The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1878-05-03

ngurt w tine nfm-cnHif, Shc y
beauty, and no mistake, II seems q
pity to-"
"shut your head" interrupted the
other, in fierce whisper. "Do you
want to spoil the whole thing by your
sccurscd nonsense. Do what | hired
you TO do--ihat Is all ashland don't
forget that you are a minister of the
gospel. Come, now; there is no time
To lose; get your hooks, and let Us
sec how well you have learned your
part"
In q few minutes all was in readi'
ness. Mr.. Peabody stool up grave
and dignifed. with his open Bible in
front Of him, and told the young cou'
pie to Join their right hands. They
stood before him, Egbcrt Vivian and
Fannie Wilde--he with q sinister ex'
preston Of triumph gliitering in hi
eyes, she as cold and calm IS 4 marble
image. He took her nervcless hand
in his, and signilied their readiness tC
be joined in the holy bonds Of well
|iock. r. -rt
But before Mr.. Peabody could utte'
a word. Fannie suddenly quailei and
Uttered a sharp cry. Vivian threw
his arm around her, and exclaimed;
"what il II, dearest? What il ,h,
matter? Speak darling
"Hark. don't you hear! Somebcd,
Is coming. Oh, what will I do"
Sure enough, there were footsteps
on the stair. He heard them distinct
" now. They were coming rapidly
anil evidently belonged to more thar
one person. The guilty man turne
pale. 800. ~
"Grest God. what does il u can?
he calculated. "Can it I've possible
that we have been pursued Loci
the door! Quick--quick!'
But il wxs too late. The door hev
open with a jar, and two men sprun!
into the room and stood in the pres
ence Of the terrified trio.
Fannie recognized both ID them a
glance, and uttered a low shrek
One was her own isther--ihe othe
John Martin.
z Fannie, what doe this mean?' lie
manded her father. sternly.
But the poor girl could not reply
She was clinging to the hack Of {
chair, and trembling violently.
an tell you what it means" cries
John Martin, in a clear, ringing voice
at is one of the vilest plots ever con
cocied to effect the ruin Of an limo
cent girl, and these are its perpetrators
coWering here befwc us like whipped
ours"
Liar Kissed Vivian, drawing
himself up and putting his hand in
hi bosom.
As if by magic pistol appeared in
the young countrymans hand, and
leveling it at the astonished villain, he
said, coolly:
"Fool. put down yonr hand! An
other move like that and Won will h
passed ever to the police, who are YET
ignorant of your criminal conduct t."
night"
Completely cowed, Egbert Vivian
leaned hack against the msntel piece,
and folded his arms in sullen submis-
sion, while the Rev. Mr.. Peabody, he.
ing too weak to stand, hal dropped
into q chair.
Fannie continued John Martin,
addressing the girl, "when you sent
me from your presence that day, !
did not 60 home. Something seemed
to tell me that I would he needed
here, and Istayed. watched Egg
bert Vivian, and was not surprised to
find him the black hearted villain that
he is. made the discovery that he con.
Your ruin. ] overheard a
between him and this
cowardly companion of his, in which
they formed this hearlless scheme of
sloping, and defrauding you by a pre-.
tense Of marriage; and when ] met
your father at the depot this evening,
told him all, and We followed you
,iiher. Fannie, this marriage would
nave been a farce; you would have
,een ruined; this low wretch who
would have performed The ceremony
: no more a minister Of the gospel
han am. Look! will show you
hat he is disguised
A. he spoke he stepped up To the
creature called Peabody,
md snstched from his head the gray
Wig, disclosing to view an under.cov.
ring of very black hair, which gave
be fellow quite youthful appear.
nee.
This was the last straw on The cam. ,
T. back, and with low, piieous
nosn, poor Fannie fell hack isinting
n her fathers arms.
"Come. John, lets 90 nov; the
hid. isinled,' said Farmer Wilde,
n A husky voice. n he lifted his .