Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-06-22


him through the hole and the light strucs
upon his face and form, and glinted down hi:
golden beard, that he was the most magnifi
cent specimen OF humanity she had ever seen
In another instant lie had turned the lantern
round and revealed her dear sister Bessie tc
her gaze. Bessie was seated upon one Of the
half empty sacks of mealies, apparently hall
asleep, for she opened her wide blue eyes and
looked round npprehcnsively like one sud
denly awakened. Her golden curls were in
disorder and falling over her fair forehead
and her face was very pale and troubled, and
marked beneath the eyes with deep blue lines
Catching sight of her visitor, she rose lur.
riedly and retreated as far from him as the
pile Of sacks and potatoes would allow
What is iti" she said, in a low voice 81
gave you my answer. Why do you come &c
torment me AGAIN.
He PLACED tie lantern upon al upright sacl;
Of mealies, and carefully balanced it before
he answered. jess could see tina: he wa,
tai.lS time to consider.
Let us recapitula.c" hc said. at length, in
his full, rich voice. TIE position i, this.
gave you this mornin,, t;Ie ciioicr he:weoi
consentinG to marry me tomorrow anl see
ing your Old uncle and bcncfactor shot. Fur
consent to marry me your uncle should lie
shot, and that would then make YOU mine,
dispensing with the ceremony OF marriage.
Is that not so!'
Bessie made no answer, and he continued,
his eyes fixed uron her face and t!loughtfulIy
stroking his Learl.
''Silence gives consent Twill go on. Be
fore man can lie shot according to law he
must be tried and condemned according to
law. Your uncle has been tried and has been
condemned"
! Il beard It ALL cruel murderer that You
are" said Bessie, lifting her head for the first
| time
$50! l thought you would, through the
crack. That is why had you put into this
place; it would not have looked well to bring
you before the court" and he took the light
and examined the crcvice. This place is
badly built" ho went OH, in O careless tone
"look, there is another space there at the
back, and he actually came up to it and held
the lantern close to it SO that the light from
it shone through into Jess eyes and nearly
blinded her. She shut them quickly. so that
tile CLEAN reflected from them should not DO
tray her, and then held her breath and 70.
manned as still as the dead. In another sec
ond he took away the light and replaced it on
the mealie bag.
$50 you say you saw it ALL Well, it must
have shown you that was in earnest. The
old man took 1t well, did he not? He is q
brave man and respect him. l fancy that
he will not move muscle at the last That
comes Of English blood, you see 1t is the
best in the world, and am proud to have it
in my veins"
Cannot you stop torturing me and say
what you have to sayi" asked Bessie.
II had no wish to torture you, but if yo,
like will come to the point. 1t is this. Will
you now consent to marry me tomorrow
morning at sun up, or am to be forced to
carry the sentence on your old uncle into
affect"
Il will not. Twill not. I hate you and
defy you"
Muller looked at her coldly, and then drew
his pocketbook from his pocket and extracted
from it the death warrant and pencil
"Look, Bessie" he said. "This is your
uncles death warrant. At present it is value
less and informal, for have not yet signed,
though. as you will see, have been careful
that everybody else should. II once l place
my signature there it cannot be revoked, and
the sentence must be carried into effect. II
| 1
fore your eyes" and he placed the paper on
hand.
"Oh, you cannot, you cannot be such q
dend, walled the wretched woman, wripging
her hands.
"Iassure you you are mistaken. both can
and will. I have gone too far to turn back
for the sake Of one old Englishman. Listen,
| Nso1 10 Ia
know"
Here Jess behind the wall felt inclined to
cry out ut Is q lie!' but, remembering the
absolute necessity Of silence, checked herself.
"And, what Ia more" went ON Muller,
''your sister Jess Is dead too; she died two
days ago."
jess deadi Jess deadi It e not true.
How do you know that she Is deadr'
"Never mind; will tell you when we are
married. She is dead, and except for your
uncle you are alone in the world. II you per-
sist in this he will soon bO dead too, and his
blood win be upon your head, for you will
have murdered him."
help himr she cried, wildly. "He Is con-
de,nned BY your court martial-you would
only deceive me and murder him after all.n
ION my homer, no. Before the marriage /
will give this warrant to the pastor, and be
shall burn it as soon os the service is said.
But, Bessie, don't you SEQ that those fools who
tried your uncle are only like clay in my
handsl con bend them this way and that,
and whatever the song sing they will ech0
It, They do not wish to shoot your uncle,
and will be glad, indeed, to get out Of it
Your uncle shall 60 in safety to Natal, OF
| IN f1oy, ha II. -
secured for him, and compensation paid for
the burning Of his house. 1 swear it before
God"
She looked up at him, and he could sec that
she was inclined to believe him.
ut is true, Bessie, it Is true--I will rebuild
the place myself, and if l can find the man
who fired it he shall be slot. Come, listen to
me, and be reasonable The man you loved
Is dead, and no amount Of signing can bring
him to your arms. alone am lcft-I, who
love you better than life, better than ma
ever loved q woman before. Look at me, ar
I not q proper me for any maid to wed
though be half 4. Boer3 And have th
brains. too, Bessie, the brains that shall max
us both great We were made for each othe
Il have known it for years, and slowly
slowly, I have worked my way to you till a
| AnrV yOu 0to Ia uly 8uQ no BtfeCC0ea
out both his arms toward her.
my darling" he went on, in q soft, hal
dreamy voice, my love and my desire, yield
now-yieldl Do not force this new Grim
upon me- want to grow good for your sake
and have done with bloodshed. When yol
are my wife believe that the evil will e,
out Of me, and shall grow good. Yield, AMI
never shall woman have had such q HUSBAND
| vwi 1,a 20 I vvsI1 III
soft and beautiful to you as women love Lii,
to be. You shall have everything that none.
can buy and power bring. Yield for ysul
uncle's sake, and for the sake Of the grea1
love bear you"
Bessie, whose face wore q half fascinated ex
preston. Az be came the wretched woman
gathered herself together and put out heI
hand to repulse him. @No, no." she cried, q
hate you-I cannot be false to him, living OF
dead. shall kill myself know shall"
He made no answer, but simply can't
always nearer, till at last his strong arm,
closed round her shrinking form and drew
her to him - easily as though she were Z
babe. And then al at once she seemed Il
yield. That embrace was the outward dgr
OF his cruel mastery, and she struggled M
more, mentally or physically.
"Wu you marry me, darling-wil ysu
marry meF' he whispered, with his lips x
close to the golden curls that jess, streaming
her cars outside, could only just catch the
words:
"Oh. suppose so; but I shall die-it viii
kill men
He strained her to bis heart and kissed hes
beautiful face again and again. and next mo
ment Jess beard the footsteps. Of the return.
ing sentry ana saw MN feave 20 OF her
Jantje, too, caught her by the hand and