Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-11-27

|
Kenneth grasped his fathers hand
with grateful gratitude and made an
swer:
Il had calculated upon your assist
ance, dear father, and render my sim
cere thanks"
How soon do you intend to conduct
her here" inquired his mother, curios-
ity shown on her face. "And where is
she now?'
"As soon ms I can. mother. You ke-
member the old house In the forest, not
for from the mill? Well, 1t belongs to
| Count Bozell, and Julia and her mistress
are held captive there
May heaven help them" murmured
Mrs. Lathrop. "Poor girls. What do
you intend to do"
II will save them. Marsden, the
wealthy banker of Baston, wishes his
step daughter to marry Count Bozell.
She does not desire to do so; and it Is for
this reason she was brought thereto
force her into a marriage with Bozell
against her will But time is up, must
return at once in order to bring them
here. In the morning father wall accom-
| pany us to the station, and, while | keep
guard over Julia and Beatrice, he will
| purchase tickets. l know person in
London Syho will keep the young lady
until Juhi5 and I are married, and, when
she is once with us, there will be no ne
cessity of conccaling her whereabouts
But, | dare say, dear mother, you will
not get much sleep tonight" he added,
and bidding them farewell, he mounted
his horse and rode quickly away
Beatrice gazed upon her surroundings
in great bewilderment. The scene in the
forest came to her mind like the reco-
lection of n bad dream, from which she
had been rudely awakened. The faith
full Julia came to her assistance again
and clasping Beatrice's hand caressed it
fondly.
where are we, Julia? What has
| happened2 My thoughts chase each 9th
err SO wildly that / cannot control them.
Have l been sickT'
mo, dear lady, you have only yielded
| to a temporary weakness You must col
lect yourself and bring into action all
| your will power, for what has happened
requires your courage for the future"
"Oh. yes: l have an idea: but tell me,
dear Julia, in whose house arc weY'
1T belongs to Count Bozel. Hs is
not here now, but we may expect him
soon"
Count Rozell" she repeated scorn-
| fully. Il will not remain here one min
ute. How could you permit me to be
brought here?"
Then suddenly she remembered the
interrupted journey, the masked men who
stopped the carriage. and she began to
think.
MY resistance was in vain--there
were too many of them. Yes, | can now
comprehend everything never in
tended that we should arrive at the
Stratmore's, and for this reason secured
this carriage, which | now believe be-
longs to Count Bozell. / could have sur
missed it, but the thought never came to
me of attributing such actions to my
stcp-father in conjunction with the count
for he and Marsden it was who plan
ned this business, in order to force me
| to consent to their wishes. | can plainly
see the brink into which they have
brought me, and / cannot even apprise
! Victor of my situation"
DO not become discouraged, dear lady.
Kenneth will help us; he is near at
hand"
Then Julia recollected the slip of pa
per, She did not wish to mention Ken
neths part in the hold-up, and read the
| letter slowly:
BE ready at midnight. will rescue
! you. Count Bozell will remain at Easton
until tomorrow
That was all, but 1t was enough to in
spire them with hope.
Everything now depends upon your
presence of mind and discretion. Please
! do not forget it, dear lady" said Julia.
This time l shall ne more brave"
"And we must not speak one word
| aloud; but silently follow Kenneth. Only
think how much depends on your COM
posure But listen! Was not that low
whistle? Yes; that is Kenneth. He was
| to notify us of his proximity half an hour
before midnight. How slowly time passes
1 when one stops to count the minutes.
| Only imagine. dear lady how the count
will storm and rage when he finds his
| plans have miScarriedn' and Julia, laugh
| ing, began in imagination, to initiate the
counts actions.
do not triumph too early; we are not
! free yet, and who can tell If we ever will
be?"
Il trust my Kenneth; and you can
contide in him also, for | know he will
keep his promise"
But her confidence might have been Sc
verey shaken, If she could have looked
| into n room in the basement, where Ken
meth kept up Il conversation with the
/ hlack-eyed French maid. He had taken
off his mask and his attractive features,
with their faithful. honest eyes, had i'm
pressed her deeply. She had ordered the
other servants to retire and invited Ken
meth to sup with her and brought forth
some lemonade which had evidently been
| intended for the new guests.
/ Kenneth raised his glass from the
table, and then suddenly inclined his
head and gave the girl to understand
that evidently some one was ut the door
or stirring in the house. At her depart
ure from he room he quickly emptied the
contents of small vial into the glass,