CHAPTER XII. LOUISA'S STORY CONTINUED. Perish the lover, whose imperfect flame "SURPRISE for some time took from me the power of utterance: tears at length coming to my assistance, I endeavoured, by entreaties and expostulations, to persuade him to take me back; but in vain; for he was continually calling to the postboy to quicken his pace. Finding gentle methods fail, I reproached him in the bitterest terms; nor did I spare Mrs. Masters, whom I looked his confederate. Nay, stop upon as there,' said he, smiling; 'I must exculpate her from any share in the business: the cloke and calash I contrived to steal; and I sincerely believe she will be as little pleased with this affair as yourself: but time, my dear girl, will, I hope, procure my pardon; and a whole life, spent in assiduity and tenderness, efface my fault, and obtain, even from that obdurate heart, a gentle return of affection,' To this I returned no answer, well knowing words were useless; and the road, as well as I could discern, being very lonely, made me conjecture my cries would be the same. “We travelled, as I suppose, two hours and a half, from our first departure from the inn; when Danvers, perceiving I was faint, apologised for taking me so far without stopping; adding, 'half an hour more will end our journey, and bring us to a house, of which you shall be the absolute mistress.' "At this declaration all hope forsook me; as I had imagined, that now morn began to break, we might fortunately meet some travellers, to whom I might make my situation known. Deprived of what I thought my only resource, my fears overpowered me, and I sunk senseless on the bottom of the chaise. How long I continued in this state, I cannot tell. Danvers, however, from my situation, thought it necessary to let down the window, and support me in his arms, where, by the help of the air, I soon recovered. As to Danvers, he was SO lost in his attention to my recovery, that it prevented his noticing two horsemen who passed the chaise. As I knew this would be last my tunity, I exerted my utmost strength, and screamed with the greatest violence. Danvers, to whom this was unexpected, as I fancy he thought me hardly capable of so much exertion, hastily drew up the oppor→ counterfeit swooning, as he was pleased to term it. Notwithstanding his efforts to hinder me, I redoubled my cries; and a moment after heard a voice, desiring the driver to stop, and inform him of the occasion of those screams. Danvers, letting down the window, with dreadful imprecations ordered the lad to proceed; but the person who first called was not to be moved from his purpose, as I continued begging for help and protection; and finding his request disregarded, enforced his commands to the postboy with a cocked pistol in his hand. Danvers now lost all patience, and fired at the gentleman, but fortunately missed him. It pleased Heaven, as he drew out one pistol, I saw the end of another; and, with an effort of courage more than I thought I possessed, hastily seized and. threw it out of the front window, almost the same moment that Danvers fired; which increased his rage to such a degree, that I believe, at the instant, he would willingly have sacrificed me as well as my deliverer, who still held his pistol in his hand, without attempting to fire. Danvers thus baffled in his project, called hastily to his servant to bring him fire-arms; but this was fortunately prevented, by the laquey's horse taking fright at the report of the pistol, and overturning his rider in the dirt. The unworthy Danvers, being acquainted with this fresh disaster, and finding nothing was to be obtained by violence, insisted to the stranger that I was his sister, and had eloped with his valet-de-chambre; and that, pursuing us to Dover, he luckily overtook us as we were about to embark for Calais. I did not give him time to proceed; but, with the little strength this horrid scene had left me, leaped from the carriage, and, falling on my knees, entreated the stranger's protection as far as Dover, where a lady was, who had the care of me; that I was just come from France, and was going to my friends in the North of England: in short, I told him, as well as I could, how I had been betrayed. The stranger did not give me time to finish; but, leaping from his horse, raised me; then, turning to Danvers, told him he should conduct me back to Dover; that, if what he had advanced was true, in relation to my being his sister, he was welcome to return with us on his horse, as he himself should accompany me in the chaise. Danvers, who only regarded this offer as an insult, replied, 'You may chance to buy this victory dear; let me know your name and place of residence, that I may repay the favors conferred on me.'. 'As to residence, replied the stranger, 'I have not any; neither can my name be of service, as I do not mean to give you an opportunity of endeavouring to take my life, merely for preventing your being guilty of an act of violence and injustice. I am ever thankful to Providence, for making me the means to succour innocence, but can claim to myself no merit in your defeat; therefore, were I even well assured the event of a meeting you seem to wish would be in my favor, of this be certain, that I never will put it in my power to send so unprepared a soul into the presence of its maker Saying this, he assisted me in getting into the chaise; and then followed himself, peremptorily ordering the driver to take me from whence I came, and his own servant to lead his horse and follow the chaise. We then departed, leaving Danvers stamping on the ground with rage. Per "I returned the stranger thanks, as well as the emotion of my spirits would permit; but he, lost in thought, his eyes fixed on my face, with features that bore strong marks of grief, made no reply. Fearing he had received some hurt in the late rencontre, I entreated to know if he was well: disturbed from this reverie, he answered, fectly so my absence was occasioned by your extreme likeness to an angel, who for a short time blessed the earth; Heaven, who saw her possessed of a larger share of virtues than belong to the human race, snatched her to her native skies.' As he spoke, sensibility and manhood strove for mastership; but tenderness prevailed, and a tear escaped. “He then asked me my name and family, and to what part of England I was going: I told him, |