Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-05

we all-my young mistress and her
handsome lover, Nh. Vaughan, Mr..
caves, and myself were all in the little
sitting-room below. The lovers sat
hand in hand, silent and happy.
''Thls is all very WELL" said Mr..
Vaughan, smiling al them himself,
/ perhaps to draw attention from the
tears in his eyes, for Miss Valerie was
his only child and the joy Of his heart
You are safe here, Honore, my boy
for a few days. But we must get you
out Of the country at the earliest mo-
ment. And our good friend Eaves has
already heard Of An American bark
whlcI4 sails from London in week S
time for New York. The master is not
without an eye to the main chance and
it will be easy to arrange for you to be
taken secretly aboard. And now tell
US how you escaped"
THAT would take toe long in the
telling tonight, do fear he said. with
ever so slight trace OF a foreign &C
cent. But you must know I did not
Kill the sentinel. 1t was my comrade
did that-and all in self-defense. We
| got easily to Plymouth, where he had
a friend and compatriot, and this kind
/ gentleman lent me this beautiful cos
tune. Why do you smile SO much
you, Miss Mary? 1t is unworthy of
! your great family to make fun of the
misfortunes of a poor gentleman. And
he made me shave my heard and mus
tachlos, and though he was very poor,
he lent me a guinea, and so have
made my way here-a distance, l do
think of a thousand miles"
! May, nay, sir; but zoe or So put in
Mr.. Eayes.
"Ah, my good friend Eaves, you
| have no imagination. But you have
the good heart, mon ami, and that is
! better. 1t was to your hCspitabie home
that [ made my way tonight; and here
/ [ am.
nd here, sir, with the squire's
leave, I will now leave you, it being
nigh on Y o'clock But you've done
a mawt of talking stree you come
back, and now I want to ak one ques-
ton. Did you find anyone spying on
! you as you cam into the village?'
mo, l do not think so. But, stop!
there was one man, do remember,
! looked very hard at me as I passed by
the church; but it was then so dark
[ could not see him we'll, so suppose
he also could not see me- WE'LL
| Mr.. Eaves grunted; but whether in
satisfaction or apprehension, it was
hard to say. But a sudden fear made
me lay band on his arm as he was 60
ing out.
Mr.. Eaves," 1 whispered, there is
some one don't trust
To my surprise, he was quick enough
to understand me.
'I'Il look after un, Miss Mary he
whispered in reply, giving my hand
cordial squeeze, which, I am afraid
am very much afraid returned.
The next few days were full of ex-
element. First, Miss Valrie vowed
that her lover should not go away
without her, and pleaded so earnestly
that her father, much against his will,
gave way; and so, three days after M
de Rosny's return, he and my young
mistress were man and wife-nOt in
a church of before q registrar, but in
the little sitting-~oom looking on to
the peach garden, with only Mr.. Maui
CHAN, MIR. Eaves and myself as wit
nesses. Miss Valerie, who, like her
mother, was a Roman Ca holic, had
conf1ded to her father confessor, who
married them, the whole of the great
secret; and we knew he would say no
word about it. Then came the news
that on the next Tuesday the bark
would be off Purfaet by about mid
night, and would pick W the runaway
couple there. Then the trem endous
business of packing the brides clothes,
which we're to be taken on in advance
by Mr.. Eaves to London, and shipped
abroad. Poor thing! it grieved me
that she had to leave so many things
behind, though Mr.. Eaves groaned
previously as he carried one heavy
trunk after another into the cart he
had brought to fetch them.
81 doubt they be more than poor
Fanny can draw" he said, with SYM
pathetic glance at his handsome
brown mare.
"Then you'll have to get out and
carry them yourself" I said sharply.
Take my advice, Mr.. Eaves, and
when you go on your honeymoon don't
grumble if your bride only takes few
parcels like those"
THAT l t, for sure, I promise
you, if you'll come along with me to
see.''
"Good-by, Mr.. Eayes," I said, and
shut the door on him, grinning.
When he returned on the Monday
the final preparations were made for
flight. The phaeton was to be ready
to start at the next evening, and Mr.
Vaughan and 1 were to go to see them
off, Mr.. Vaughan, OF course, driving.
The two hunters III his stable were
much the fastest horses he had, and
he would have driven them if they had
ever once been IN harness. However,
the two carriage horses were young
and sound of wind and limb, and there
was no fear of their bl eaking down be-
fore getting to our journeys end, some
80 miles away. We were to bait at
riverside inn, where q boat would be
in waiting to put US aboard as the good
ship dropped down the river.
I That same afternoon I Met Mr.. Pet
/ tifer in the village.
Strange doings at the hall, Miss
Mary" he said, land strange talk
among the folk there"