Chương 104: Spa Day (103)

Bella woke up the next morning. She looked at the ring on her hand and still could not believe what had happened. Then she seen the dress hanging in the room.

It was the gold dress Betty and Sally had forced her to try on.

Zane came in with a breakfast tray, " Good morning my fiancée." He said.

"Good morning my fiancé" She smiled back at him.

"Eat up all you girls have an appointment at the spa. My mother is even going to be there. So hurry up."

"What will you be doing?"She asked

"Golf with the guys."

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Bella met all the girls down in a spa room. Where they were taken to a relaxing room. The Receptionist had them change into pink robes and slippers. They all filled out questionnaires on what treatment the were looking for and on their health. The cucumber water they served was very refreshing. Next they all headed to the sauna. Bella was a little bummed she could not read but got to talk about how she felt so far on marrying Zane.

Then they were taken to get a bath treatment. Only Bella and Sally were in thier bath area. The water was filled with many different flowers and the smell was relaxing.

Bella now could read a little.

◇◇◇♡♡♡◇◇◇ THE BOX OF ROBBERS cont.

"We should have a cave," remarked Beni; "for we must store our plunder in a safe place. Can you tell us of a secret cave?" he asked Martha.

"There's a Mammoth cave," she answered, "but it's in Kentucky. You would be obliged to ride on the cars a long time to get there."

The three bandits looked thoughtful and munched their pie silently, but the next moment they were startled by the ringing of the electric doorbell, which was heard plainly even in the remote attic.

"What's that?" demanded Victor, in a hoarse voice, as the three scrambled to their feet with drawn daggers.

Martha ran to the window and saw it was only the postman, who had dropped a letter in the box and gone away again. But the incident gave her an idea of how to get rid of her troublesome bandits, so she began wringing her hands as if in great distress and cried out: "It's the police!"

The robbers looked at one another with genuine alarm, and Lugui asked, tremblingly: "Are there many of them?"

"A hundred and twelve!" exclaimed Martha, after pretending to count them.

"Then we are lost!" declared Beni; "for we could never fight so many and live."

"Are they armed?" inquired Victor, who was shivering as if cold.

"Oh, yes," said she. "They have guns and swords and pistols and axes and—and—"

"And what?" demanded Lugui.

"And cannons!"

The three wicked ones groaned aloud and Beni said, in a hollow voice: "I hope they will kill us quickly and not put us to the torture. I have been told these Americans are painted Indians, who are bloodthirsty and terrible." "'Tis so!" gasped the fat man, with a shudder.

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Next, They were given a whole body scrub. Followed by a massage. Bella was so relaxed. This was the best day she had ever had.

Next on the list was a facial followed by hair and makeup.

Bella then made her way to put on her beautiful gown.

She did not know what to do next so she read.

◇◇◇♡♡♡◇◇◇ THE BOX OF ROBBERS cont.

Suddenly Martha turned from the window. "You are my friends, are you not?" she asked.

"We are devoted!" answered Victor. "We adore you!" cried Beni. "We would die for you!" added Lugui, thinking he was about to die anyway.

"Then I will save you," said the girl.

"How?" asked the three, with one voice.

"Get back into the chest," she said. "I will then close the lid, so they will be unable to find you."

They looked around the room in a dazed and irresolute way, but she exclaimed: "You must be quick! They will soon be here to arrest you."

Then Lugui sprang into the chest and lay fat upon the bottom. Beni tumbled in next and packed himself in the back side. Victor followed after pausing to kiss her hand to the girl in a graceful manner.

Then Martha ran up to press down the lid, but could not make it catch. "You must squeeze down," she said to them.

Lugui groaned. "I am doing my best, miss," said Victor, who was nearest the top; "but although we fitted in very nicely before, the chest now seems rather small for us." "'Tis so!" came the muffled voice of the fat man from the bottom. "I know what takes up the room," said Beni.

"What?" inquired Victor, anxiously. "The pie," returned Beni. "'Tis so!" came from the bottom, in faint accents.

Then Martha sat upon the lid and pressed it down with all her weight. To her great delight the lock caught, and, springing down, she exerted all her strength and turned the key.

This story should teach us not to interfere in matters that do not concern us. For had Martha refrained from opening Uncle Walter's mysterious chest she would not have been obliged to carry downstairs all the plunder the robbers had brought into the attic.

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Just as she finished the story there was a knock on the door.

When Bella opened the door there stood Bert dresses up as a Victorian gentleman with gloves and a top hat.

"My lady are you ready?" He said as he held out his hand.

"She grabbed her shawl and took his hand, "Lead the way my handsome brother."

He guided her to a large ballroom where everyone was dress in Victorian style.

Standing in the middle was Zane dressed as a prince. He held out his hand and when she took it the music stated and they danced.

Bella was in one of her books, she just had to be. He life has never been this wonderful.

"Do you like it?" Zane whispered in her ear.

"I never want to wake up." Bella said as he lead her around the room to the rhythm of the waltz.

When it finished Bella looked around. This had to be a dream. Just like the ball scene in Beauty and the Beast this room took her there. Everyone greeted her. Even Mr. and Mrs. Heart gave her a hug and welcomed her to the family.