The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-04-23
CHAPTER XVIII.


Ella Wycherly was is her luxurious
chamber. 1t was her time of freedom
night She believed that all the house
hold were wrapped in slumber. A lamp
burned on her toilet table. Her long hair
was brushed and bound up for the night
She wore a long, loose white dressing
gown made of thin material.
The girl walked slowly up and down
the large room, her hands clasped before
her, her eyes cast on the ground. as II
they read a sad story in the richly pat
termed carpet. Her face was pale, but
her eyes shone like stars.
Il shall have to make up my mlnd at
last" she said slowly to herself, aloud.
Il must escape from this house 1 ought
not to give my heart to a teacher Oh IAN
guages. Have l heart? Sometimes
think the cruelty of those around me has
crushed it out of existence. Love! Why
should love anybody? How do / know
that there is any real love in the world :!
All l do not believe it. / am an heiress.
At least, even if they make the boy the
heir, l shall have enough to make the
fortune of a poor professor. No; unless
/ am assured of his love; besides, 1t Is
l am not-no; / am not! J"
Ella spoke to herself quite vehemently,
quite loudly. This proud, impetuous ma
ture hated to own a curb. 1t had been
frozen and hardened by unkindness, until
it had become in danger of losing its faith
In humanity.
Ella stamped her slippered foot upon
the carpet.
II will go away and make my own for
tune
Suddenly the door of her room bust
open Ella had locked it, and, knowing
this-for the key lay on her toilet table
she uttered a cry of fear. She expected
to see ruffian enter. She thought OF
her jewel case, in which were rubies, anne
thysts and emeralds, though the Wycherly
diamonds were always in the possession OF
her mother. But it was no rufian who
entered Elias chamber. 1t was Mrs
Wycherly, pale, with compressed lips.
The lady wore dark travelling suit OF
cotton material-for the weather was
warm-a snail, dark bonnet. She was
gioved and booted, and equipped for q
journey.
Mamma Oh how ys1 lrishtsDed me-
lad L,eSs3 TIE 'isspr
Il have a key which opens all the dDor7
In the house. Why do yov scream? 1t is
III Msd - srusn. % Bst ti&Ei yUo
'' ana as1 ,sa. me s s IN ,'a' life
BE silent now, and dress yourself as
quickly as possible in that braided holland
costume that was made for you to go
dowE to the shore last year. 1t is in that
wardrobe. You have the keys. Lace
up your boots. Miss Worthington will
come in presently and pack your things
into that leather trunk. Marsh and
Peterson will accompany u.s."
Where are we going, mammal"
ASK no questions. The time has
come for prompt obedience. No; leave
your jewels. You have done with them"
"Mamma@"
pray don't talk; every moment is of
value. We must be far from here before
daylight"
Mrs. Wycherly did not lock at he
daughter. Her eyes were fixed on the
gold and white of the wall opposite. Ella
stood before her mother beseechingly.
Mamma, are you going to take me to
ItaIy--to that house of bondage?" :
"To that house, where your days will
be devoted to Heaven, not TO the world.
You are to wear sackcloth-to walk bare
foot--to expiate in your fresh young life
that which has gone before"
Mamma, know more than you think
1 do
Ella drew herself up.
II refuse to expiate by my sufferings
the crime of another. 1t cannot be done
it is monstrous! ANY priest of my
creed would tell you so. Besides, a sac
Rice should be voluntary, or it loses all
sts value. / am young, and love the
pleasures Of life. l hate dullness, monot.
ony, repression, You and Miss Worth
ington have made me hate it and now
am to enter az unheard-of sisterhood
with a number OF fanatic and ignorant
women-dissenters from every known
creed under the sum am to acknowl.
edge Miss Worthington as my supreme
will not.''
''Then chains and the lash must force
obedience" said Mrs. Wycherly, with that
cold severity which appalled, most persons
II planned this life for yo1 when you
hy in the cradle; and, since no clergy.
man of any creed would sanction my re.
solve. have founded creed of my own
Mamma, are you madY
'No," the lady answered, with Greary
smile: though what I have endured
might easily have driven me so. But
now hurry; dress yourself. Miss Worth
ington will pack. Here she comes"
And Miss Worthington entered Elias
room, dressed in the same fashion as Mrs
.Wycherly.
For a moment Ella hesitated. During
the .ast six months she had made up her
mind firmly never to enter the terrible
prison house prepared for her by her
mother She had made many appeals tc
this implacable parent. She lad spoken
to her father; but the wooden colone
had always laughed off her entreaties.
MY dear, you are a girl; had you beer
boy, / would have had the rule Over
you; but, being a girl, you must obey
your mother"
Colonel Wycherly had always seemed
the coolest, the most stupid Of men, New
er, in all Elias childhood, could she rec
ollect his once taking her on his knee Oh
earessing her.
The girl had really made up her mind
to flee long before the time which her
mother had warned would be that chosen
for taking her to Italy; but now they
had come to her in stror force, in the
dead of night, and they ,Dmmsn ded her
to pack and dress and company them on
this dread journay.
Should she scream and shout, and
rouse the house, appeal to Lionel Leigh
and DIR. Dundas, and throw herself upon
their protection? No, pride forbade.
Il will dress and pack" said Ella to
herself: land then, during the journey