Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-01-30


wits end. let her embrace me. at has
been so long" she said "Oh the weary
while And they illtreat me. Where
have vou been all this tedious time
was not going to answer that. You
nav be sure Bv this | had recovered
myself sufficiently to guess what was
near the truth-that this was n mad
aunt of the family below, and that the
game was in my hands if played with
decent care. So | met her question with
another
Look here" said, I'm running o
considerable risk in Drawing these persc-
cutors of your'n. Hadn't we better elope
at once?"
II am ready"
And the jewels? You won't leave
them to your enemies, suppose.
She turned to the dressing table, lifted
her jewel case, and put it into my hands.
Il am ready" she repeated; u" let us
be quick and stcalthy as death.
She followed me to the window, and.
looking out, drew back.
what horrible, black depths!"
It's as easy" said l, "as pie. You
could do it on your head-look here.
climbed out first and helped her, setting
her feet on the rungs. We went down
in silence. choking all the way at the
sight of Peter below, who was lookn"
with his mouth open and his lips too
weak to meet the curses and wonder
ment that rose up from the depths of
him. When | touched turf aud handed
him the jewel case he took it like a man
in a trance
We put the ladder back in its place
outside the garden door Peter could
stand no more of it.
I've tirearm in my pocket, whis-
pered he, pulling up, land I'm going to
fire it off to relieve my feelings if you
don't explain here and now. Who, in
PHYS name, is she?"
You mug-she's the Original Sleeping
Beauty. I'm eloping with her, and
you've got her jewels"
"Parcon me, Jem," he says, in his
Eentlemanly way, "if don't quite see.
Are you taking her off to melt her or
marry her? For how to get rid of her
else"
The poor old creature had halted, too,
three PAGES ahead of us, and waited
while we whispered, with the moonlight,
that slanted down into the lane. whiten-
ing her bare neck and flashing on her
jewels.
"One moment" | said, and stepped
forward to her; you had better take off
those ornaments here, my dear, and givo
them to my servant to take care Of.
There's Il carriage waiting for us at tho
end of the lane, and when he has slowed
them under the seat we can climb in and
drive of"
TO the end of the world-to the very
Tim of it. my hero.
She pulled the gems from her ears,
hair, and bosom and handed them to
Peter, who received them with a bow.
Next she searched in her pocket and
drew out tiny key. Peter unlocked tho
case, and, having carefully slowed tho
diamonds inside, locked it again. handed
back the key, touched his hat, and walked
off toward the dogcart.
My dearest lady" began, as soon as
we were alone between the high walls,
"lf the devotion of life"
Her bare arm crept into mine. "Thcro
is but little time left for us in which to
be happy. Iearafter year have marked
off the almanac; day by day | have
watched the dial. | saw my sisters mar
rled and my sisters daughters, and still
l waited Each had man to love her
and tend her, but none had such "a man
as | would have chosen. They were mono
like you. my prince.
No, dare say not.
"Oh, but my heart is not so cold
Take my hand-it is firm and strong;
touch my lips-they are burning"
low whistle sounded at the top Of
the lane. AS l took her hands pushed
her back, and turning ran for my life.
/ suppose that as ran counted 40 before
her scream came, and then the sound Of
her feet pattering after me.
She must have run like a demon, for l
was less than 10 yards ahead when Peter
caught my wrist and pulled me up onto
the back seat Of the dogcart. And be-
fore George could set the horse going her
hand clutched at the flap on which my
feet rested. 1t missed its grasp, and she
never got near enough again. But for
half minute | looked into that horrible
face following us and working with si-
lent rage; and for half a mile at least |
heard the pattcr of her feet in the dark
ness behind. Indeed, / can hear it now.