A NAŔOW ESCAPE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 187, 18 June 1864, Page 3

A NAŔOW ESCAPE.

(Ki-om " Once a Week.") | I r-ii(iLi> never hiiw thought of my amiable friend, | Mis. Denise-n, as tin- heroine of Mieii ;i talc :is she j related to lsi. -one evening in the iiiitin:m:il twilight. Yet she. a timid. M-i:tiiii«-7itiil old lady, had really j been placed in a portion »i extraordinary trial. :.n.l j }i:nl .i.mi- lit.l.iy cut ol it. And .-lie l«>ld the ailv, n- I tinv with an utter uin:»'ii.-i-i« of anything heroic [ in her conduct whii-li added a .-traiigc charm to her recital. •■ When I was about M-vc-iite.-n or eighteen," (she said -my lather took me for change of air. alter a slight illness, to the -ca-side. I \v;is ion,antic : moreover, I hi.d 1.. en ir.otlurless iii.m my infancy, and my dreamy fancies had received no check from Die .hill routine 01 my school life, nor from my association with girls as filly a- my.-cif. Shortly alt-, r our arrival at the watering place. I was .-truck liy the appearance of tlnec people, who were oit'-n to he seen together of .in cvi'iiiiiir on tho Minds, (me was a very liandso me woman of about forty-live : the others 'appear, d to he her .-on and daughter. '1 lie sou was one of the most int, re.-ting peisoii.- 1 evi r saw. 'He daughter, wlio was ahout my own air.', wasveiv pretty. The mother was ii cripple. See was drawn'iuarly 'every day to the same spot on the sand.-, ar.d sat there wat.hing the setting sun. wliile lier cliildren occupied tli. i.iselves with gatherim; :-hei!s. Occar-ionully we met the brother and sister riding, inul my father declared that lie liad never seen so good a horsewoman as the young luily. One evening us I wns sitting on a low hlack rock or Mone, near her cliair, the elder lady spoke to me with a civil apoio»v for troubling n stranger. Shu asked me if J eouki clistinsuish whether her son and .laughter were on the beach. Her sight was too Imd'lbr her to see herself. I looked, and replied in the negative. Shu seemed anxiousiind uneasy, and kept turning her eyes in the direction from whence she appeared to expect them. 1 asked if she required anvthhig. She thanked me, but replied that she wa"nted nothing : only she was anxious for her daughter's appearance: she feared accidents when they were late from home. " I should think you could have no cause for fear, I said, '• vour daughter rides so well." She assented with a siii 11. '■ 1 daresay," she added, "I am foolishly nervous, but my Hie'is a trying and monotonous one, anil allords time for idle fears." t was turrv for her: it was very sad to be helpless and cripplcd"at her age. and with lier apparent health, so we gradually fell into conversation. -Mrs. Jlelonljni._l remember what a charming name 1 thought , —was not verv ladv-like, still she wns not vulgar. 1 j could see j.he\va, liot a h.-ldv-bred person ; never- . theless she was interesting and clever, and had a very lancinating wav of her own. After a time, the son and daughter returned ; they thanked me foriny kind intention to their mother, and were so pleasant and agreeable, that I was enchanted with them. "When I returned home I teased my fat lier to call on the lVl.iiiiiii.-s ile demurred at lirst ;we knew nothing of Ihe.-e people, he. said : it was not wise to pick up acquaintances as one would .-hells ; but 1 was. ui-'cnt. anil he seldom refused a reuue*! made b\ his motherle.-s girl. lie made a few inquiries ; ascertained that -Airs and her children lived a I ouiet, secluded, blameless life, in a lonely cottage on I the outskirts of the town ; a place which the librarian told me had had the reputation of being- haunted, and I was let at a low rent; that they paid their bills ; and ! wen: apparently lespoctablc, good people. Uhoii !><: i consented to call"m them. ! We approrched the I Moraines" dwelling; through »u orchard and pirn: grove, so dwnal a.id gloomy in its appearance, that I did not wonder at its ghostlv repute. The cottar itself was an old house, built partly of wood, partly of brick. A very ill-100k,..* man "servant opened the door, and ushered us into the drawin K -voom, where we found 31 r. Deiorame and her daughtvT. , . . ~ i The former was lying; on a sola, placed against the i f,>ldin--do..rs. She" could not ri.e to reee.ve us, hut j .-he greeted my father and me very warmly, and ! seemed delighted to make our acquaintance, lie i thought her manner theatrical and studied; but she : managed, nevertheless, to please him, and the aeqimin- ■ tance thus commenced progressed into intimacy. ! We rode frequently together, accompanied i-v my 1 father and William J>eloraine. lam quite sure that dear father never dreamed of anything like love bc- ' tween William and me; he still thought me a mere ! child- lie was too much occupied by his own a.lairs i to observe my gradual advance towards woman- ! ''"itt I was fjm.lui.llv becoming attached to William I Deloraine. lie was just the .sort of man to please an iniagimaive young lady like my.-elf. Moreover, he coiu-tantlv betrayed his love tor inysell, and a.-, coni stantlv recalled tile manifestation (it I may ,i.y so| by a Sudden and distant coldness ol manner, wmcli pinned and leased me. 1 j;, lt 1 ..in not telling a love tale, and therefore w,l, not lin-'cr over those tantali.Mllg but bewitching days On one ol them the de.-ired declaralion came William Deloraine, in approved poetic phrase, assuim me that he adored me. 1. referred him, »*.■, u my lather. To my surprise he '-.tided; to dni that an unhappy my,t.,iy clouded h.= hie ,-a. .it.i secret which he eoulil not as yet reveal to me . and h. implored me to conceal our attachment Iron, in; lather. Now, though 1 was very silly and romantic - and William gained an additional hold on my ianey by bavin- a mysterv attached to him, J was to. honorable 0 a girl to' enter into an e.iigagomen ' without my kindest fathers sanction, and 1 sai. SO lit unco. Uo was bitterly disappointed, lor h hoped 1 should have consented to an elopement or a secret ...arM-; and J μ-rew ;l , lu - r y :.t the suppoiitioll.

AW had a quarrel, but wade it up afterwards, of course; hihl L promised to keep (lie secret of his immul from my father, though i would promise nolhing more. He declared also that he shoul.l keep his secret from his family ; hull guessed that Inhad (old Kale, us she looked vexed and disappointed when ] next saw her. Nevertheless our ride wen! on us usual. One day when we w.MV all out 1 her. Kilt.' and p:ip:i behind, William and 1 in a l.ancc. my lover suddenly drew up his horse sprang to the ground, stooped, and then holdin" up a puckcf-booli, cried " Look here, .Miss Morton." 1 did louk in eon-sidcnihli-iiinazcinent. as I had distinctly sri-n him draw the pocket hook from his bosom, put it on the ground, mid then lake it up again. .My lilt her riding up, asked what was tin' matter. William exhibited the pocket book, sayinir In- had just. picked it up .My lather advised li'ini "to open it. iind see if the name of this owner was inside. He complied, and they examined it together. There was no iiiime. '1 he book contained a roll of bank-notes, anil William observing that they must advertise it. put it in his pocket. You will wolvdcr that all Ibis time I continued silent. Hut remember how v.iiins 1 was, and bow shv. Besides 1 had not the slightest idea what it could all mean, that there was ii mystery —a secret -which Deloraine wished to vail under tb.-appaienl /ntm-nit//; 1 believed, and since he had not i-iu-iulrd to lake me into his confidence 1 fancied it would be dishonourable to betray him. For his part, lie had not noticed my silence, but remounting began to chat gaily on iudill'ereut subjects, and was even more than usually fascinating and attractive. A few days afterwards an advertisement appeared in the local'papers stating thai a gentleman bail found ii pocket-book on 11- - Hill, containing bank-notes, and that they would he restored to tin- owner on application, provided he could describe the contents of the book, and tell the numbers of the notes. This advertisement appeared dad v during the remainder of our stay at the sca-sid--. -My father iviii:irk.-.l that j Ileloraine's hoiie.-ly put him to a great expense, and | thai it was singular no one claimed the pocket-botn. : then we look no further lu-liee ofthe matter, though 1 seerellv wondered what it could mean. Uixv "more before we left our sea-side home, 1 ><- loraine urged me to become hU w il'e secretly. He was Mire, lie said, that my father would l'..r':,n" me] when once we were m.-m-il-d : a.-id 1 «!-.> should have been Mire of I hat ; indeed, 1 believed he would nol have refuse,! his assent at all, even ihoiigh IVloraine was (as he avoweui poor; for I war- :i rich heiivs.-. as vou know. However, my l.ucr was. as stran.'elv timid a.- 1 was c.iiiident 'in my be!,>vcd ; father's' goodnes>: n:>d would hav- me keep his j si-crel and wait. Thus we patted vtil'iosii :iii) en- j gagena-s.l ha\iug been made bet ween us. ' 1 found my home in the Welsh valleys dismal enuu-h whcu'l returned toil. I luis-ed ihe animation of the bill him: place ; the society of Iwini Kale: ] llie sentimental devotion of her brother. Wii!i..:il j excitement, without employment. 1 grew weary oi my dull existence, and called iiiv i.-nini disappointed love-. After all. lnv dci.r, if Ihe biisV y oiui- ladies of llii.part of the cent urv don't d > much real L'ood to oilier.- I thev do ...uicllim- for themselves in keepin- I 1.e.minds employed. It is astonishing how mini. !o..lish love imaginations are thus kept in cheek. As lor Inc. I I .<av.- »iiv lo thetanou- nurd* .'.ml themost proM- ■ les-dav dreaming. I casl from me l-ol - •_',■■-ii u'M of time .-ll.luiiy. 'rcckicsriy- n:\ sole • >ceiip::l i..., i.. j that i-f writing lorn; idlers to Kale, wiiii-h .-he rart :;. I answereti. Hut 'ne canu- t 1-e idle and di.-eoulenl. d ! with impunitv. i wasiiaturallvdeiirate.ai.d 1 hciri■: 1,, V :n tur m'v van, imaniuinsls ihe lax of io,, ,! ! health and :;..<»! i....k<. .M \ poor falhcr »a-; aiaru ~1 j lor inc. lie called in a ph\ sician. ana as ,;„■ .-,,. i...- j .iu.il.-,. .u.-iy i.ani-hed me. a'.i -en! ;.. ihmouths. It was Mar, h, close lotlie as-i/e i.i;.,-) j when we auain lo,k po-.-c.-r -it.u of ourl.-rmor !,„;..; ■-,--. j but much had happened .luring that perioo |.. | •' -lariV" the i.lacc •■ li-'-i.i it* J rojuiei \."' Jlv u-.-.r.A came to inidivs.- m.- l!,-ri_l,l of our arrival. ~ii.l. eauer to communicate her news. "Uh. niaani," she era d. "you remember Mi<s IVliirailic -."it ii.-ed Io ride will'i when we wercla.-l here, and her brother:'" •• Of coiir.-.-," I replied, with a bailing hcnrl. •• AVl,at of them r" " Well, ma'am, they say that M,-. William is taken up tor forgery, and will be hansied." I nearly tainted ; but n.y pride upheld me in my servant's presence. - XVhal nonsen.-e , ." ] >aid-. " how can yon repeat such idle .-caudal r" •' Well, 1 don't iiclicvc il, of course: but Ihe poor gciillcmaii is in I lie prison of A on llie charge. ■J'hev siiv that no ind of forged notes have been passed lure, and all i.avcb.en I raced back to -Mr. Deh.raine, his servant, or the ladies." I wss horror-struck. 1 did not believe it ; si ill I doubted. 1 bad not heard from Kale for a long time, and assuredly ll.ere must I c some ground of su-pieion Io cause William's detention ill prison, if he were reallv there. When I saw my fi.lb.r ncM morning, i told him lale. lie was astonished, and declared he would ascertain it.- truth bv riding over Io A after breakfast. " How long, bow miserable the hours I ill he returned. Hut lie came with a bright face ; bis heart relieved from a load of kind anxiety. "It is quite true I hat the poor lad is in prison," be saiil, in rcplv to mv caizer inquiries; "but by a mere accident. " Vou ■remember his lindlni; a pocketbook I- Well, he was so inipi-lldelit—being pivs-etl fur money, he sa\s— as to use some of those notes, intending to keep the numbers, and relu.m tinamouiil he spent, if they were ever claimed ; hut they proved to he forged ; and he is taken up for pa-sing them. He had acluallv directed his lawycrlo appeal to us as witnesses of the manner in which he bad obtained llieni, and the letter is gone Io .Ilrvn (Jelled." My heat ceased beating for tin- moment as I n--membcicdhow I had seen IMoraim- take the book from his own bosom: bull was quite sil,:ut. i'.ctween lu.rror and 1,-ar 1 could nut speak. .My fat her continued : " j have ]inmii.-c(l, ofcoui-se, to appear for him; and probably ijim may he called on—" "(lit: don't let them call me '. 1 can't—l e:;n't," said I, in an a-ony. "■\\Vll, ufo.iir..r, it is unpleasant for a y..unladv to appear in a curt, of ju.-li.v, and if 1 can pn'veiit il you j-h.-iil not ; hut we inii.-t not let ]u.>plietics peril a feilow-eieaturc's life." I mad,; no reply. I would not for worlds b:.ve ileiirivi'd JJeloiain'e of my lather's testimony i;i his j favour. And bow can he give it if 1 spok- r Forgery ; was then ]iuiii.-hed with death, (.'mild 1 voluntarily ' eonilenui, by my own words, the man whom I loved, 'to fhu gallows' ■ I was wretched ; distract, il b\ j doubt, tc::r, and horror, when my heart was wixn- ! l, v reeeivinu'a lclt-r from William (lorwar.je.l |.y inI gaol cbal.la'in), in which be thank,,! me lor my kinci j leiiicnihiaiice of him, and said how it phased him, i amidst all his trouble, Io think that il was ,„,, testimony that would acquit him, for 1 bad seen him liud the "fatal pocket-book. Imagine, if you can, my distress. 1 daru not write- and tell him that i /•/-"■ be did not lind it, lest my li.-Ui.-r should be read before it was given to him. i could only he silent on the subject, and nine my father to keep me Irom the i public court, and pi event my being subponaed as a I witness. Alas! il was in vain : She paused—moved by the old sad memory. " What, did you do : '" we. asked.

The. trial came on (she continued). It was dis- ; tinetly proved that the JJeluraine family and their) servant bad passed false notes, and that, William had purchased a diamond ornament of iijewlleriu London, and paid for il with a forgyil not,;. This tradesman was the chief witness against him. For i.i.deleneo JX-loraine declared, as he bad lold my lather, that Ins had found the. notes, and had nioivly U,i- i rowed their present use. -My lather was called to | testify to the fact, and to state what he thought of j ];eloraim:'.s character. Tin; latter statement'was ol course favourable, but ,-n cross-examination it was proved tl.al my lather had not actually seen William pick up t;»- book, and to my horror and despair i was put into tin: witness-box. J can never forget il! At this moment 1 can sic Deloraine's eager look at in..—his. look of love, and trust, and hope. A word from me would !<iv..- him lite !—a word eonsi-n him tu tin! gallows: It Wiis an uwliil U-mptaiiun. ... Jjut I dan-not fail in truth; I could not — no, thank liod ! 1 wasimt perjured. 1 tried to hold ! the truth back : at least, I answered reluctantly; but I my cross-examination was severe, and wlu-ii the I counsel for the prosecution asked mi.-—" Did you ac- i ! tually see William iJeloiaim: lind lhu book ':" 1 almost .shrieked my fatal " Xo !" " Hid vou see him take it from his own person r" i There-" was .1 pause. [ gasped out—" I did!" I And then i heard a wild piercing cry from the prisoner. J l-cniL-mbi.T no more, !,u- J tainted, and was j 1 ,■allied out of court, lleloraine was condemned Io 'death. Jie confessed his crime, my father told me : i mid showed lmicli earnestness, in acquitting his !

inotliur and Kate of all share in it. They were consequently sot at liberty, lor they, also", had been under roslraint. Hut I. Wi(! . miserable. 1 felt like a piurdoress, anil besought my father, ns liu ever Ivw-a to sec mo. happy !i;;-iiii, to procure a commutation oi ll'cpnnI teneo. Wu h:i.l i...w,.ir.a ; and Mr. Morton ■ used sueii L.x.-1-ti..ns, tliat. diiheult ;i.- 1..e task was at tJi.-it tjin.... In. :i,-tii.-v..iL if, and 11,.-sentence of l>eloraiuc wa» changed int.. traii-=p.,i t.ni.m i\n- life. All this dreadful anxiety iaii<;i.si it my previous indis- | position, .mil it became impossible I'm- me to 1.-iim. ' j homo, as my father wished, wh.-u the Iri-il and his, subs, .[ii.-nl .Doits were over. S.i we remained by , tlv..- sea-side. One day 1. received a letter from Kate i 1 Moraine: it wan full of griitiltidu for my father's | goodness in saving her brui her from tin.'last rigor "I lite, law ; and ol regrets tmu- hi.-i blighted life and their own ruined prospects. *he did not, bl.-nn.. nit for Hi... p : ,,t I had had in his conviction, she ~iti...l i me for it, and .said poor William admired my nn- j lill.llian truthfulness. " And now, dear .lane," she concluded, " I am going to urge one last ruipi.-.-si. We an: about to leave Kn-;,.,,,,! |~r , VlTi to hide our shame andsor-! row in j, Mrang-e land. We iro t.o-momiw. Will! you come to tliii old collage (to whieh mamma and 1 j have returned) and bid me a last farewell, and hear a j message poor William lell, which will explain and ' extenuate, in a d. -rec, his sail laiilt :" i This 1.-tt.-r t.mc'ned me deeply.' I greatly desired to set.. Kati! once mum, to a-siiie her iiow "enieily I had fell the dreadlul duty ea-t on me, m<l to hear | somrtliiiiir iiioiu of Wiliiain J leloniine. ?dv fallier I was from home : li, ],;„[ p.,,,: In spend a lew day.s I with a friend some ten or UM-lvc miles o!) , , and was not to return till the next day, or perhaps tne lollnwiug one. If he had lieen at home, assuredly 1 should no I have been piTmilbd to go, Iml as it was, my girlish enthit. -ias.n, inv lingoiiii-' jjitv and tenderness I for the r.iiixiet William, induced mo to eoniplv. It was ail v.-ry >dly and roiuiinlie, 1 know; i,ut ' .-o it 'I'he c..tiage was within a wall;, and not liking to expn.-e the unhappy I leloiaini'S in the curious gaze of >oi\al.ts. I ,h-teimi:,r.i l.i ::■.. alone, and for the same reason .Lid 11.,t lell ai:\ of Ihem whither i was going. It was a chilly, windy April alternoon, about four o'l-ioek, when I stalled on my Walk. 1 hniried aloiijv. and, in about an hour's time, found niyseit in Hie laiie leading to the eultiiiri-. It tion added u< its natural siomi. ' | 'J'lie.m-n,. had been mini, Hodden and the trees | Woken in tlii; .-■aivh made i.v Ihe l!uw Street otlieeis f.-r mavinu-tools, Are., whieh, h,..wever, they bad fai!e<i lo l,i,:i\ and .iltoi{...'tii,.ril look, d very wielehe.l ai.d .iepi-e>-ii.jr. ,| i,m 'opposite 1 li- rasterii gillie of tin- dv. ■ -liitig, was an old o;.k of μ-jeat .-ii/.i', whieh I was oi.lige to jiass in a].l>io:u-liing the iloor. As I ulaneeil at ii, 1 perceived a hob- or cavity recently dn- <■!■ ui.eoveie.l I liml never seen it befor.) close lo Hie root. Wiiv. I i.ever knew, but the sight of it madi' mi- | .-hiver." :i!id alloi;el her a strong Vcelinj; (pi-rlmps in- I dueed I.v a drcarinc-s of the place), made me turn back, .liisi as 1 did .-.>, Ivale I Moraine, emerged from beiun.i the tree ami stood before me. I She wassadlv iilierrd. \erv psilir mill thin, and she | she.l hitter tear- as 1 ehd;;a.'ca her. I walked into j the !„...>,, »ul. her. Tl, diMwiim-i-ooin wu, empty : ; . the sofa m.nct ; I'ne L.',. 1 > opened. room. wt\ ol; iiul .-he Musis that \ou will go uji \ ami see h.'-i- -" I and then v.tv ii,..i.;ly asked for \ i Wil!i:i!.i. ."-he said be »i:< ;in.mt t.i <:nl for liolilll.v j [ lia> unii ; In- iu-\t parli ol coiiwcls ; that lie »;■> : ! jial'h in ami re.-i.jneil, ai..t bun- Ins fate better than ■ ! eotil.i inn- be.., c\|n ete.:. j ■• I' ■ :.-.;,.w:" M.oa.idcd. with real feelin-, '• he is ,e,> >..,,!,-. i.iui ua.- biidA ti-iiined. 1 declare , i lo \..ii. .'iii-> .iaiiii.ii. we neier. either of us. knew ; jwii'ai ..io,ini-ss Mas liil we lie.aine aei|uainled with vim. I looked, doi.blhu.-. a.- 1 was, astonished. •■ >~: our pa.-, nl- .ouealeil us without :i1.% I pri.-pl-.--li-' m .i. - and,hou,;!, pool- William so Lenei-oii-iv an; in,.... in.- family of all complicity in his -mil. tin \ did not d> senc it. ' .'ii lii..-. iiiiiiiile the lii-iookiny; man servant opened the door and sod .\!rs. i eloiauie woitUt be -lad lo see me alone in the north parlour, an upper Mttli.--n,..n, in the mil.!.- end ol the house. 1 ilnl not know hou to i-eluse. ihou-li Kale's ivvelalion had made me feel un i.tieomioitable. N. I lollowcd the man up stairs inn, the pariour where she and I had been wont to -it and talk and work during our l.riet inl.maev. There w:.> no one lliere; bill .lames. mullein,- that Mrs. He., raine would come duvet l\. placed a chair lor me and lell the room, closing t he do r lifter him. I walked to the window, ami looked out. The easement Ml was nothing more) opened upon thai part of the shrubbery in which me old oak. with its suspicion.- e:.i-ib-bole, sloo.l. As it (■infill inv eve. the same n.is-ivint I had lell just bclore. ru'sbJd on ,nv mind. \\ as I looking al my ..w.i amv.-:- '. Very uneasy. 1 walked at once To ilie door, determined'lo go away immediatily, j but mi turning the handle, i found it was no longer possible fur me to do so. 1 was locked in I Obeying a lii-t impulse 1 shook the door violently, and called loudlv lo be let out. >'.. voice answered me. I i'.oki-.l i-ouud ibe room : there was no other door, though. I remembered; and the window was too hi.'liior me to pimp out on the top of the verandah ; I vet even I/ml 1 might be obliged to dare. I was evidently at the nierev of these, people, whose mm in : luring me I lit! her, and makin- u,e a prisoner, m. Ist of course be lo rob or murder me. Willi renewed fear 1 "n/.ed out of the window on the gathering tuili-ld. The wind moaned and sohhed round the old house, ami shook Ihe ill-lilting easement. 1 opened it and called for help as loudly as 1 could ; but the bi-ce,:e blowhe- full in inv lace nearly sillied : mv voice, ami. ,-avc tlu- old I rei-s'which creal,ed and bowel I heir huge heads towards me, 1 saw no living tiling oiiisi-.ie. Tuib-bi .iccpeiie.l into nijil. ami I sank on my i knee- a:7.l i.r.ived ferveii"i\ lor help in my hour ot sore p. nl.' 'i rose, siieugibcned with :i new hope and liT-sb eoiiiaiie. I leit that 1 bad enlisted u Mightv .icfemieroii mv sine. Al la.-t, alter a period of suspense which appeared v,-:ir=. lo me. I heard 1001.-icps aiivaneing lo the ; ~- ,|ie Lev turned in the 100. ami .Mrs. I Moraine -no cripple, but an powerlul wommientered, lolioued by .lames, bearing a light and an mkslaiid. •' What is your meaning in thus making me a i.ri oner-" 1 ii>ke.l iirn.lv. - I should think voui'- own ,-0,,M-icnce would tell voli, traitre.-s!" was the reply. -lietrayer ot my "darling bov : The death he so narrowly e*eaped u-i.ul.Mie iuo good for Mill." - ,;,„ be owes that .-scape Iα me. Sirs. I) "'^'- , l 1^;morse' I it all. "j>ul what kind of lite-r — that til" a felon!—mv i>..v!—my pride!" Mil- clasped her hands passioiiaieiy. The man whispeied sullenly in h-r ear. -iou are re-ill," she said steri.lv. "1 teared poor Kate niigla need ussu-lanee, and put it iu my pocket." And r drew if out. '■ Thai is well :" slio sai.l, sli-rnly. " Sit down anil ■ write a cheque for live hundred pounds." I complied reudilv. I had but fifty of my owi: allowance m my banker's haml,; for I had spenl J liberally of late, and had no present command ol tin

hn-e fort inns 1 inherited. L fell convinced that Uei miiaeiiv would defeat its object, tor the banker wouh make inquiries before he cashed such a ehe.pie Kut Ilie same thought had evidently occurred also ti the man. •• It is too much!" lie said, slowly, "lilty will b, l ' With' ii murmur, -Mrs. Dcloraine put the firs eh-iiue in her pocket, and desired me to write uiiutlie --perhaps she kept the live hundred for some futun Ol> - ! -'"jha'l"wYil do," said the man, taking the second "now, come,"—to his mistress—" we have no Him to lose." Thcv turned to leave (he room. ■• \ on will allow me to v> home now ."" 1 iiskeil. "That is so probabl.- '. ' r-aid the woman, sav eastieallv, ■' that you may bell-ay us again." ■' lint" I will pledge u.i. my honor not to sein after vi.u, or give all-, clue to what has passed. "Oh: but "vol. li.uy be put. upon your oath, cried Airs. I Moraine, mockingly. •'Th:.l is impossible, unless i give inlormation c HIV imprijonmenl ; as for the money, iU.- a Iree gil —'l intended to help you as J. told \du. as you might ivpe, i of il, wo will not try you. -"Sow listen . 1. nuted y< from I ho time you won my boy s heart Iron, me, .in marred his voung liiu f<-»' l ' v '-'' : il, " 1 ' '- worc - W ", l '-" herd I bill Jou lmd betniyed him. lo avenge l.iu

-do so now! With the money you have given us, Kate unit 1 will follow him to his place of exile. We shall I.=. v.. a ~,m , s t l K ., v , 1 fane} }, Kor vou — von will remain in this room. Jt is'not known in 'the lowi Unit we are hero now ; «■ weiv supposed to h:!'. ,• Uft yesterday, tliei-elbre mo tivik.'spoopli; arc lialm ..• :i-r i- ii'iu- the house—in fact tl.t-v hire not troubled us H.'ili 1.,:U liit-lv.- and as there i- n.-> L.oil in the ].:rder, iuulvuu ii.'i»hi we sb-.-il Iμv a (rain lo the hou.-e mid put :i slow u.iib il, in order thai In the time wn are wife i>ll , . the ll.'iims may bring jou deliverers, or put vou out of ' 'And'sh'-'laughed a lion-ihl,., mocking laugh. '• You will not surely be so cruel," 1 cried in mi agony offi-iir. " Y-ou are but frightening me. , ' " Vou will see ! (rood-bve, Miss Morion; tluis I return our obligations lo vo'u." And Ibreihly' releasing iier arm from the clasp with which I sought, to detain her, she left the room. I si rove to get out of it at I lie s.ime time ; but tlic man "liushi'd me in again with an oath, and L heard tliein lurk and bolt the door after them. Thus I was left to the anticipation of a lmserinir, horrible death. I opened the window anil called for help again ami again in vain. Xo one could hear me save those monsters. At lust, I sunk on a seat, and grew calm from exhaustion. Verv slowly the hours passed. 1 sate watchim: the wide space between the ill-utiing door ami the door, expecting every moment to see the red, dull glare oi' lire, through il ; but the grey dawn stole into the room, and still 1 saw no sign of the threatened conflagration. 1 was unharmed; only exhausted by want of rest, want of food, and thill most horrible expectation. The light grew, and there was no perceptible fire. I began to hope that the. match had gone out ; —that 1 was safe. Alas! 1 was deceived. Ihe house had inniied long auo, but the old damp wood mouldered slowly. Bv-iuul-hv, when it was again near evening. I saw tin; red gleam 1 hud so feared on the threshold, and 1 heard the nt.-h and tlie hiss of (he llaines. A few moments, and the door would calrh, and 1 must perish. Unre more 1 rushed lo the still open easement, and looked out. .Should I spring at the peril of my life to thcveraiid.ili '1 There was nothing else left lor me, and 1 was preparing to lake a leap thai might be fatal, when a voice called tome from below. '• Mop. slop, .lane '. Wait. [ will save you V And I saw l\ale JJelor.iine mounting a garden ladder placed against the verandah. 1 watched her breathlessly. She ascended with ease, drew il up after her, and raised it lo the window. J[ was out and on it, in a moment: i can scarcely tell how the descent was achieved, but, 1 stood "in safety al the bottom elaspbig Kate's hand. •' We have not a moment lo lose," she gasped. " I escaped them at our last stage, but when they lend i am gone, they will guess why and where, and will follow me." i At that moment we heard a sound of approaching wheels ill the lane. 1 was so weak 1 coul.l scarcely move; and she had to pull and lead me to a Upstanding near, in which she placed me. 1 observed I hat there was a crowd of piople round the burning collage, endeavoring lo extinguish the llames —but we drove oll'uppaiviitiv unnoticed. •■lam so sorrv," sa'vs poor Kate, "that I should hine been made' the "iii.-inim.-nt of phu-iug vou in siidi peril, Miss Morton. When my mother told me 1 might write to bid um la.ewell. and ask you here, if I pleased, 1 had no notion she inter.ded so awiul a crime.—nor did 1 know thai thev had left \ou in the w)i.:n we lel'l it. -Hut when thev thought we were safe, my mollicr boasted of Ihe revenge she had taken on yui'i. Then I sczed the first opponunity to escape from them, and returned in the same liy we ar<: now in ; leaving it in the lane while 1 sought for vou. I feared they woidii have pursued me but 1 was mistaken. I'i-obabU ihe.v thought if I returned lo vou it would be too hue,—-or .James fen red to venluiv back. The wheels we heard were those of the approaching lire engine." 1 shmldered-thcsc people had been my friends: 1 woulu never Maine hmlish caution anil ivsi-m in lullliv. lint by this time we reached my home. We found the servants in a »r« ;tt .-laic ol alarm at my disappearance : they had μ-ui oil for mv father. 1 hough lie Mas not \et arrived—and every M-iiivh was making for me. 1 was so fxhiiu>tcd tliid Kale, who plueeil me with great tenderness on a Mil'a, had lo lWi\ me: and to "ive me wine slow Iv : and beiore mv father returned, I bad sunk into a'profound sleep from which I did did iiol wake for hours. When 1 dio, I found him sitting beside me. He emi'ia.-ed me with jov mid tiratiluue. and was eager lo know where 1 had Wen. and what had befallen me —as all that the servants could tell him was, that .Al iss 1 'cloiainc had broimht me back very faint and ill. 1 reiatcd my adventure, and he grew pale wiih horror and indignation as he listened, ile v«wed he woiilii bine the monsters iraced, and as severely pun-i.-lu-il as il, t -irc-limes,U-.- l -rved. \ - Ifut where is poor Kate r I asked. •' She wus gone wlieii I arrived," he answered. •' f-'ariih savs she left directly you fell asleep, telling the scrvauis not to awake you, as you had had great tali-ue and excitement. *iic left this note lor you/' And ho gave i»e. a Htlle twisted paper written ill pencil. '•Adieu, Miss Morton," she wrote, " lorgive me. You will never see me again. Igo 10 the Continent to earn mv living, as 1 was wont to do before 1 knew \ oil, bv riding in a circus. Thai woman's crime has s<pata"ted me from her for ever, i'ray sometimes for poor Kate." " Poor thing !" we said. " And what became of "'-\Vn: never know," replied Mrs. Dcnison. "My falher advertised for her, ottering in the advertisementn> provide for her if she would let us know where she was -. but probably, she never snv the paper containing it." "And that horrible ilrs. ndoraine and the manservant :- Where they ever found and punished r" ,-hc shook her head". " No. V\'e had no railways, no electric telegraphs I in lho.-e dins. They e.-ciiped. Trobabiy they wciil to Australia. \\ e 'never heard of them again. ti\ de-rees we forgot the w bole allair, or rullier nev.r I ixTwiil.t abjul it. Hill you will allow 1 had a very narrow escape.' .