Ellen Walton | Page 7

the space of three or four hours.
I will so arrange it, that these hours shall be from eleven to three

o'clock, and what is done must be accomplished between those periods
of time. You shall, therefore, not enter number seventeen until after
eleven o'clock, and you must positively leave it before three; and you
shall not let your victim know what transpires at this house until after
the Waltons have left the city. Do you consent to these terms?"
"I suppose I must."
"Then the matter is settled. Remember the hours; I shall know if my
injunctions are disregarded, and you will fare the worse for it."
"Fear not. Come to reflect, I like your plan better than my own, as there
is less danger in it every way."
"Enough. Good night."
"Hold a moment. Is there any fastening on the door between the rooms,
on the side in number seventeen?"
"There is; but I will take care of that; and you know no one, unless well
acquainted with the spot, could tell there was a door there."
"True, true--I had forgotten that fact."
"Oh, I forgot one prohibition. You must in no case let a ray of light into
seventeen. It might render all our precautions abortive, and defeat their
object."
"Very well. I will be careful."
"Do so, and all will be well. Of course, no noise, even as loud as a
whisper, must be heard in the lady's room."
"I will be discreet; trust me for that. I am glad you have come to the
rescue; I find there is nothing like a woman's wit."
"Take care, then, that you are never outwitted by them!"
"Not much fear of that while I have such an ingenious ally!"

"Take good care to keep her an ally; as an enemy, she might be equally
ingenious."
And so they parted. As she left the room, she mentally exclaimed:
"'Come to the rescue!' Yes, I am truly glad I have!"
The guests retired to their beds, and all was still as the solemn silence
of midnight. The old clock in the corner tolled the hour of eleven, and
half an hour afterward, a stealthy tread might have been heard along the
partition dividing the two rooms already named. Soon a door slowly
opened on its rusty hinges, and in the rayless darkness Durant entered
the number containing his victim. He reached the couch, and paused to
assure himself that all was as he desired. His ear was saluted with a
heavy breathing, as of one in deep sleep.
"All right!" he muttered within himself. "My hour has come. The
vengeance of the '_dog_' shall be complete! Oh, but how I will glory in
my triumph, and the proud one's disgrace! I'll make her feel what it is to
insult a nobleman by blood! Gods, how the memory burns my brain of
that indignity! An unknown girl to scorn and cast contumely upon one
of England's line of lords! This night be the stain wiped out!"
Lost! lost! lost! demon! from thy presence we turn away! Villain and
victim, there is a God above!
* * * * *
The morning dawned, and the sun rose as cloudless as though no deeds
of crime, needing the darkness to cover them, had been perpetrated on
the earth. The Waltons left with the company they expected to join at
Pittsburg on the succeeding day, not knowing that Durant had slept
under the same roof with them. No, not so fast. One of their number did
know the fact--Ellen. Was it that knowledge that caused the paleness on
her cheek, that aroused the anxious solicitude of her tender and
watchful parents?
"Are you sick, my daughter?" was the mother's affectionate inquiry.

But she was cheered by the assurance that there was no serious cause of
alarm; and that Ellen was only a little unwell. Without any mishap, they
reached their new home in Kentucky.
Two weeks had passed, and Eliza Fleming was still unmarried. During
that time, she had seen Durant but twice, and he appeared desirous of
avoiding a private interview. She was not slow to perceive this, and it
filled her mind with misgivings of his truth, or the sincerity of his
protestations. She demanded an interview; the demand was acceded to;
and she said:
"Why do you not make arrangements for our approaching marriage? It
is surely time you were about it."
"Oh, no hurry yet," he replied. "There is plenty of time."
"Plenty of time! Yes, if all that need be done, is to call the minister, and
have the ceremony performed! But it strikes me this is not all. However,
what day have you fixed upon as your choice for the wedding
occasion?"
"I can't say as I have thought upon any