Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-03-25
STAUNTON, VA. WEDN ESDAY, MARCH So 1891.

ssShe slowly stepped down, while wonder
Ing where it led to and what it was foi? She
was not scared; she had too much nerve for
that. When she had descended about q
dozen steps the place became dark, and the
noise of a bolt was heard. She turned to
look back; but could see nothing, the door
being closed, Then she began to realize that
she had been trapped. She gave a scream.
"You need't scream" came a voice from
outside. Nobody can hear you but myself.
The servants are in the other end of the
house and could never hear you.'
What dread came into her mind ss she
heard this. She was completely trapped,
and for what? Perhaps to be forced to
marry this man. Perhaps to be punished.
Nothing worries woman m ,re than to be
outwitted. She was SO bewildered that she
was utterly lcss. She cried in despair:
"Will yoa please open the don? Am
to stay in this place and for what?"
"No, you have forgotten Clarence Leigh
ton, your lover; aud you have forgotten
bow he loved you, and then to be tramped
npnn. | win give yoa time to think over
matters" +
AS soon as she heard the name and real
ized that she was in the power of Mr.. Leigh
ton she was frightened. She remembered
only too ven how Mr.. Leighton had pre-,
tended to love her and wanted to marry her
but she never liked him. Mr.. Chesney,
the owner of this fiue mausion, had courted
her, and she loved him. They were engag-
ed to be married in short time. The
reader can readily see why of the two she
preferred Mr.. Chesney. It is true she
liza - D. H.
we'll as the reader now does. But she never
liked bis face from the first time she saw
him Mr.. Leighton in his promises that he
was wealthy and would lavish all his wealth
upon her was not true, she found out from
Mr.. Chesney that it was 80. Besides, what
pleasure would it be, if he was wealthy,
and she had the wealth of the world, and
live misers BILE life? She never could love
him. She had to order him away from the
house one day because of bis bad conduct
toward her. He said he would be revenged
for il, aud be had her at his mercy.
What dread came into her mind as she
remembered this, for if she would be taken
out and asked to choose him for husband
or death; she would unhesisatingly say
death, for she was too proud to disgrace
herself by marrying villain.
"They will be anxious and send some one
to look for me. Please let me out"
"Who would think of looking here. You
may as we'll content yourself; l am not 60
ing to release you. Good bye, 1 am going
to London now, and will get the clergyman
and will be back at twelve O'Clock tonight
and We will get married then. You will
have time to think of the great offer made
you-such an offer that no woman in her
right mind would hesitate to accept"
Miss Lillian Arlington waited until he
had locked the outside hall door and left
the house before she moved. She spent
the moments that followed in despair. She
was anything but allegro What would she
do if there was no opening, no escape? Was
she to marry that dreadful, mean, wicked
man-that villain? her life would certainly
be miserable indeed; no, she could not; but
what was she to do if she were forced to do
it? Such thoughts took complete control
of her, until at length she happened to
think of box of wax matches she had with
her. She struck one and held it up to STE
what kind of place she was in. She found
that she had been ent tapped into long
tunnel, so long that she could see no end.
She looked round in there for minute and
she found lantern, which perhaps the
owner had used in travelling in the tunnel.
She got the lantern down and lighted it
and then began to search the whole place.
She thought, "He said he would be back at
twelve o'clock, and that will give me
several hours TO search the place and per-
haps fad some way of escape, but what if
| faii?"
she turned up the light, and no noise
could be heard. She then started off.
"What dreadful place this is; maybe
has laaI Ix1I -, TO-,
he is certainly a wicked man. How could
,hink about it. am glad l didn't marry
him, but what if l am forced to do it. |
would have the name of marrying villain.
Oh, must not think of it, for it will drive
me mad"
With such thoughts expressing her mind
she proceeded on her journey. She went
On and on until she had now gone balf
mile, when she began to feel encouraged
by seeing in front of her large heavy door
that took up the whole width across the
She was daring and brave, but
as she came up to this door she began to
fear. What if it was not safeP if some
ruffians we're there then ready to take her.
After some hesitation she opened the door
safe or not safe she would risk it. The
door yielded and she passed through. but
to her surprise no end was yet found. 1t
was still long tunnel with no end to be
seen. 1t must have been to divide the
into two parts, for it probably be-
onged to two men. She kept up the long
and dangerous search until she had now
gone fully mile and half and no end was
yet found, and she began to get discouraged
indeed. The moments seemed like hours.
s'What will l do? There must be an
end somewhere" she muttered as she went
along.
She still kept up the search. Going
along she thought she might as we'll search
the place as to have to stay at one place SO
ong, and she had to stay till twelve
o'clock. So che would 60 on and see what
she could find. She went on farther and
farther, leaving it for luck to guide her and
pray ipg for courage and strength. She had
now gone about two miles in this dark dis
NAL tunnel. Most ordinary girls would
have tainted, but Miss Lillian Arlington
was of good nerves and courage. Finally,
while flashing the light in front of her she
,aw in the distance pair of steps leading
up to small door which seemed almost
exactly like the closet door at the other
end. What was she going to do now, as
che seemed to be at the end
s'rhis must be the end What will l
do? Whose house will l 60 in? Whose
secret an l fading out" she said as she
cAme up to the steps She had now gone
up to the door but was afraid to try to open
it. She c1uid hardly summon enough
courage to try the door, but as the hateful
lace of Dir. Leighton came before her she
made one effHrt to turn the knob, but it
was locked. Now what was she to do. Ac-
glancing up she saw key hang
ing on q nail, and got it down and stopped
to listen to find out if there was anybody
in the next room, but 10 sound could be
beard, and she unlocked the door and
entered. The room was a small one, but
fuely finis Led, and still another door was
to be opened and DO key was seen and
what was she to do now but to try her
bn2ch of keys. This she did, after trying
fifst oEe and then another she got one that
fit exactly. She turned the light cut
after feeling round she opened another
doc and exclaimed, Thank heaven, l
am sa, ed ~ for this was the dining room
of the hotel where she was boarding. She
went back to the doors and locked them
for fear some one would see them open as
the closet door had never been open since