The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-05-07
CHAPTER XXI.

Ella was gone. Chance favored her
for. notwithstanding the diligent search
which was made by Miss Worthington
and the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the
inquiries which were made. and the re-
wards which were offered-no trace of
the young lady could be found.
kilograms describing her flashed from
one end of the kingdom to the other; but
Ella had-so it appeared-as effectually
eluded the power of her mother as If she
had jumped into the river, which ran
deep close to Eversholt.
After a few days weary search, Mrs.
Wycherly returned, looking CHASTITY i'll, to
Wychely Hall.
Lionel Leigh had suffered all the tor
lures of lover when separated from his
beloved The sudden departure in the
night of Mrs. Wycherly, Miss Worthing-
ton and Ella could only admit of one in
terpretation-they had taken her TO the
cruel prison house of which Mrs. Wych-
erly was the foundress.
He did not miss them at first-that is
to say. that, when they did no. appear at
breakfast, he merely imagined that they
had breakfasted in their rooms: but as
in the world had become of his aunt and
cousin? Lionel understood the magnitude
of the event.
Then came whisperings among the SER
wants. and soon the truth became palpable
Ella had been removed by what almost
amounted TO violence; and would he ever
see her again?
Knowing her hatred and adherence OF
the life destined for her, he felt convinc-
ed that she would hail with delight any
means of escape. But he remembered,
with pang, that the capricious Ella had
not even told him the name Of the village
near which the house founded by Mrs
Wycherly was situated; nor the name of
the chief town of the district.
To seek her out and rescue her-even
at the risk of his life-was his impas-
stoned yet deliberate intention. He only
fingered on at Wycherly thai he might
gather scraps of information from words
dropped her and there.
Presently came the news-chiefy
through Marsh, the coachman, writing TO
his friends in the house-that Miss Wych-
erly had run away, and that, having set
detectives to seek her out, the missis was
coming home.
Lionel's blood ran cold when he heard
this news. He was sitting under large
cedar in a retired part of the lawn, APP
pearing to read. but, in reality, feeling
despairihg and wild. lie had heard these
rumors in the morning.
The idea of Ella wandering about, ex-
posed to insult, or, perhaps, dead-who
n -
be driven by this last cruelty on the part
OF her appalled, and nearly mad
dened him. He was ready to go to the
end of the world to meet her; but he
might be walking from her instead of to-
ward her.
While Lionel unused thus he saw a tall,
broad figure approaching him, taking long
strides. In a couple more minutes or so,
DIR. Dundas stood before him.
Lionel Leigh" said the Scotchman, 81
wish you to tell me where Ella Wycherly
is now"
Looking up into the piercing gray eyes,
Lionel saw that they were watching him
closely.
Il, DIR. Dundas? l would give my life
to know"
with his grim smile, because think you
might make more use of it. ] know you
are over head and ears in love with her,
and she with you; so l supposed she
might have let you know where she has
hidden herself"
"Dr. Dundas, she has no .ove for me );
only kind of liking for poor tutor"
Bah! / know all about that. The
girl is a coquette; but she has heart
warm, deep one. / have watched her
from a child. She loves you. Wait;
she will write to you-I am positive of
it. Give her little time; then tell me,
will you?"
what and betray her, DIR. Dundas?'
DIR. Dundas sat down on the grass by
the side of Lionel Leigh.
MY dear fellow" he said, lit is time
you and / understood one another. / am
your friend | am on your side. / do
not even think Ella Wycherly-little
witch as she is-at all too good for you.
You have my leave to marry her as soon
as you like 1t was to further that end
that / brought you into this house,
Lionel looked in amazement at the
burly Scotchman.
ITO be continued.)