Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-10-05

CouhtN OH my cltVtbloH I'd tHe TaHh Oh
future countess. Mother. triumphant
wrote announcing my speedy mar
| riage to Mrs. Beaumont, anu ST ii Jack
made no sign.
The wedding dav came, and / had
seen my bridegroom but twice. On
these occasions his father and mamma
had been In the room. Lady Slurian
had not seen at all; her husband
brought me magnificent tiara. neck
lace, earrings aud bracelets of dia-
monds-the Silurian diamonds were
famed and regetted that his wife was
too great an invalid to present them in
| person.
have small recollection Of the cer-
emory; but remember that my father
in-law bent over and guided his sons
hand when he signed the registry,
laughing. and call ng him nervous fell
| low. i wrote my maiden name. Olive
Chase. for the last time. and Immediate
| ly after I 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 Siurian fam
lily.
During the whole of the drive Lord
| Grenton never opened b 8 lips. His
| father made few remarks concerning
the weather. offered me sandwiches
| and sherry. and never took his es off
| his beloved son until that individ ual.
muttering something to me unin-
tellig BILE, sank into profound SUM
| Der.
A host of servants lined the hall
! through which l passed on my hsis
bands arm; but the aspect of the
towers struck me with n cold dread. i
was thankful when Lord Silurian init
mated that my presence at the dinner
table would not be expected. and that
my Introduce on to my mOther-in law
would take place the following morn
ing.
l made a hasty dinner alone. in one
of the magn ficent rooms which had
been set apart for me, and slipping on
gorgeous wrapper l tried to forget
my woes i'm the pages of some of my
favorite books. Ere long my tired head
fell back on the sofa cushion and l
slept.
Iawoke with a cry. and a sense of
terror. A number of wax lights shed a
soft radiance over the handsome room.
the perfume of rare flowers filed the
air. and bending over the couch on
which lay. his hot breath tanning my
cheek, was the man l had married.
Nth an expression on his face and in
his evil, shifty eyes, which God grant
/ may never see on any human face
again. For q moment was paralyzed
with feeling of sickening terror. then
| rose from the sofa and moved towards
the table.
where are YOU going?" he cried.
mot so fast. Don't you know you are
mine nowP
In an instant he had me in his arms.
and was holding me so tightly clasped
in his embrace that painted for breath;
while he went on; "Yes. you're mine,
safe enough. now. I've got away from
| that old devil who's been standing be-
tween us. He thinks I'm safe with
Black. He's deep one. o. i 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 trmer. and borne
swiftly to the couch from which had
risen. while he held me down with his
strong arms. and floated over me. with
the same fearful expression which had
met my gaze on awakening.
"Shall tell you how made the old
| dew 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 / was all right | am all
right sonnet mes dye know. That's
the way got you; and now can tear
you limb from limb if like" and he
| laughed with his head pressed close to
my breast the unending. joyless laugh
of madness.
What did know not; think that
/ prayed. despairing, voiceless pray.
er. 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! mol" he cred, with all the
! cum ng of madness in his sometime
vacant face. I'VE want no one here.
| You know that you are nv wife, my
own. I've never had ANYTHING of nv
| own before. and L II show the M how I
treat my belongings"
Oh gasped. "f you are mortal.
and not q friend, take ms TO Lady
| Siurian; take me to your mother"
Ny words called forth the widest
laughter.
~E1ssdy Silurian." he cried, you'll
| never see her. she's NAL. as mad. rs a
| halter; curse her. that's where get IL
from. Wer're all mad but that old
devil of father Of nine, and he'd ne
mad too IL he was not the devil. Your
mother wanted the money. you see.
| and she's got ii; she's got ESQ. 600, and
| I've got you Tha. old man didn't
care il had wife or not, not he. the
old villain. the old scoundrel. 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
| muchv'
The look which he cast on me froze
my very blood, but by this time be-
II II Al