Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-06-21

E
Too late. It was closed from without
before she could reach 1t. A sharp click,
then the Woman=s chuckling voice sounded
from the other side:
@I'n push the key under the door, Mr..
/ Vaudeville, and you can come and 60 at
pleasure.
TOinette made a frantic struggle to gain
possession of it, but Guy held her back.
and put the key In his pocket. She was
as child IN that clasp Of iron.
You are not strong, TOinette, he said.
DO not tire yourself out to no purpose.
She stumbled into a chair, giddy with
fright and prolonged exertion. That hur-
RED, anxious journey was beginning to
tell on frame weakened by recent illness.
And now the bitter disappointment and
dread Of a horrible fate were added to all
the rest. Her head dropped and her eyes
! closed for moment
She was recalled to herself by a glass
being held to her lips.
Drink this wine, said Guy, looking
down at her with a strange blending of
/ anger and pity in. his dark face; and do
not shrink from me so. You VIII not be
harmed. p"
She made q desperate effort to rally
Again her anxious gaze swept the room.
1t was like prison. If she screamed for
help there was only that treacherOUs
woman to hear. And she knew the hope
lessness of a struggle with the powerful
villain before her.
What is the meaning of this outraged"
she demanded, in the haughtiest tone she
could assume.
He laughed.
That is strong word to use, Toinette.
Never mind. Choose your own terms. It
does not matter since you fell blindly
into the cunning trap set. So you ex-
pected to find Philip Rayner here? As
though he were the only man who cared
to see you'll"
She made no reply. It seemed as if he
read her very thoughts. What had he
found out? Everything, judging from the
ruse he had employed to entice her to
this lonely spot. How? Had Dulcie be-
trayed her?
The house We are in is called Dead
Mans Cottage, he resumed. at bears
a bad name, and is Stunned by all the
neighbOrhOOd. Not the ghost of chance
of anybody's coming here to disturb US,
though we were to remain month. But
the length of our stay depends wholly
upon yourself"
" our stay?" she repeated invOluntarily
Those are the words I used. It would
be cruel to leave you alone in this rat-in-
tested hole.
TOinette looked at him bravely, trying
to hide the sickening fear she felt.
You have some purpose to accomplish,
and have taken this means to gain your
end"
yes. But my purpose should be no
secret to you who know me so we'll. It is
the same which has been the controlling
motive of my life for many a long day-t0
win you for my bride, beautiful Toinette.
You expected to succeed by using STRAIT
agem?" ner voice trenholm with unspeak-
able scOrn.
4 love you so madly I am resolved to
stop at nothing, fair means or foul Let
understand nqch nfhnV nE
of the sort to be easily turned from fixed
purpose. Do you think will give up
the dearest wish of my heart because of
wOman's Obstinacy? I will make you
my wife. and teach you to love me after
ward
With wicked CLEAN in his dark eyes
he threw himself into chair.
Let US have it out, TOinette. doubt
If you fully realize the situation yet; but
you viii befOrs I am done It was a
dreadful blow to me when you fed from
Bonnyview Hall. It showed how deter
mined you were to risk any fate rather than
yield.
You and my guardian had driven me
to the verge of madness by constant per
secutiOn. Major Villars would have re-
sorted to compulsiOn. I knew there was
money at stake, but I could endure toll
and privation. 1 gave up everything, and
escaped just in time.
W C44s yOA are IL l44o luis dSdl1s GlOL6
absolutely at my mercy than ever at Bon
nyview Hall. There you had friends; here
is only Deb, creature in my pay. No
one viii dream of coming to look for you.
Dulcie thinks you are dead; she has taken
your place, stolen your name, and not even
your unscrupulOus guardian suspects the
impOsture.
You wrote that letter to entice me
here?"
"Of course. I had to do something, you
know. I found you by the merest
chance or was the devil guiding
me? - shortly after you were res
cued from the river. 7 am the ben
evOlent doctor they told you about
after coming to your senses. From your
rawlings while delirious I learned the des-
perate plan you had formed to hide away
and let this girl Dulcie palm herself off
for you"
at was her startling likeness to me
that suggested it, " TOinette said, frankly.
What was the use now of keeping any
thing back?
ITO be sure. You had no idea of de-
strOying yourself when you jumped into
the river. 1t was simply trick to deceive
DuIcie-lead her to fall in more readily
with your wishes. You sent Major ViIlars
an anonymous note that he might be wait
ing to receive the half distracted girl
when the ferry-boat touched the docks.
know everything you see. 1t was the
maddest Of all mad schemes, such as
could only have suggested itself to a
woman's brain. You only thought Of
hiding away, no matter how, or where,
until your absent lover came back, and
you could claim his protection.
TOinette made no denial. 1t would have
been useless.
THE best laid schemes will gang
a-gley,'" ne went on, mOckingly. with
all your cunning and daring you walked
straight into the trap I set. You are my
prisoner for any length of time I may see
fit to detain you here. It may come to a
trial of endurance between us two, but I
hope not, for your sake. OnOne condition
will open these doors and let you walk