Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-06-14

%vSNNSIeA ~ For a few mo-
2NEINNA ments she could
-, only stare at him breathlessly,
SE wondering whether treachery had
been used.
Come Toinette, he cried, i'm
patiently, don't stand there like
a stone image. You are IN my
power, and may as well submit
gracefully. 1 wish to set out at once on
the journey home"
By this time Dulcie was beginning to
rally from the stupor of surprise and
fright. She made d desperate effort to re-
lease herself from the clasp Of iron in
which she was held.
Il am not your ward, Major Yillars, You
have been misled by the striking resem-
blance L bear to her. Let me go; you
have no right to detain me-.
The man laughed incredulOusly. Dull
cie's evident familiarity with names and
persons told against her.
III you are not TOinette, where is she?"
he demanded, jeeringly.
Sleeping under the dark waters of the
river
For one moment he seemed impressed
by her sad earnestness; the next, he was
drawing her fOrcibly along by his side.
Come, come. Don't be a silly fool. It
Is useless to deny your own identity. lam
not to be deceived by so shallow q trick.
AS though I could be mistaken in my
,ward-the girl I have loved as my own
CullN45 anu WHO mas sat al my JdD40. lou
go back to BOnnyV1eW Hall this very night.
~Oh, believe me, Major Villars, 1 am
only a poor, friendless stranger. in
whose fate you can have no possible in
terest-"
What, then, is the meaning of this?"
me demanded, pausing to thrust a crum-
Piled note into her hand.
Dulcie opened and read it by the light
of a Pickering street lamp.
Major Villars, your runaway ward will
cross the Jersey City ferry at eight o'clock
this evening. Should she be yelled, you
will know her by the fawn- colored travel
ing dress she wears. word to the wise
IS sufficient.
who could have written this?" asked
the bewildered girl, lifting a startled
glance to her companions face.
L cannot tell. 1t reached me early this
afternoon. There is no signature, and the
handwriting Is disguised. But resolved
to be on the spot, ready to receive you if
you came.
Dulcie's head dropped for a moment
But one person could have known where
she would be at the hour specified, or what
she would wear.
Had Toinette found some opportunity
TO send the anonymous letter to her
guardian? IF SO, what was her object?
IF she had planned to send Dulcie out
alone to encounter that hard, cruel man,
why had she destroyed herself while
The harder Dulcie tried to solve these
problems the more puzzled she became.
Let me go, " she cried, lifting her tear
full eyes inn lOringly. I swear to you that
Toinette is dead, and am an utter stran-
ger to you'll"
silence! The folly has gone far
enough" he exclaimed, angrily. you
cannot even expect me to believe you. I
am willing to take just as solemn an
oath that you are my fugitive ward, and
none other. VIII you come with me
quietly?"
She saw he was in earnest, and a
thrill of deeper fear shot through her
heart.
Twill appeal to the first person we
meet"
Major YiIlars laughed mockingly, and
after a hasty glance around beckOned to
policeman who was pacing his beat at a
little distance.
Il am sure you remember me, Saun-
ders, he said.
"Oh, yes, sir, was the respectful reply.
a was in your service for a few weeks not
long ago. You are Major Villars, of Bon
nyvieW Hall"
Right. OF course, you recognize this
young LADY,"
at is Miss Lynton, " the man answered,
his glance expressing admiration of the
flushed, lovely face. Your ward, sir.
Right again Something must be
wrong with the poor chud's brain, for she
persists in denying her own identity. Be
good enough to find my carriage, Saun-
ders, and help US to it.
Dulcie no longer struggled. 1t would
have been useless. Major Nillars would
claim a guardians authority over her, and
call upon this man to cOrrObOrate his
story.
She suffered them to place her in a
large, close carriage, which instantly
started upon the hOmeward journey.
Few wOrSs were spoken during that
night ride across a strange country. Major
Villars leaned back in the darkest cor
ner, thoughtful and preOccupIed. Dulcle
dropped her head upon her hands, and
wept bitterly.
At last her tears ceased to flow, and
suddenly, in the night and darkness, a ter
rible temptation came to her.
Il viii struggle against fate no longer,
she told herself. I viii take this dead
girls place. 1t cannot be so very wrong
poor TOinette herself wished it. / have
only to remain silent, and the truth viii
never be known. The deception can bring
no harm.
Then she thought of her desolate con-
dition-friendIess penniless, and in &
Il always wanted to be rich, she muir
Injured; ito see the world, have plenty Oh
books, fine clothes, and luxurious sur
roundings. Now it is possible to make
my ambition a reality 1 need only &C
cept in silence what is freely offered"
Misguided Dulciel There are harder
things than poverty and loneliness tC
bear. This was the lesson left for her tt
learn in the bitter days to come.
She was young, impulsive, fond Of 10.
nance and excitement. What wonder tina
she listened to the voice Of the temptel
and yielded?
1T is not your fault that you are placed
in such a position, it whispered. You
have simply been carried along by the re