Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-09-05

hand when he signed the registry,
laughing, and calling him nervous fell
low. [ wrote my maiden name, Olive
Chase, for the last time, and immediate
lv after l was hurried into a carriage
and. accompanied by my father-in-law
and husband, began the twenty mile
drive which brought Us to Limestone
Towers, the home of the Silurian fam
lily.
During the whole of the drive Lord
Grenton never opened his lips. His
father made few remarks concerning
the weather, offered me sandwiches
and sherry, and never took bis eyes OFT
his beloved son until that individual,
muttering something to me unintelllgl-
BILE, sank into profound slumber.
A host of servants lined the hall
through which | passed on my nus
bands arm; but the aspect Of the tow
ers struck me with a cold dread. was
thankful when Lord Silurian intimated
that my presence at the dinner table
would not be expected, and that my in
PRODUCTION to my mother-in-law would
take place the following morning.
made hasty dinner alone, in one
of the magnificent rooms which had
been set apart for me, and slipping on a
gorgeous wrapper tried to forget my
woes in the pages of some of my favor
lite books. Ere long my tired head fell
back on the sofa cushion and [ slept.
| awoke with a cry, and q sense OF
terror. A number of wax lights shed a
soft radiance over the handsome room,
the perfume of rare flowers filled the
air, and bending over the couch on
which I lay, his hot breath tanning my
cheek, was the man / had married,
with an expression on his face and in
his evil, shifty eyes, which God grant
| may never see on any human face
again. For moment | was paralyzed
with a feeling of sickening terror, then
| rose from the sofa and moved towards
the table.
"Where are you going?" he cried.
"Not so fast. Don't you know you are
mine now?"
In an instant he had me in his arms,
and was holding me SO tightly clasped
while he went on; Eyes, you're mine,
that old devil who's been standing be-
tween us. He thinks I'm safe with
Black. He's a deep one. D, / know
all about it; he wants an heir. Yes,
you're mine, and [ can kiss you until
you die, and tear your great, sad, black
eyes out, or pinch your white flesh, or
bite you until the red blood comes and
streaks your beautiful limbs.''
One struggle | made, only to find my
self held all the frmer, and borne
swiftly to the couch from which | had
risen, while he held me down with his
strong arms, and hoated over me, with
the same fearful expression which had
met my gaze on awakening.
''Shall tell you now l made the old
devil get you for me? / told him that
didn't want you, that I'd do what l
was told, and never speak to you ex-
cept when I was all right. [ am all
right sometimes, dye know. That's the
way [ got you: and now [ can tear you
limb from limb if I like" and he
laughed with his bead pressed close to
my breast, the amending, joyless laugh
of madness.
What did know not; think that
prayed, despairing, voiceless prayer,
that / might not lose consciousness
then and there, or die in his loathed en-
brace. tried to scream aloud, but at
the first sound his hand covered my
mouth.
"No no" he cried, with all the
cunning of madness in his sometime
vacant face, I'VE want no one here.
You know that you are my wife, my
own. I've never had anything of my
own before, and I'll show them how I
treat my belongings
"Oh," [ gasped, IF you are mortal,
and not a friend, take me to Lady
Silurian; take me to your mother"
My words called forth the widest
laughter.
LADY Silurian,' he cried, you'll
never see her, she's mad, as mad as a
halter; curse her, that's where I get it
from. We're ali mad but that old devil
of father of mine, and he'd be mad
too il he was not the devil. Your
mother wanted the money, you see, and
she's got it; she's got 100000, and I've
got you. The old man didn't care if [
had wife or not, not he, the old
villain, the old sccundrel. the old fool;
but he wants an heir. I'm going to
have my wife, beautiful Olive, but he's
not going to have his heir, O., not
much
The look which he cast on me froze
my very blood, but by this time I began
to see all too clearly the nature of the
snare into which | had fallen. | had
still enough strength left to look him in
the eye, steady my trembling voice, and
say, "If you want to annoy him lust
take me to him and say that you'll have
to do with his plan; that you
want to choose your own wife,"
/ tried to rise as I spoke, but he
clasped my garments firmly in both
hands.
ooh, but I won't do that, he'd take
you from me. l know the old fellow
too we'll for that"
''Only let me go to him and tell him
that We refuse to be made his Victims"
[ urged.
/ moved forward as I spoke. but he
seized my dress, tearing it from off me,
and dragging me to my knees he placed
one hand over my mouth, and made his
teeth mark in my white, round
shoulder.
The pain was so intense that I almost
tainted, my knees gave way and [ fell to
the floor.
''By God p he cried, 'dead already!'
The exclamation gave me an idea; what
if | were to feign death? I acted on it,
and presently heard him moving about
the room, muttering to himself. When
[ knew him to be at some distance / halt
opened my eyes, and saw to my horror
that he appeared to be trying to open
the window. Suddenly he desisted. and
T hoard him rnurmur siN0 this oido