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Show 378 RICilA HD H UHI)IS. to entrap the hcnds of the 1\T.ystic Brotherhood, that Ebc_rly, t.hough we refrained to prosecute }tim before tltc propc_r tnbunal, should not be suffered to cscnpc our cust ody. By ln~ rcluctnncc to accuse, or to act against these OlJtlnws, he cvJd.cntl_y held for them a dcrrrcc of regard, which might prompt h11n, tf permitted, to flppri~e them of their dan~cr, C\'<'11 though ltc may ] 1avc held himself aloof, ns Ito had prOJmscd, from all future connection with them. But how and whrrc to secure him wns :mother difliculty for which an answer wns_not so rcndily providcr1. 'l'o imprison him in the dwelling, in wluch tlwt ':cry clay ltc was to haYe found his bride, and in which, as yet unmfonncd of t.lte mcl:lncholy truth, tl~:1t unconscious and full-hcnr_ted maiden wns even then preparing to become so, wns a nccesstty of awkwnrd complexion; and yet to tlwt necessity we w_ere comllelled to come. After dclibernting upon the matter, w1th an carncstn~ss which left 110 solitary suggestion unconsidered, the rcsolutLOn was ndopted to secure tltc prisoner in the attic, until our pursuit of his comrades wns fairly oyer. This, it was our confiOent hope, woultl be the case by the close of the day follow in~, and only until that time did we 1·esolvc that he sh?ulJ ~c a p1:1sonCJ". llis comrades once secured, and his way of fhght, ~t wns. mtcnd-d should be free. !Iow our determination on tills subject was :v:ldcd and rendered unavailing, the following pugcs will show. IIis course once resolveJ upon, and the measures of Colonel Grnfton were prompt and decisive. . . u Keep watch upon liim here, llurdis; let hi_m not sttr, whtl~ I prepare )Irs. Grafton witli a know lege of tlus unhappy bust· ness. 1\fy daughter, too, must Unow _it so?n or late, and ~ct,ter this hour than the next, since the str1fc w11l be the sooner O\~r. rfhey must be out of the way when WC tnke him llj) t\1e ~t~~rS -out of hearing as out of sigltt. Once there, I have a f~,outc fellow who will guardl1im as rigidly as I should 1~1yself. . lie left me, and was gone, perltaps, an lLOur-Jl was a tedious hour to me, in the painful watch that I wns compelled to keep over the tmhappy prisoner. lu this time he had COl~m;Jnicated the discovery to both hi.s wife and Julia; ~~~d a SH1g:~ ~;h rick that faintly renchcd our cars, and t\Je hurrJCd Jl:tc~ 01 many 'feet O'oing to aml fro in tLe adjacent chambers, _appnz.~{. us of the v~ry moment when the soul of the roor n:atdcn ''.Is ST!tATAGI.::~iS. 379 n_nguish-stricken by th(' first int('\\ig<·nc<' of l1er lHtpless sitna· tLOn. )[y <'Y0_ was fiX<.' t1 intPutly Hpon the f:.tce of Eberly, ancl ~vhcu tha~ shn~k r_enched us, l could sec u. smile, which had in 1t. somethmg of tram~ ph, ovcrS})I"Cacl his cheek, and, though it d1d not rest there a smglc momeut, it vexed me to behold it. "Do you exult," I demanUcd, "that you have made a. victim of one so lovely and so young 1 Do you rejoice, sir, in the pang that you inflict 1" "No! God forbid r' was his immediate answer. "lf it were witiL me now, she should instantly forget 110t only her present, but all sorrows- she should forget that she hnd eYer known so rniscn"ILle a. wretch <IS myself! But is it wonderful thut I should feel a sentiment of pleasure, to find myself an object of regard in the eyes of one so pure - so superior 7 l s it strange that I sltould rrjoice to find that lam not au outcast from nll affections, as I am from all l10pcs- that tberc is one angelic spirit, who may yet intercede for me at tlte Lar of llea.Yeu, and fJL"a)' for, and command mercy, though s!Jc may not CYCn llope for it on cartb 7" Grafton now returned, and the flush of anger was heightened on ltis face, though I could sec a tear even then glistening in his eye. "1\Ir. Clifton," he said calmly, but peremptorily, '·we must secure your person for the night.'' "My life is at your service, Colonel Ornfton-1 tender it ft·cely. As I have no hopes in life now, I do not care to live. But I will not promise to remain bound, if I can break from my prison. I came to you of my own free will, witl10ut m1y impulse beside; and, though I thought it not unlikely when I came and revealed my story, that you would take my life, I llad no fear that you would constitute yourself my j ailer. I am not prepared for bonds." "Make what distinctions you please/' was the cold reply i "yon hear my resolution. It will Le my fault if you csenpc, until I myF;clf declare your freedom. I trust that you will not render it necessary that we sl1ould usc force to place you in the chamber assigned fOr you." "l!.,orce !" he exclaimed fiercely, and there was a keen momentary flashing of the youth's eye, as he heard these words, |
