Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-06-28


Mans Cottage in hot haste. If Io1nette
held out after hearing all ne had to dis
close some other plan must be tried.
As she was hurrying toward the door,
impatient to be gone. he stepped before
her and said:
''Of course, you understand the only
condition on which you VIII be permitted
to leave this house? You must 60 With
me to Ridgeheld and become my wife be-
fore we set out upon the longer journey.
a fierce, angry cry broke from her lips.
Marry you? Never! We have gone
over that ground again and again. Let
me hear no more of it.
Every we'll, said he, standing like 8
stone image between her and the closed
door. "So that is your decision? OF course
you viii act as seems TO you Wigest and
best. You might as we'll go back and sit
down. There is but one open sesame to
this place"
You will not detain me here with so
much at stake? You are not so cruel2"
You can return to your friends only as
Mrs. Guy Vaudeville.
To marry you would raise an impassa-
bic barrier between me and the man /
love, she gasped.
"Of course, he returned, cooily. But
to stay here and leave him to we'd Dulcie
viii accomplish the same result. You
must give Philip up IN any event. But
viii 1t be no satisfaction to dash the cup
Of happiness from your lovely rivals
Eps?"
His voice was low and winning. With
out stirring from his position, he held out
his arms entreatingly.
TOinette fell at his feet, bursting into
piteOus sobs that might have melted a
heart of stone.
"Be mercifull Let me gol 1 am mis-
cradle enough already. If you know such
word as pity, spare me now. 1t will be
my death-bloW if Philip makes that girl
his wife. For Gods sake, relent!"
Guy only folded his arms over his
broad chest and looked down at her with
a hooking laugh as he answered:
Death does not come so easily to the
young and strong. You seem to forget
that 1, too, can suffer. You have no
mercy on me. Would you pass your life
in this dreary spot, knowing all the while
that Dulcie is in the beautiful world
happy in the devoted love of the husband
she has stolen from your arms?"
Toinette sprang up stung to madness
at the thought OF her own helplessness
and the villains power.
go, leave mel" she cried, in scorn. II
will bear any lot rather than yield"
Guys handsome face grew black with
passion. The great blue eyes that met
his own seemed to fash back sparks Of
defiance, as fire bursts forth when flint
strikes steel. Prayers, threats, expOstUla-
tons would ali have been futile and use
less. She had the look martyrs wear when
they walk unhinchingly to the stake.
Madly as Guy Vaudeville loved this
woman, he loved the riches which were
her dover even more. To give them up
meant ruin. If they were not to be won
through her, some other scheme must bF
tried.
81 will gO-take you at your word, he
Missed, turning on his heel. ''BUt some
day you will bitterly regret your decision
when it is forever too late.
The next instant the door closed upon
his dark, wFathful face. TOinette heard
the key snap in the lock and the tramp of
his heavy footsteps striding down the dark
hall and out at the front door.
The villains mind was made up.
''It is for my own interest to stop this
marriage, he mutteTed as he strobe away
from the cottage. eff TOinette is not to
be won, I will detain her here forever, and
gain possession of the fortune 1 cOVet
through Dulcie's instrumentality."
It was one of those sultry summer days
when even the stirless leaves and blades
of grass seem to pant for breath Guy
paused ever and anon to wipe the beaded
drops Of sweat from his forehead as he
jOurneYed rapidly on.
He was halfway to BOnnyyiew Hall,
and urging his horse to its utmost speed,
when the sky suddenly darkened, the wind
rose, and OminOus peals Of thunder began
to reVerberate, each louder than the last,
above his head
Guy looked frowningly into the dark
sky where clouds of inky b1ackness were
piled one upon the other.
THE storm will soon burst, he NUT
tered, but I must brave its fury. There
is barely time to reach BonnYYiew Hall
before dark.
Flashes of zig-zag lightning were trac-
Tr7ry hal do "a ri Is
in quick succession.
Setting his teeth together, Guy Mande-
vile urged on his jaded steed with whip
and spur.
A few great drops of rain fell patter-
ingly on the curled leaves and thirsty
earth.
Suddenly vivid fash of lightning
seemed to drop like fiery curtain before
his eyes, and a deafening roar filed his
ears, as though heaven and earth had
crashed together.
The horse he bestrode gave a snort Of
terror, a quick, frantic leap, and the next
moment Guy had been flung headlong
from his back and was lying insensible by
the roadside.
The terrible storm which brought the
desperate villains journey to this sudden
end had also a mission to accomplish at
Dead Mans Cottage.
After Guy left her, Toinette had stood
ike carVen image until the SOUND OF ms
retreating footsteps died away in the dis
lance.
Then, as if recovering from dull stu
por, she bounded forward and dashed
herself frantieally against the closed
door.
He was going, leaving her a helpless
prisoner with that fatal marriage so near.
@COme back, come baek!" she shrieked.
I viii consent to anything. Only set me
freel"
She could not think of Dulcie as Philip
RaynOr's bride and keep her senses.
Oh, why had she schemed and plotted
to send that girl to BOnnyview Hall? She
might have known how it would end.
Cruel, cruel fate! It was she herself