with such violence against the barricaded
window as to break its way through the
stout planks nailed over it, as well as
/ through sash, shutters and hsngings.
1t lay where 1t had fallen, resting
/ against the shattered sill.
] Regardless of wind and drenching rain,
/ Toinette daFted toward the opening thus
/ opportunely made.
/ 1t seemed as if heaven, out OF sheer
] pity for her anguish, had wrought q
miracle In her behalf.
The aperture was not large enough to
+ admit of her passing through, but she
! tore at the splintered projections with
blistered and bleeding fingers, until every
/ obstacle had been overcome.
! By this time the brief summer tempest
/ had spent its fury.
| A few scattered drops still battered
upon the wet earth, but the muttering
/ thunder was dying away in the distance
! IOinette easily climbed over the sill,
/ and slid to the ground along the giant oak
/ bough.
Then she stood up and looked round
! the neglected garden her heart beating,
/ heavy and thick.
intercept her flight; but she resolved to
/ sell her liberty dearly, once having tasted
/ its sweets.
There was nothing to fear, had she but
| known 1t. Deb was at that moment safely
| sheltered in the village whittier she had
! gone On an errand and been Overtaken by
/ the storm.
Terror lent wings to Toinette's feet, and
| springing into the path she fairly few
along the lonely road.
Il may be IN time to prevent the mar
riage!" she cried, lifting her white miser-
/ able face to heaven as a burst of golden
sunlight flashed through the breaking
clouds. God grant it,"
She had some money left in her purse
/ On reaching the nearest hotel she ordered
pair of feet horses harnessed to the
| lightest carriage,
People stared in curious wonder at the
beautiful girl with the bleeding hands,
| dripping garments and' pale, excited face.
| But she was not even aware Of their scTu-
/ tiny. One fixed, desperate purpose dom
| mated all her being.
No need to dwell upon the incidents Of
/ that mad journey. 1t seemed to TOinette
/ that she craWled at a snails pace, though
really going at a frantic rate of speed.
A full half hour after the clocks told
1 the hour of nine, she came in sight of
/ BOnnyVieW Hall. The sky, studded with
silver stars, looked peaceful and serene,
! across it, and the sleeping landscape lay
| bathed in the pearly light of the moon.
Toinette sprang out the instant the car
rlage stopped, and pulled frantic peal at
| the bell.
'Stand aside, she said hoarseIy, to the
startled servant who opened the door.
/ every moment is precious now"
! The man staggered against the wall,
staring stupidity after the graceful little
/ figure that fitted swiftly across the hall
and up the thickly earpeted stairs. Was
this his lovely young mistress or her
wrath?
On the brilliantly lighted landing above,
| Toinette was suddenly confronted by Ro-
/ sine. For a moment the maid glared at
! her in speeches. amazement, a chill feel
! ing that was almost fear clutching at her
/ heart. This fOrlOrn figure with its dis
/ ordered garments and death white face
! seemed so unlike her beautiful mistress.
"I-I-fancied you were lying down,
/ she stammered, finding voice st last.
! 'YOu babe me go aWay-not disturb you.
! Have you been in the grounds at this late
| hour? Oh, my lady, why do you look at
/ me so stFangely?"
Toinette raised her arm, and pushed her
/ fOrcibly toward door opening from the
upper hall.
Fool! Don't you know you have
] been deceived by cunning impOstOr?
! What room did you give that girl? Mine?'
]
| however. She glared at her returned
mistress, trembling in every limb, and
more at a loss than ever.
/ The next moment heavy footsteps crossed
/ the hall, and Major VillaFs appeared. He
/ had heard every word.
IOinette, what are you saying?" he de-
! manded, in hOarse, startled accents.
/ She looked at him angrily.
Simply this, that you have been finely
taken in-deceived by an impOstOr so
/ like me she might have been my twin
/ sister.
Major Yillars staggered against the
! wall. He recalled DUIcies wild, imprOb-
| was Toinette, the night he had inter
cepted her at the dock. And he had
| noticed a thousand little things that per
/ picked and disturbed him.
] These were all clear as day in the light
/ of Toinette's revelation He had given
! shelter to an neutrality-suspicious. and
/ schemed that Guy Vaudeville might make
/ her his bride.
I But this was not the thought that drove
/ every drop Of blood from his heart. Who
was this girl so marvelOUsly like his will
full ward that even he had been deceived?
Great God! Is it possible that"
Leaving the sentence unfinished, he
! quickly recovered himself, and dsrting
/ forward, placed his shoulder against the
] locked door of Dulcie's chamber. The
fsstenings instantly gave way.
Toinette was the hrst to enter. One
/ glance around the pretty, fragrant cham
Der, and into the empty rooms communi-
eating with it-then a shrilI, asOniziug
cry broke from her lips
Too late. Oh, my God! She has gone!"
Major VilIars wheeled round and glared
! at her, his face growing whittier than before.
What do you mean? Gone Where?"
with Philip Raynor! ElOped! She
/ has deceived him, toO-they met secretly.
/ Now they have fed.
Major FilIars laughed aloud IN the sud
/ den sense of relief that came over him.
: - L. L..