The Forrest City times., 1891-08-28

room, and, finally approached the bed. After carefully scrutinizing Lena's face, she turned away. drew key from her pocket. and went out. lock- ing the door behind her.
 As the key turned in the lock the poor girls heart almost failed her; for few minutes her courage gave way, and she abandoned herself to her terrible fate. The next moment a sudden thought inspired her with re- newed energy, and her eyes sought the window. There was no time to lose-a clock below had already struck twelve, and the mornings were light at four. "Now or neverr' must be her motto.
 She crept out of bed and dressed rapidly in the dark, not daring to strike light. She put on a neat gray gown, with close fitting jacket and a hat What money she had she had put in her purse in the bosom of her dress. but took nothing else. The window of her room opened few feet above an outbuilding. She remember ed seeing ball of stout cord lying in her room, in readiness to secure a package the next morning; and she thought. if she could only find it. she would be able to descend in safety She groped about in the darkness; but in vain--the cord was not to be found. She must raise the window blind. but she knew not how to manage it with out making a noise. Stepping upon an ottoman, she managed after some delay, to slip off the cord and lift the roller and blind away entirely. This accomplished she again began her search for the cord. and, as the moon- light gleamed from behind cloud. found it half hidden under the valance of her bed.
 Trembling with fear and joy, Lena doubled the cord and made one end of it fast to her bedstead. and gently, inch by inch. raised her window. She put out the cord, crept out on to the sill, stood there and drew the window close behind her; then she sat down grasped her frail support, and slid on to tho roof of the 'outhouse. whence, without much trouble, she gained the ground.
 The girl fled swiftly in the direction of Fladgate: then. remembering that, if seen, she would surely be appre- hended detained, and sent back the next morning, she altered her course, and, full of terror at the perils of a night journey in the open air. walked to the next town. four miles away. She dared not go to the railway sta tion until reasonable hour; so. find ing a deserted hut by the roadside, she concealed herself there, until, at five clock, laborers began to pass to their work. She dreaded every foot step every sound. but at length reach ed the station and secured third class ticket to London. Fortunately she had not long to wait for a train. so her ap- pearanee at such an early hour did excite remark. She took her seat in the compartment with few working men as her companions. and was soon fairly on her way. She had Clifford s club address in her purse. and with this slight clue, she determined to find ou. whether he was alive or dead.
 If, after all. 1 should fail, I can but die" murmured the girl. as the train set her down at the end of her journey.
 She went straight to the address Clifford had given her; but her inqur- ies provoked smile on the face of the waiter who answered them although he was extremely civil. still he did not treat her as he would have treated u lady of whose position he had pro- viously been assured
 "Mr. Peregrine keeps his name on our books, but he has not been here for six months or more; he has been abroad. 1 believe. There are letters now lying here for him." said the man familiarity. "There is u report" he went on, coming nearer to Lena, as [ she stood on tho flight of steps which led to the principal entrance. that our MT. Peregrine is dead; but it may not be true, for he has cousin who belongs to the 'Union,' and it may be him; at any rate we shan't strike his name of her until we are certain"
 .When will that be?" asked Lena, in an agony of suspense and doubt. "Now, that's more than 1 can tell you, miss" answered the man, smiling. ly; "but you can call again in n month or six weeks; and if you give mo your name, I'll tell him young lady came here after him. if he should turn up. But this Lena would not do. The place and the manner of the man frightened her. and she felt ready tc drop with shame; so with the reply, II will call. briefly spoken in an un- steady voice. she turned away. leaving the waiter smilingly admiring the taste of the late Mir. Pere rrine. whose little affair was very much to his credit.
 Lena walked on proudly for shor, distance; then, bewildered by the noise and hustle of the city and not knowing which way to go, she called a cab and was put down at Charing Cross ation, from which she made up her mind to take the train to Abbottsford.
 IL was now nearly one o'clock. and on reaching the platform. Lena became frightened. She turned fa nt and giddy and thought that her prayer was an swered and that she was about to die. She dared not go on. aud. leaving the sta ion, found friendly coffee house "a small, dirty looking place, but in which she gladly took shelter. Here she obtained food and rest in close little room. in which she slept tha,