The anti-monopolist., 1878-04-18
The Antl-Monopolis

away, the girl said that she commenced
to scream as loudly zs she could for assis-
tance, but two of the ruffians seized her,
and, while their comrades proceeded to
ransack the house. gagged her, and in
spite of her resistance, tied her firmly to
the foot of the table.
When asked what had become of her
fellow servant, she replied that he lay
helpless for sometime after the villains
had departed, but as soon as he was able
he had staggered out of the house, and
she hal never seen him afterwards.
Paralyzed by terror, Mary Carroll re-
membered nothing, from the moment she
was carried out of the fathers house,
until she found herself on horseback, be-
fore some one whose strong arm, passing
round her waist, kept her from falling.
They were travelling along the steep
mountain road, and the path was wind
ing and rugged, and she could feel the
horse stumbling, as his feet came in con-
tact with the loose stones, which we're
plentifully scattered along the pathway.
She tried to turn her head, in order to
| obtain a view of their route, but a gruff
voice sternly forbade her to try to find
out where they were going.
| At last, after about three hours riding,
they stopped at small cabin, and she
was lifted from her saddle, while the
shawl, which her abductors had hurriedly
wrapped around her as they bore her
from her home, was drawn closely over
her eyes.
1t was withdrew % soon as she and
her companif MS had entered the cabin,
and she glanced around her.
The place was entirely unknown TO
her, and consisted OF a large smoke
darkened apartment, squalid and wretch
ed, out CT which smaller one opened
There was no one in the place when
they entered but an old woman, whose
dirty and smoke dried appearance was in
keeping with her miserable abode. To
horseback spoke:
''See what bonny bird have brought
you mother. So take good care of her,
and DO not let her escape you until get
a better cage ready for her"
The old woman laughed. "You may
trust me for that, Mr. William"
Mary Carroll started. and looked at the
man who had spoken. In her agony of
terror all through that dreadful ride, it
had never occurred to her who her abduc-
tor might be. 1t had seemed as if all
thought and feeling had been crushed cut
of hrr by fear, and she had been all but
uncc lscious, but now, that voice! 1t was
evidently disguised, yet it seemed famil-
lar, and now the woman had called him
MIR. William" Could it be that her
| abductor was William Bassettl Yes. it
must be; and shuddering as she recalled
| his threats, she covered her face with her
hands aud burst into tears.
Then a whispered sentence caught her
ear, and she looked up to see him in the
act OF dlspatchlng messenger on some
errand, and heard him whisper, "Tell
him to come without fail tonight at mid
night, Smith, for | will defer the marriage
no longer"
No longer doubling his identity, she
sprang UP and confronted him:
"'Vhat marriage did you speak Of,
William Bassettg" >
Seeing disguise no longer possible,
answered her in his natural voice:
"0ur marriage, Marry Carroll. Die
not tell you that you should never ma
O'Hara while had power to prevent "
l have that power, and | am sending
minister to marry us st midnight,
that the best thing you can do is to go
bed in the meantime and rest, so that r
BRIDE may look bithe and bonnie as
bride should look"
The hot .ui;rpopf foor, r,,obol IL
her eyes, and she replied, firmly:
You may kill me, if you hike, "
liam Bassett. but | will never be bride
yours. And oh Smith," she cried clas
ing her hands, IF you are man,
will not do this coward's bidding, I
will help poor girl. who has ne
wrorged you, to escape from his clutchd
The man laughed light mocki
laugh, yet, as he passed out the door
fancied that he threw reasuring gla,
in her direction, and her heart bounc
at the thought; then, turning to the VIC
an, she asked her to lead her to go
place where at least she would he {
from mockery and intrusion.
The woman complied, and, show
her into the inner apartment, pointed
bed, where" she said, she mi
rest until the arrival Of the minister,
barring the door on the outside, left
to her own thoughts.
Almost distracted by the story told
his servant. as soon a. Mr.. Carol co,
collect strength for the task, he and
ward O. Hara rushed to the neighbori
town, spreading the ncwscf the abbu
ion, and berpInO - xRistencc Of