Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-03-31

awe of Shadowy viSltants, and he
babe me goodnight. was tired and
sleepy, and l did not investigate the
capabilities OF my apartment l
threw OFF ny boots and coat and
tumbled into bed, rightly Judging
that though my other garments were
soiled they would not injure the
still dirtier bed-clothing. My bones
ached from the effects of my rough
ride over the in-kept road. At last /
fell asleep. and was dreaming OF fall
ing over preeipice thousands of feet
high into the Red sea, when some
thing aroused me suddenly. i sa. up in
bed and felt for my pistol All right.
But there was nothing to fire at.
The moon had risen-it was on its
last quarter now. and gave very little
light, but l could see every object in
the room distinctly. Nothing was
amiss l began to feel ashamed of
myself, and lay down again.
Presently there was faint rustling
sound at the head of my bed and then
1 heard the sweetest voice in all the
world call family:
''Fidele! Fidele,"
And then something white glided
across my chamber, and disappeared
under the bed.
And the same sweet vo:ce-it was
full of tears now-exclaimed:
.'Oh, my poor little Fidele. Would
to heaven you could understand the
need Of your unhappy mistress, and
-av.4l -
And then followed a sound of sup
pressed sobbing, mingled with the
loud purr and the occasional mewing
of cat
was young and not little roman
tic. l slipped out of bed lighted my
candle, and searching behind the bed
l soon found round small hole
through which the cat had evidently
passed. These '.cat holes are still
to be found in many an old mansion.
put my mouth to the aperture and
spoke softly;
Are you in troublea"
heard a quick exclamation OF sur
prise-then the voice answered me:
YES, l am in trouble. Who are
you? Where are you?
MY name is Hunt Clarendon.
am here in the next room. What is
the matter? How can / aid your
Are you my friend?'
~ should rather think so.'' replied,
Indignantly.
Forgive me; but have been the
victim of so much treacheryr' and
then in low, rapid voice, she told
me tale which made my blood boil.
John Mckenzie was the landlord.
He was the girls uncle. She was an
heiresss, ard at her fathers death her
uncle had been left her guardian. He
had a son named Paul, ana this son
he determined should be the husband
of Viola Shane. Viola was the sweet
prisoners name. In no other way
could they obtain possession of her
property. Paul had tried his best to
win her, but he was extremely re-
pulsive to her, and she would have
preferred death to marrying him.
When her uncle found her so deter.
mined he resorted TO force. He circu-
lated story that she had gone North
for some time on visit, and then cast
her into this disused part of the build
ing. and kept her a prisoner. When
ever she would consent to be PauIs
wife, then liberty was hers She had
been there now nearly tTyo years, see
ing no one but her uncle and his bru-
tai son. Fidele. the cat, had found her
out. and had been her sole source of
comfort
assured her OF speedy release, and
set myself 70 work TO accomplish it,
There was no door between the room
occupied and her prison, but the
walls were old and rotten, and with
the help Of my knife, the poker and
| the fire shovel, / succeeded in prying
| off portion of the partition. 1t was
slow work, but by diligence ! soon
made space large enough for Viola
| to squeeze through, and ] am happy to
say that her face was quite as sweet
as her voice.
My plan for her rescue was a reclt-
less one; but was rather bold fell
low, suppose, and ! would have
| dared in any form to win smile from
lips like hers.
Victor, my horse, was thorough
bred, and tough as whalebone. He
had had hard days work, but was
not afraid to trust him for twenty
miles more, and meant to take Viola
behind me, and ride to Beechclif the
residence of my Aunt Catherine-that
very night.
l wrapped one of the blankets from
the bed around Viola, and lifting her
in my arms, for she was 50 weak and
frightened she could scarcely stand,
stole softly down the stairs.
As | neared the lower floor, board
crealSed. You have probably noticed
that boards have that popularity
when stiffness is greatly desired.
"What the devil is that?" cried the
hoarse voice Of the landlord from a
room close by.
Nothing. sirr' returned /, cheer
fully. at is only MIR Clarendon.
1 thought my horse was LOOSE heard
| a noise--''