The Forrest City times., 1891-08-21
k Terrible Love Story.
CHAPTER ".

was cflueHt oCCuslOHeu Ter DOtn anger and surprise. Lena. sitting at 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.
 Il have letter from Mir. Du- masque,' she said in 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 checks
 He is not coming"
 "Why?n asked Judith, with scant ceremony.
 "The usual excuses,' returned her mistress with n sneer-''the usual de- mands. Read it''-giving the letter to the woman.
 As Judith stood there reading, in her print gown, white apron. and old-fash- toned spotless white cap with its green rlbbon-strings, Lena pronounced her "a frightful woman,n and. glanc- ing at the face of her aunt. placed her without hesitation in the same cate gory. Her marrow pinched features, pale blue eyes, sandy hair streaked with gray, the stiff figure in it's rich dress, did not look preposesslng, and her beautiful hands were rending the envelope of the letter into small pieces.
 Like his father," remarked the old servant eoutemptuously 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 dooa inquired Judith bluntly.
 ''Refuse-and at once, He may get on as he can. He knows that the remedy lies in his own hands"
 '.He has never relished it. return ed Judith, with glance at Lena, who bent over her work. while her heart beat fast with joy at the news of her reprieve.
 II shall write to him tomorrow, :" went on Madame Dumasque. taking no notice of Judith's remark '.You can post the letter for me in Fladgate 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 nothing, in an unknown and danger ous path, having no idea where Cliff ford might be, or whether she should be recaptured before she could find him. To stay where she was would be 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 way? It was wierd enigma.
 The girl went with Judith to post the letter longing 10 sec the contents, and waiting tremulously to learn the nature of the reply; but week after week pas ed, and the mouth of May had commenced before the quiet of Mill House was again disturbed She carefully watched the movements of the two women who guarded her so yigilantly; but they gave no sign, and the days wore on monotonously The only change Lena had was to sketch tho landscape from the windows of the 1AN.,,faA r,,,11 shi,b R the mill door had been found in the house, and, always accompanied by Judith, the girl sat and passed her time in her tavorite occupation.
 On the evening of the lst of May, while sue 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, IL was ru1ianly 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 a re- mark, rose from her seat and went out of the mill, locking the door behind her, and leaving Lena in he shadowy ghostly solitude of the cheerless 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 ou, as if she expected him. There was nc means of escape for her-she was a prisoner. Why did Judith not return! Another wild entreaty for aid ascend ed to Heaven from the lips of the orphan girl.
 Suddenly the face appeared again peering into the building. separated i, from her only by the dirty glas' through which it leered. Where could she hidee Above her was second story. reached by a ladder above that a third-silent, empty, an, gloomy. Below at her feet was tn, black opening over the mill-wheel---al awful spot Striving to be courage
 pus, Lena went from window to win dow and looked out; but no one was t
 be seen, no sound to be heard. Sh tried the door, only to find it fastened but, determined not to let her fen
 overcome her strength, she resolutel
 gathered together her painting mate
 rials and then paced up and down
 waiting