The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-11-22

creature.
Mr.. Holmes had been the head of a
large and highly successful firm. With
only the money that had been left him
Adrian could not keep up this firm,
but with that left to Mrs Holmes, com
bined with his own, he could.
In order that the firm should continue
to stand Mrs. Holmes proposed that he
should marry her daughter. To this
he consented, writing Catherine Will
lard a letter telling her of this, and a
few weeks later he and Dora Holmes
were made man and wife.
One day in early spring Catherine
Willard was strolling through the
grounds attached to her grandfather
mansion, when she was suddenly con-
fronted by epulsive-looking individu-
al, who informed her that he was her
husband. He it was, he said, whom
she had married ON the evening of
Christmas Day.
Feeling assured that the register had
been destroyed in the burning of the
church, and all proof of her marriage
thus lost, Kate laughed scornfully, and
defied him to prove that she was his
wife.
41O ulOW 4IOIl OAo VI
his pockets sheet of paper, and Kate
saw to her horror that it was the sheet
of the register on which she and the
man whom she had supposed to be
Adrian Holmes had signed their names.
He told her that when the church
had been locked up after their marriage
he had prised open one of the windows,
entered the sacred edifice, and torn the
leaf out of the register.
He said it was probably through the
matches he had struck to give him light
that the church had caught fire.
The fellow whose name was Justin
barley, threatened to make it known
that Kate had married him unless she
gave him fifty pounds.
Kate asked him how much he would
take for the leaf of the register. He
replied that he would not sell it. Rath-
er than undergo the disgrace of being
looked upon as the wife of such man,
Kate consented to give him the sum he
demanded. She had not the amount
with her, and he gave her till Monday
to bring it to him.
When Monday came, she, having
managed to obtain fifty pounds, repair
ed to the spot where he had had the
previous interview with her, and which
he had appointed to be the place of
their next. He was already there and
she gave him the money.
Justin barley was the bane of Gather
inc Wizards existence.
No matter where she went she was
followed by him.
He hovered about-her like a vulture
lowering over dying man.
Every few weeks he would demand
money of her, and she was compelled
somehow or other to scrape together
the sum he asked. =.
How bitterly she regretted the miser-
able mistake she had made on that
Christmas Day!
With what despair she looked for
ward into the future!
She saw nothing but misery before
her.
Nothing but the death of Justin Dar-
ley would restore happiness to her.
While he lived he would ever be ask
ing her for money, and she would have
to give it to him or be disgraced, for
that he would make it known that she
had married him If she failed to satisfy
his demands she felt certain.
She shuddered as she thought of him.
1t had been a difficult task for her to
get together the money she had already
given him. How she was to obtain
more she knew not.
Mr.. Sumner and his granddaughter
with the Chambers had paid visit to
France, and Kate was one evening
walking alone along the beach at the
little watering place where they were
staying, when she suddenly found her
self face to face with her prosecutor,
Justin Darley. "
q want some more money!" he said
laconically.
"Then you will have to continue to
want" retorted Kate with flushed face
and glowing eyes.
'Indeed,n he sneered. perhaps it'll
make no difference to you if 1 let the
world, and your worthy grandfather in
particular, know that you are the wife
of Justin Darley."
Kate was silent but the red died out
of her cheeks, leaving them very pale.
II want fifty pounds, an you'd bet
ter let me have 'em," said the villain
roughly.
Il haven't the money!" said Kate.
''Raise it them
81 cannot"
.Don't tell me; you've raised it .afore
an you can raise it agin. I'll give you
three days to get it, an if"
Hewas interrupted by someone seizing
him by the collar from behind, and
hurting him to the ground.
sLie there, curl" exclaimed tall and
handsome young gentleman. ''This is
the second time during the past fort
night that have observed you annoy
ing this lady"
Then turning to Kate, he begged the
honor of escorting her to the hotel at
which she and her party had put up,
and she consented.
Kate's most strenuous efforts to
s'raise" the money Justin barley had
demanded, met with failure, and her
feelings when the morning of the third
day came, can easily'be imagined.
She was glancing over newspaper
during breakfast when her eyes alight-
ed on paragraph which made her
heart bound with joy.
1t told her of the accidental death by
drowning, of Justin barley the day be-
fore.
''My term of misery has expired at
last, she cried exulting1y to herself.
Since the commencement of her per
secution by Justin barley, Kate had
gradually become sad, melancholy
looking girl, but now another change
took place, and ere long she was the
same merry laughing Kate thatshe had
been before that memorable Christmas
The young gentleman who had chas'
tised Justin barley on the BEACH, Ire
quently visited Kate.
The result of these visits was that al
intimacy sprang up between the two
which soon ripened into deep and ar
dent love.
ALI the affection she had once give1
Adrian Holmes, Kate now bestowed
upon Henry We're.
When autumn was drawing to a close
Kate, with her grandfather and thu
Chambers, returned to their own coun
try, Henry We're accompanying them.
Kate and We're were married OF
Christmas Day,
The newl ly-wedded pair went to re