Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-04-12
CHAPTER xvIII.-Continued.

the door, and it slowly swung back.
Inside, the only light came from two
| iron gratings in the wall.
Standing with his hack to her, gaz-
ing at the grating, was a man. The
| mist cleared from her eyes: she saw he
| was alone.
Another door at the end led to Sec
ond chamber, and here, doubtless, the
other man was imprisoned.
PAUL. she whispered, family.
The man turned swiftly. 1t was her
brother.
"Valerie." he exclaimed.
"Hush! Speak low! The policemen
are just outside"
"What do you want?" he muttered.
"You must escape
Paul uttered a low exclamation.
''How?" he asked. briefly.
Valerie thought for an instant. Her
fear was going: she felt her calm self
again.
"You must follow me-" she said de-
cisively. Paul held out his hands.
with these things on?" he said
grimly.
For answer she tore the lace from
her head, and wound it tightly round
his hands, thus deadening any cIink of
the handouts.
"You can walk all right" she said,
firmly. "Who is taken with you?"
''Sam and the old woman
"And Jura?" asked Valerie, eagerly.
course himn Paul muttered savage
ly. "Gone! He escaped us last night
taken the girl with him. BY now, I
expect, he is in France.
Valerie felt turn of pleasure.
Alice was gone, then. After such dis
grace she could never return to Roy.
Now let her but get Paul away, all
might yet go we'll. Who but Godfrey
Armistead knew of her brother, and
against his word, she judged rightly,
the Countess and Roy would take hers;
then, worked we'll, Roy could be
pushed to seek divorce, and the castle
and the man she loved would yet be
hers.
"Well," said Paul. .impatiently,
breaking in on Valerie, ''what are you
going to do? How am I to get away"
Trust me. Listen. I am going to
lead you up the steps outside, they end
in the corridor that belongs to this
wing.
"My lady's room stands there, empty;
no one goes in, by order Valerie
sneered-''by order of the Earl. You
must be hidden there till nighttime,
then [ will have thought of some plan
to get you out of the castle. Creep
softly! Leave the door open; they will
think you have escaped that way.
Now. not a word
Holding their breaths, they stole
noiselessly out and up the steps.
At the top Valerie pushed Paul into
corner and looked out. The corridor
was deserted.
She Deckoned him to remain there,
and crept along till she reached the
door of Alice's boudoir. 1t was UNI
locked.
She made sign to Paul, who was
soon beside her.
mot word; will be back in an
hour; don't go near the window
''Valerie, you are good to me- Paul
said with something like remorseful
affection.
''Ban, don't be a fool. You must
escape, or am disgraced."
She shut the door quietly, then stole
along to the one she had just left at
the top OF the steps, turned the key
firmly and slipped it into her pocket
and then with cheerfulness crept back
to her own room.
She had two hours to think how to
get Paul away, but the difficulties
seemed to increase every minute.
Evening came.
Valerie s maid had gone to her room
to help her dress for dinner; but, plead
ing illness, Valerie dismissed her, and
told her not to come again that night.
Plan after plan had rushed to her
mind Int all Snama0 imnOSSIbln
AS yet she mad not heard if Paul's
escape had been discovered, but each
moment was more dangerous.
He must go, even if he left the cas-
tie through window.
When all was quiet she quilted the
room and stole back to the wing in
which she had LETT her brother, and
had scarcely done so when she heard
sounds of footsteps approaching, and,
looking round nervOusly, saw Davis,
Alice's maid.
"What'do you want here?" she de-
manded, harshly.
Davis looked as if she would ask that
question.
''My Lady desired me to come and
arrange Lady Darrell's apartments, -
she answered quickly.
'.What for?'' Valerie demanded,
this time with a sensation OF annoy
ance that was like pain.
II don't know, Miss Ross. I am told
to obey orders and [ must do So
"You can come another time, then.
Go and tell Lady Darrell that the Earl
particularly requested me to see that
no one entered these rooms"
Il don't think | can take that mes
sage to her ladyship, Miss Ross, Davis
said. firmly.
''How dare you answer me like that"
cried Valerie, with flashing eyes. go
at once-at once, do you hear?"
Muttering loudly, Davis turned away,
but at the end OF the corridor she
waited.
''I'll just see what my fine madame
wants with the poor young Countess
room. No good, I'll be bound"
But Valerie was cautious. She did
nothing but walk to and fro as it in
deep thought, and Davis at last reluct-
antly went away.
AS she did so Valerie opened the
boudOir door.
oOuick-fOllOW met"