Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-06-19
CHAPTER XIV.
A Little Surprise for Mr.. Barnes

into the house again, and rapidly as
| cending the. stairway to the second
floor, sees very faint CLEAN of light
shining under the doorway OF the great
guest chamber In the fruit OF the old
Corsican mansion.
He knocks almost reverently and a
! faint. sweet voice answers timidly:
| Come In"
| His heart lighted by hope and lsve.
his whole form trembling with anx-
| iety to take his bride within his arms.
the thought that she Is his and safe
making his flashing eyes very tender,
the eager bridegroom opens the door.
Reclining on a lounge in white
robe her head bashfully turned from
him, the long, beautiful. almost dis
/ heveled hair streaming over her shoul-
| ders. is his rescued bride.
/ She is in nook OF the big room well
| from the faint candle light
He passes an arm about her slender
waist and kisses her passionately. Her
| lips respond as sweetly and clingingly
as ever did those Of young bride.
But even in the midst OF the ,iss,
&rues starts back with a sharp.
mazed cry of almost horror: MY
God, Sally Blackwood!'
| And the lady turning to him so that
| the candle light shines upon her radi
ant features that are almost laughing,
| says archly Yes. I'm all here, La
/ Belle Blackwood. 1t Is little sur
prise, is 1t not, my ardent bridegroom.
/ Mr.. Barnes Of New York;"
| My heaven, how did you come
here?" Burtons 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!"
ITO save my life?" Buttons tone
Is incredulous.
Yes. | guessed from Cipriano that
| they were Turing you to Corsica for
your death. Icame here to warn you
And Mr. Rugglesg" remarks Barnes,
/ still astounded
/ "Oh, Ruggles quarreled with me:
/ got jealous Of you or Cipriano, don't
| know which. | was tired OF Dan.
| Then bizarre Cipriano, he is so funny
The said to me: Ma chere, you want
10 even yourself with Barnes OF New
! York; had told him you were such
gallant knight you wouldn't even
kiss an old sweetheart because you
We're going to be married to a pretty
faced, fair-haired. blue-eyed English
ingenue, and SO, at Cps suggestion,
came over to Corsica by Cipriano's
fast yacht yesterday"
"But where is Enid and by what
| devils chance did you take my brides
/ placer" asks Barnes.
"0h, the Corsicans-they wanted
you 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 you. So | was on the shore at
| Sagone waiting for them when Sail
| ceti arrived per schedule on the Sea-
/. gull. ! saw them from distance.
| They brought your bride off the yatch
| all right. Great Scott, she has fine
! nerve, that young lady Of yours.
| Naughty as a captured goddess"
BY the Eternal, have they killed
herr" Barnes is white to the lips.
"Oh, not yet anyway. Saliceti, with
| two friends. hurried her on long way
! ahead Of me through the mountains.
! Some dark-eyed gentleman escerting
| me gave you distant chance to see
| Us. You were never on the same road
as your wife after you left Vieo-you
were pursuing mel"
NY God."
1T was such an exciting affair."" she
| half laughs; something so out OF the
| ordinary, an adventure SO bizaree that
| liked to do IL Word was brought
| you were In pursuit up the mountain
path. knew they wanted to ambush
! you. So | told a shepherd to give you
| warming at the inn of Guagno. | hope
/ you got IL"
Where did they take my wife,
THAT | shall not tell you--at least,
| not without a bride Shall I have a
| farewell kiss for the information"
/ .Neverl'
@Oh, Burton. don't kill met she
gasps. for Barnes hand. in his agony
and rage, IL nearly on her white throat.
''Pish, you are not worth it,"
Uncompromisingly he tears himself
| from her and commands: TELL me
where ! will find her now; tell me so
| that ! can go back to her and dare to
kiss my wife's lips. knowing that | am
| trne to her. Think-think what you
once were when your father and moth
| err IN Ohio loved you and believed In
/ their little girl. By heaven, know
| there is good In you. Sally-only let it
come out. just this time. he entreats.
Just tell me where can find my dar-
ling, SO that can rescue her In time,
| for you know these are villains who
| have stolen her from me.
A being OF impulse. La Belle Black
| wood wrings her hands, her head