Year: 1879

Gertrude. Nothing had been heard of


Harold. though careful search had been


made for him. 1t was the universal


opinion that he had sought refuge in the


far West. Preparations were made at


Mr.. Moor's for Edwards reception, and


all went merry, as though nothing wrong
| had occurred; for, indeed, Gertrude's


parents felt grateful that Harold had


only gotten S340 instead of their affec-


tionate daughter, whose happiness would


have been wrecked had she become his


wife.


We have stated that it was the univer-


sal opinion that Harold had gone West;


but there was at least one exception.


Gertrude did not believe it. She could


not forget what he had written to her.


She was more than once about to tell her


parents, but the warning he had given


her prevented her doing so. On the


night preceding the day on which Ed


ward was expected to arrive, she retired


to her room at an early hour. Her mind


was filled with apprehensions of evil.


She spent several hours in meditation,


occasionally breathing a silent prayer to


God that all might be well with Edward


and that she might see him on the NOR


row. She never once thought of her


own safety. Why should sheP Harold


had made no threats against her, and


besides she was apparently beyond his


reach. The clock had tolled the hour of


twelve. Gertrude felt drowsy, but feared


to close her eyes in slumber lest she


should be awakened by some horrible


dream. At last, however, despite her


efforts, she fell asleep on the chair with


her head reclining on the stand. Some


time afterward she awoke very much


frightened. How long she had slept she


did not know. The candle had gone


out and the room was enveloped in dark


ness. She endeavored to recall the cause


of her fright; but, failing to do so, she


flung herself on the bed and was soon


wrapped in slumber again. But once


more she awoke. The room was dimly


lighted by the moon, which had just


risen. A rustling noise on the carpet at


tracted her attention, and, looking in the


direction of the window whence the


noise came, she saw a man stealthily ad-


vancing toward her. She sprang to her


feet and attempted to scream; but a


strong arm was placed around her waist


and hand over her mouth, and voice


which she knew whispered in her ear,


Attempt to escape or make a noise,


pretty bird, if you dare" Lifting her in
his arms, he glided out of the window


and hurried through the lot back of the


house to the alley where a carriage
awaited him, into which he conveyed


the terrified girl and gave orders to the
driver to make all possible speed, as day
light was fast approaching. Gertrude
hands of Harold Fulton. What fate
awaited her she could not tell; but she
prayed that God might give her strength
to endure whatever should come.


/, An hour had elapsed, and the carriage
, was rolling rapidly along the road, when


Gertrude, whose weeping had somewhat
subsidized, discovered that Harold was
asleep. No words had been spoken since
: starting except by the driver, who
E swore occasionally at the horses, but
for sometime he, too, had been silent.


Gertrude at once conceived the idea of
1, making her escape She listened a few
I minutes at Harold's heavy breathing,
= and being satisfied that he was asleep,
!. she arose softly and looked out of the
rear end of the carriage. She could
: easily and silently let herself to the
ground, she thought. She stood motion
a less, uncertain what to do. The driver
. cracked his whip over the horses, and
the carriage went rolling along at in
!. = creased speed. Her heart beat heavily
: and seemed to rise in her throat for she
6 feared she would be detected. She gave
. one step toward the seat; but no, she
o would risk detection rather than submit
q quietly to the doom that awaited her il
! she remained in Harold's power. she
E glanced at the driver to see that he was
! not observing her, and with prayer or
: her lips that her undertaking might be
!. successful, she slid noiselessly to the
1 ground. No one had seen her, and soor
y the noise of the receding carriage dice
= in the distance. Throwing herself or
- her knees, the young girl, who had beer


brought up by religious parents, thanked
q the God whom she had learned to trus
e from childhood for the success of hel
e undertaking thus far, and implored Hin
: to enable her to return safe home again
II Rising from her knees, she began at one,
! her Journeys; for, well she knew tina
), sooner or later her escape would b,
, u discovered, and an attempt made to re
!; capture her.


Is On, on she went, getting nearer anC
; nearer home. Day dawned, the sun
o rose in all its majestic splendor and cas-
Ie its refulgent rays over the earth
a town. Soon she expected to be safe a
IF home. But now the hopes that all alon
G. had filled her breast gave way to despair
" for, looking back, she observed a horse
W man approaching her at full speed. Sh
m thought it must be Harold. Determine


on last effort, she began to run; bu
re she was sure this could not last long
of He was fast gaining on her, and she wa
10 expecting soon to be'seized in his ruth
r less grasp, when a half dozen horseme
j. came galloping around curve in tn
j. road, and she fell fainting to the groun


as they dashed furiously past her.
nt lively race ensued, which resulted i
Nv Harold's capture. But there was on
a who did not engage in the pursuit.
er was Edward Rutherford, who had al
ne rived in town by the six o'clock trair
be and, learning soon after of Gertrude
I'll abduction, had engaged at once in tn
n search. He alighted and endeavored (
n, revive her' puI IallihS ia Ihts ne 700
n | her in his arms and dOQe back to tow