Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-07-15
CHAPTER XIX,

And there he remained, with eyes down.
east, for three or four minutes after his
companion had bctakcn himself to his
foom-rcmained in deep reverie, his brow
furrowed with care.
Presently q word or two escaped him.
"Dick Is on my mind!' he muttered.
"Dick will give us trouble. Filton 10 raen
very rash. have lost confidence IN
him, and he has lost confidence IN MN.
self. And he IL a bad mana very paa
man! lie is mcditating an evil deed
noww
Then the soiilouuizcr heaved a sigh--a
weary, heavy sigh, as II his schemes for
wealth had hardly brought him much to
care for. He moved two PAGES forward,
then came to n standstill again. hesitntins
o. a person who had not yet fully made
up his mind about some pcrplexing thing
which he had decided on.
"No one would ever guess the truth
he muttcrcd again. ut was all clcverly
managed: and years have rolled between.
Lane would hold his tongue for his own
sake. Why should be SO disturbed? All.
X that letter was safe In my keeping, or II
I could satisfy myself that the fire had
consumed 1t. I would defy the world"
He raised his head at this juncturc, and
Mabel. to whom hope had come back--for
the probability was that. ms his face was
turned away from her hiding place. he
would not detect hcr--saw with renewed
torture that he made another stand by the
hall table.
'He had better have consented to leave
Mabel where she isl he went on. In low
tone. Here she II safe-cvcrybody thinks
her insane; why cannot he let well aloncY =
He clappcd his hand upon his brow, rs II
distracted with miserable surmiscs, then
In low-brcnthcd words once more gave
vent to his many fears.
"With Mabel disposed Of In some OBJ
scure German village and Dick In South
America. he thinks he will be secure.
Madman-he will risk too much, and he
will not listen to reason! Will Caroline
be silenccd? Will not even Meta and
Miss Gray begin to ask where Mabel is,
and why Dick does not come back? And
he will come back-at last!
Another weary sigh. telling of deep un.
rest within: aud then he moved slowly
with heavy step from the hall. and Mabel
hardly trusting yet that he would not
come back. heard him ascend the stairs,
and door open and close again.
She Ind escaped such terrible dangers
such awful peril. that she said to herself
success must reward her now. Still she
knew we'll enough that the least want OF
nerve. the slightest noise, might bctray
her; her hands were trembling so that she
might easily lot full a bar or OvcrshOot a
bolt In her efforts to. unfastcn the house
door.
Two or three nights before she had TAX.
akA
Q small piece OF candle. but she did not
dare to strike match while her uncle
at least was awake In a room over tho
porch; yet. II she delayed, Jane might
awake. discover that she had left the
room. and rouse the inmates of the cot.
tage. II 80. discovery was certain.
In this agonixing dilemma she felt softly
for the lock Of tho door. Was the key In
III Yes--heaven be- praised! The heavy
handle Of the huge key touched her I'm.
gers. Oh. for glenn Of light to enable
her to take down the long bar which was
one Of the fnstenings! But she was In
perfect darkness. with her heart beating
almost to suffocation and her limbs shak.
ing.
Two solemn strokes doomed out upon
the night air. Two o'clock! Dared she
hesitate any longer? How many minutes
had she remained there In deadly peril?
She was about to strike a match, and a,
all hazards make dash for freedom
when she heard door open above and a
footstcp-a mans f0otstcp--dcsccnd the
stairs. Yes. ycs--the footsteps were those
Of the man who called himself her father!
All was lost then! She was not TO en-.
cape! All. he was returning to the hall,
Farewell hope 10 sweet and fleeing! She
could not dream OF escaping detection thi.
time.
With the blind instinct Of despair, she
erOpcd her way back to her shelter, and
then consciousness left her as she crouch,
ed against the wall.
When Mabel rcopened her eyes, the
morning light was creeping into the hal
from window above. Daylight--and sh,
was still where she had tainted. nor wa.
the household yet astir!
Slowly recollection returned to her, and
she realized how she had come there, and
how II was that day was breaking and
that she was In the hall instead OF In he,
own chamber. Staggering to her feet. she
listened for an instant, her senses sharp
ened by kecncst terror. One thing was
clear notwithstanding oil her bcwilder
mcnt. On the next few moments huns
her lifc's happiness! Dick had In som,
manner been sent away from her to ssdis
tant land-she herself was to be taken fal
from England In few short hours.
In the dim light she unbarred and un
bolted the heavy door aud turned the key
There--it was 0pen--the cruel Obstacl,
which had stood between herself and free
dom; and Mabel tO;tered out into the chill
air Of the November dawn. The lighl
was very dim-undcr the trees II was yel
quite dark and the aflrighted girl fed tc
the friendly shelter.
She had almost gained It when a hand
was laid upon her shoulder and man In
rough country garb stood before hcr. Sh,
did not recognize him ut first, SO perfect
was his disguise; but when he said, in agi
tated tones, my darling-is It you In
decd? ] bave watched for you all night =
she tainted second time, but he caugh,
her In his arms.
1t was Neville who carried her to Il,
which all this time had been either driver
slowly up and down the grassy lane OIL
was drawn up by the roadside, awaiting
what the driver believed to be q runaway
couple, for Neville had feed him heavily
while impressing him with this belief.
When Mabel Enclosed her eyes once
more she became aware of the joyful fact
that the vehicle in which she was seated
was travelling swiftly and that Neville
was beside her.
On, Neville. am indeed free? Where
are we going!' she asked, Historically.
10 my sister. Try to calm yourself
dcarest-ho one shall tear you from me
we are going to the village of Ulby. abou
ten miles on the road to London. There
my sisters carriage will meet us-it Il
safer than a journey by train"
"Ah, Neville, You have saved me-" sh,