The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-09-29
CHAPTER Ky.
\ LITTLE SURPRISE FOR MR..
BARNES.

1cdh springs UP the steps INTO the
house again. and rapidly ascending the
stairway TO the second floor, sees a
very faint CLEAN of light shining under
the doorway of the great guest cham
her in the front of the old COrsican
mansion.
He knocks almost reverently, and a
faint sweet voice answers timidly:
"Come in"
His heart lighted by hope and love,
his whole form trembling with anxiety
20 take his bride within his arms, the
thought that she is his and safe max
ing his flashing eyes very tender, the
eager bridegroom opens the door.
Reclining on a lounge in white robe
whose fluctuations outline the exqui-
site figure, her head bashfully turned
from him. the long, beautiful, almost
dishevelled hair streaming over her
shining shoulders, is his rescued bride.
She is iii a nook of the big room we'll
from the faint candle light.
To her he steps reverentiy and whis-
pers: My poor darling; you are over
come with the terrible fatigues, miser-
les and anXieties of this wretched
day, that has now become a happy
evening"
Without waiting for an answer. the
love of his heart coming in him, he
passSs an arm about her slender waist
and kisses her passionately. Her lips
respond as sweetly and clingingly as
ever did those of a young bride
But even in the midst of the kiss,
Barnes starts back with a sharp,
amazed cry of almost horror: My
God, Sally Blackwood"
And the lady turning to him so that
the candle light shines upon her ra-
diant features that are almost laugh
ing, says archly: Yes, I'm all here.
La Belle Blackwood. 1t is a little sur
prise. is it not, my ardent bridegroom,
Mr.. Barnes of New York;"
My heaven, how did you come
here?" BurtOn's voice is hoarse with
amazement.
How? In Cipriano's swift yacht
and afterward on a Corsican pony"
And why?" An awful anxiety has
crept into his voice.
Why? To save your life!"
To save my life?" BurtOn's tone is
incredulous.
Yes. I guessed from Cipriano that
they were Turing you to Corsica for
your death. l came here to warn you
Besides, l said I'd have one kiss from
you, that farewell kiss you wouldn't
give me the other evening at the Hotel
de la Mediterranee. You should have
been kinder to me for old times sake.
Burton, and not quite forced me to
hate you OT-lOve you'll don't know
which"
And Mr. Ruggles?" remarked
Barnes, still astounded.
"Oh, Ruggles came up and quar-
relied with me; got jealous of you or
CIpriano, l don't know which. Besides,
] wanted to send him back to his wife.
I like TO do some good things, so
gave him his congo. l was tired of
Dan. Then bizarre Cipriano, he is so
1unny-he said to me: Ma chere Won
want to even yourself with Barnes of
New York; I had told him you were
such gallant knight you wouldn't
even kiss an old sweetheart because
you were going to be married to a
pretty-faced. fair-haired, blue-eyed
English ingenue, and so, at Cip's sug-
gestion, l came over to Corsica by CT
prlanOs fast yacht yesterday. He is
very rich, Clip is, I am told. That
doesn't make me think any the worse
of him"
But where is Enid and by what
devils chance did you take my brides
placer asks Barnes; then breaks out:
All, II is impOssible!" And mutters
almost tTemblingly: Her letter on the
yacht"
"Oh, the Corsicans-they wanted to
follow them. They expected that.
They didn't intend for you to get your
bride, at all events not until you had
given them several chances TO kill Won
~ i NetS pil tic SIlOIt at OdgO06 Walt
Ing for them when Saliceti arrived Der
schedule in the Seagull. 1 saw them
from distance. They brought your
bride OFF the yacht all right Great
Scott, she has a fine nerve, that young
lady of yours. Naughty as a captured
goddess"
BY the eternal. have they killed
her?' Barnes is white to the lips.
"Oh, not yet, anyway. Diable how
you must love her. 1t is the first time
I've seen you lose your sang-froid. and
now cOOl-headed Mr.. Barnes is trem-
bling.
"saliceti. with two friends, hurried
her on long way ahead of me through
the mountains. Some dark-eyed gen
ueman escOrting me gave you a dis
tant chance to see us. You were never
en the same road as your wife after
you left Vico-yOu were pursuing mel"
My God"
1T was such an exciting affair" she
half laughs: something so out of the
ordinary, an adventure so bizarre that
| liked to do it. Word was brought
you were in pursuit uD the mountain
path. 1 know they wanted to ambush
you. So I told a shepherd to give you
warning at the inn OF Guagno. 1 hope
you got il. 1 knew your divine pistol
shooting, and said TO myself, Ma fol,
with American luck and American
pluck he's sure TO have the best of II.
Then Burton will pursue. thinking me
his bride. and if his wife gets out of
the clutches Of the Corsican gentry,
for her to read how her husband of ten
minutes chased day and night and res
cued La Belle Blackwood in the Cor
sican mountains. Will be a pill not su-
gar-coated for the immaculate Enid
Divorces have been brought about by
less than this!' Ohio, swearing. IT'S
not polite in a lady's presence" She
gazes roguishly about the old-fash-
lOned, dimly lighted chamber. whose
faint candle flames seem to etherealize
her exquite yet piquant loneliness of
face and form that had made her the
rage among the men of Paris, the envy
Of its women.
Devil"
mo. not devil. Don't call me that,
she implores almost wildly. II am
Bnly La Belle Biackwood-as God
made me-and-men, too"
Where did they take my wife,"
That I shall not tell you-at least,
not without a bride. Shall I have a