Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-09-12

sec Standish, would plead with him
yes. on her knees. He had always
seemed SO glad to do her smallest be-
hest; surely in a matter of life and
death he would not refuse her. She
cOntrived to see him, and alone.
With bushes that scorched her fair
white face. she pleaded to him as in
the watches of the night she had
scooled herself to plead. Then Stan
dish unmasked. He kept the passion
of his heart and eyes in leash. but he
told her without disguise the only
terms on which he was prepared to ac-
cede to her prayers. She was the
price of Leo's deliverance. He waxed
eloquent; his voice and manner were
tender as woman's as he poured out
his love to her-the love with which
he had loved, nay, worshipped her
from almost the first moment
when his eyes beheld her. Stella re-
coiled from him in horror; then, re-
covering herself. she appealed pas
siOnately to his generosity, to his pity
| even. Pity! he had no more pity than
the tiger whose prey is within his
grasp; desire knows neither mercy nor
pity. Her tears, her distress, kindled
still more the violent and cruel side of
his nature. Yet his voice was tender
| and persuasive. He would make her
the happiest woman alive. She should
not have a single wish ungratifed;
nay, Leo himself should be the first to
benefit by her sacrifice. He ventured,
even under the burning scorn of her
eyes. to compare the boys love with
his. Once more shes implored him,
with very agony of entreaty, but he
was inexorable; there was only one
| condition. And so he left her, bidding
her think it:over.
When she told Leo his rage for the
moment overcame his despair. He
called Standish by every name with
which man can brand a villain.
Would he have his darling sacrificed
to save himself ten thousand times
deeper disgrace? But after the first
passionate excitement, despair came
| crawling back. Disgraced, dishonored.
was he nearer to his lover Again he
thought of making a clean breast to
his father. But that very night at
dinner the Admiral had seemed out of
sorts, and had darkly limited at an I'M
lucky speculation into which he had
been betrayed. Leo thought of his
young brothers and sisters. Were they
to be sacrificed to his criminal
folly? All! he could call it by its right
name now. He and Stella sat with
clasped hands and sorrowful eyes; they
had never loved each other as they did
now. Then in the night, as she lay
half distraught with her trouble and
Leo's, the instinct of self-sacrifice
which is in every good woman's nature,
which has made heroines and martyr,
of them SO often, inspired her; and,
with shudderings and tremblings, she
resolved to save Leo even at the cost
of her own misery and despair. With
out a word or hint to Leo. she
wrote Standish that if he would not
have pity on her, knowing how she
felt toward him, she must needs accept
his cruel terms, since she loved her
cousin more than aught else in the
world. Would he, she wondered. still
want to marry her after that?
He took her at her word with joy
and triumph. He would know how to
guard her against Leo-against every
man in Christendom; and he had all
the faulty common to lovers who be-
lieve they can make woman love
them. Even then Stella had hope that
she would be able to creep out of her
promise through some loophole; but
Standish was far too clever for that
Leo had obtained a weeks delay for
the payment of his Goodwood losses
Before Standish handed over Stel-
las purchase-money she must be
his. She must go through the form
of marriage with him at registry
office. He would then leave her
free for two months. during which he
was to appear to her family to WOO
and win her. He knew she was not of
age, but he would hardly stick at such
trif1e as lie now. And Stella, with
out word to Leo or any living soul.
with death in her heart, went out one
morning and married Standish, and
received from him her price, 92, 900 in
Bank of England notes. Her trembling
hands placed them that night in Leo's,
and he went half mad with delight
and vowed that after all Standish was
a prince of good fellows and perhaps
had only meant to give him fright
for his own good. Stella held her
peace. She could not, dared not tell
him-not, at all events, until he had
paid away the money. She knew well
enough how he would fling it back in
Standish's face, perhaps with blows
and violence, did he but guess the
truth. When Leo sought his deliv-
erer, and. grasping his hand, poured
forth all his gratitude with heartfelt
emotion, Standish experienced a sensa-
ton that was not pleasurable.
A few days later Stella's husband
made formal demand for her hand of
her uncle and aunt. The good people
were delighted. Mercifullv for Stella,
Leo had gone yachting with friend
for three weeks. Mrs. Grey could not
make out why the girl was not over
joyed at her wonderful fortune.
Standish was a lover in ten thousand;