Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-03-07
A Terrible Love SiOrv.
CHAPTER ".


and surprise. Lena, sitting mt work
in the old-fashion window-seat, took
silent note of all that passed; for
Madam Dumasque rang for judith,
and quietly ignored the presence of
her niece.
81 have "a letter from Mr.. Du-
masque," she said in a strange tone,
as though she were half afraid of her
servant.
"A letter." repeated Judith, with
evident surprise as she stood near the
table. her cap strings hanging down
on either side of her dark face.
Madam Dumasque continued, with
an angry flush on her usually pale
cheeks
''He is not coming"
'Whyp" asked Judith, with scant
ceremony.
1.-The usual excuses returned her
mistress with sneer-''the usual de-
mands. Read it'-giving the letter
20 the woman
As Judith stood there reading, in her
print gown, white apron, and old-fash-
Toned spotless white cap with it's green
ribbon-strings, Lena pronounced
her u lrlSnJlul WOHlhn, ana, Blanc-
ing at the face of her aunt, placed her
without hesitation in the same cate
cory. Her narrow pinched features,
pale blue eyes, sandy hair streaked
with gray, the stiff figure in its rich
dress, did not look progressing, and
her beautiful hands were rending the
envelope of the letter into small
pieces.
Like his father" remarked the old
servant coutemptuously, as she handed
madame the letter; and her words
caused an angry flush to tint the face
of her mistress; but Madame Du-
masque did not look up. ''What will
you doP' inquired Judith tluntly.
''Refuse-and at once, He may get
on as he can. He knows that the
remedy lies in his own hands,
ale has never relished ii, return
ed Judith, with Il glance at Lena, who
bent over her work, while her heart
beat fast with JOY at the news of her
reprieve.
81 shall write to him tomorrow,
went on Madame Dumasque. taking
no notice of ,Judith's remark. you
can post the letter for me in Fladpate
in the afternoon; and you, Lena, can
accompany Judith and bring back the
music on which your heart is set"
Lena made no reply. Her heart
was set upon gaining her freedom; yet
she shrunk from the idea of wandering
alone in u world of which she knew
rothing, in an unknown and danger
Gus path, having no idea where Cliff
/ t1Hd minht hn tVhathn,. hA Oh
be recaptured before she could find
him. To stay where she was would
he to risk utter defeat and destruction.
On, what could be the reason for this
bitter persistence on the part of her
aunt-why did she battle so in the face
OF difficulty to gain her own wayP 1t
was wierd enigma.
The girl went with Judith TO post
the letter, longing to see the contents.
and waiting TREMENDOUSLY to learn the
Dature of the reply; but week after
week passed, and the month of Nav
had commenced before the quiet of
Mill House was again disturbed. She
carefully watched the movements OK
tho two women who guarded her SO.
vigilantly; but they gave no sign, ana
the days wore on monotonously. The
only change Lena had was to sketch
the landscape from the windows Of the
deserted mill. A key which opened
the mill door had been found in the
house, and. always accompanied by
Judith, the girl sat and passed her
time in her favorite occupation.
On the evening of the st of MAY,
while she sat in her usual position
close to one of the windows, she was
startled by shadow suddenly falling
across her sketching block, and, look
ing up she saw u face pressed close to
the outside of the narrow window. 1t
was ruffanly coarse face, and its
evil expression of leering admiration
caused her to utter low cry and to
point towards the window in horror
judith glanced up from her knitting
and saw the man, then, without re-
mark, rose from her seat and went out
of the mill, locking the door behind
her, and leaving Lena in the shadowv
ghostly solitude of the cherries build
ing. The girls hands trembled,
her heart beat violently; all
idea of painting vanished; she
dared scarcely glance at the
WINDOW. She felt that she was to
meet her fate at the hands of that
dreadful man. He had come there to
look at her, and Judith had gone out
as If she expected him. There was no
means of escape for her-she was a
prisoner Why did Judith not returnp
Another wild entreaty for aid ascend
cd to Heaven from the lips of the
orphan girl.
Suddenly the face appeared again,
peerlng into the building, separated
from her only by the dirty glass
through which it leered. Where
could she hide? Above her was a
second story. reached by ladder;
above that third-silent, empty, and
gloomy. Below at her feet was the
Black opening over the mill-wheel-an
awful spot. Striving to be courage
Gus, Lena went from window to win
dow and locked out; but no one was to
be seen, no sound to be heard. She
tried the door, only to find it fastened;
but, determined not 10 let her fear
overcome her strength, she resolutely
gathered together her painting mate
rails and then paced up and down.
waiting.