Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-04-25
VERA'S ESCAPE.

hours.
She was a student of botany, and
had gathered a number of beautiful
ferns, her enthusiasm leading her
farther and farther into the heart of
the wilderness, until at last the sud
den decrease of light warned her that
it was past the hour of sunset.
Now that the last rosy glow that
had deceived her had faded, it SEEM
cd to darken very fast, and in nerv-
GUS trepidation she turned to seek
the path. A halt-hour's walk con-
vinced her that she had mistaken her
way; she had not noted the path par
ticularly, but now she found herself
in an unfamiliar spot, wide, cleared
space in the center of which stood the
ruins of an old country house, an
oddly built cottage, the lower half of
which was formed of rough stones,
surmounted by wooden peaks and
gables.
Part of the structure had fallen in
to decay, but the stone foundation
stood in fairly good condition, and
lent it a picturesque effect.
Vera looked at it with interest,
despite her yexation.
"This must be the place l have
heard Of" she thought. "The HON
where that fierce captain brought his
lovely bride, and left her to pine in
solitude. He was so jealous of her
beauty, so fearful lest she should
seek the society of Others during his
ubsence, poor thingl And one day
30 the story goes-he came home
and found her gone.
"Then he started out to find her,
and in Spain he saw her in the COM
pany of handsome young man
and without waiting for a word oil
explanation, he followed and chal.
lenged him, and in the combat that
followed the young man was killed.
"He proved to be the brother OF
the young girl, and in grief she took
her own life.
"Then the captain came back, shut
himself up in this lonely place, and
ended his days in solitude, an ole
servant his only companion.
Eyes, | remember the story; but
really, / would have preferred visit
ing the place at some other time. Il
is getting alarmingly dark, and I'm
not sure l can find my way to the
road again
Even as she glanced anxiously al
the gray sky a flash of lightning
cleft its surface, while a dull. rumb
ling sound rolled up from the dis
tance.
Lost in the woods and the storm
comineI" she thought. Dearl how
foolish she was to take so little not,
of my surroundings! | cannot pos
sibly reach shelter before the rail-
falls, unless"
She turned her eyes upon the ruin
ed cottage. 1t was not a pleasart
alternative, but.a sudden fall OF rain
drops decided her.
She gathered up her skirts anC
darted across the space, disappear
ing through the doorway just as TIL,
storm burst in all it's fury.
The laundering peal shook TIL,
stone foundation, and Vera shrunl
with n cry from the binding fasl
that illuminated the appointments.
She saw that she was in a large
low-roofed room, from which severa
oaken doors opened upon inne
apartments.
"What q dismal placer though
Vera. 81 wonder if one of the innel
rooms would not be more cheerfult
She opened the nearest door, bu
shrunk back when she saw a darl
recess, walled with stone and linet
with shelves.
"Probably a closet, but it look
like vault" she reflected, peerins
into the next opening with less con
fidence than she had hitherto dis
played. l don't wonder the poo
young wife ran away from this place
Oh, this is better, and here's a sea
by the window. Why, il seems to b
growing lighter; but how it rains
Suppose haveto pass the night her
well, there's no danger of any on
disturbing me. and Pm not easil,
frightened, but / would rather be il
my own coy room. And then to
morrow"
A warm glow crept over Vera face
and her eyes frightened.
Tomorrow would be her weddin.
day-to-morrow would see her tn
bride of man whom she had no
known long, but who had taken he
heart by storm-a darkly handsom
eloquent man, whose love all til
women envied her, who had SCENE
to be her ideal, and embodiment c
all her girlish fancies.
Suddenly she was startled to hea
n voice, mans voice, borne on til
air from the outer room.
"Come in, Classy, and don't be
fool You're drenched now. VIVA
do you think | would do to you
You act as if you were afraid of me.
Vera's heart stood still. Surel