The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-09-20

Virginian felt Tire ilonAheel Of oppression.
and his soul groanod beneath the pres
sure. He blindly obeyed the mandates
of his prosecutor, and yet an the while
he was blindly hoping that som ething
would occur to change the tide OF events
and place this man in his power. When
that time came, ss he fefvently hoped
and prayed it would evesy hour of his ex-
istence, he would show the Captain the
same mercy fhat had been extended to-
ward him and yet. instead OF cold-b4ooded
cruelty, he would lot passion master him
The Captain knew full well how he
was hated, but he was too bold and
reckless tc heed Il urbch, and let events
shape themselves.
The situation had not been very
pleasant one, menaced by these two
women Of the dead past as It had boen :;
but he was man who beloved firmly
In luck and fate. apd something seemed
to tell him that ali would como out
well.
So far as Barbara Merriles was con-
cerned, this had como true, for she
would trouble him no moro, unless her
spirit could come back to haunt the man
who had been the cupse of her life, c
thing that the Captain has no fear Of.
Thus affairs were allowed TO drift along
in their own way, and the fatal hour drew
near when the climax wGs to como.
The young girl felt her soul reeoil In
horror at the Thought OF making such
sacrifice, even for her fathers sake, for
he had given her to understand Just how
it was, and why he was Forced to do such
an unnatural thing.
Still 1t was not so>bad as it might have
been at former time. Her heart lay
dead within her, and she could not take
half the interest In matters that she
might otherwise have done, bat yet the
idea of marriage with that man was quite
enough to horrify her.
There WAS one, however, whose inter
est in her never tagged, and that person
was Roger Darrell. He knew she loved
him, and, If her scrupfes would not per-
NIT her to marry him, he was at least
determined thaE-she should not be forced
to marry another against her wifi.
There was ono Of the servants at the
Terrace who had become aware of the
love that existed between his young mis-
tress and tho master OF Darrell Chace,
and whom, some time previous, Roger
had been in q situation to assist In
material way.
The man, therefore, owed him much,
and he had been well pleased at the as
pect OF affairs up to the time the expso-
sion came.
After that event Andrew had taken it
upon himself to convey all that he saw
and heard in reference to~AIiss Carol to
Roger Darrell. He did not act in a mean
manner. but, believing that this object
was good, and that the end justified the
means, he was continually on the look
out for something hinging on the case.
Thus the young master of Darrell
Chace was aware of all things OF impor-
tance that were transpiring at the
Terrace.
He knew how hard Carol seemed to
suffer, and, not knowing what broken
heart she carried about with her, could
not but feel trifto angry at the delicate
scruples that could doom two lives to
continue suffering.
This harsh feoinng quickly passed away,
however. and his heart bled for his lost
love. How he yearned to take her Ia his
arms, and, kissing away the tears, cheer
her spirits. What q terrible fate it was
that fettered them so, and kept apart two
souls that lived bat for each other.
He also learned, with great surprise
and anger, of the plans that were being
perfected for the speedy marriage OF
Carol.
Both the Captain and Lawrence Rich
mond would have been amazeL could
they havo learned how much OF their mu-
tual understanding was known. Roger
was quite well aware Of the fact that tho
soldier duelist possessed a secret which
he held over the head OF Carols father,
and that this same secret was to be the
"open sesame" 60 the old gent16nan's
treasures.
He knew that Carol hated this Capt
Grant, whoever he might be. and he be-
came firmly resolved shat, II IT must be
the last act OF his HE, he would prevent
the unholy marriage. Since words would
be of no avail, he was ready to proceed to
still stronger measures.
He remembered the story OF young
Lochinvar, who carried off his bride just
when she was about to be married to
another, and yet the cases were far from
bel ng parallel, for IN this instance there
was barrier between them, and, even
though he saved Carol from such fate,
1t would not bring them any closer to-
gether.
Meanwhile preparations were going on
at the Terrace for the wedding Of Capt.
Grant and Carol. Tho young girl had
not spirit enough just thon to resist.
Her faith in Roger was not gone, but it
had received terrible shock, and this
rendered her gmescent with the numb
pain that filled her heart.
Although unable herself to otter the
plans of the two men a particle, there
rested deep down in hor heart hope. the
composite quality of which sho herself
could neither analyae nor even under
stand, and yet 1t seemed that she looked
for help from some quarter.
The preparations for the wedding were
not of a most magnificent natHIe, for 1t
was the Captains wish that the ceremony
should be quiet and witnessed by only a
few personal friends of the family.
What was his object h this, he, the
man so full of display and love of osten-
tation, they could not comprehend; but
Lawrence Richmond suspected that ne
was afraid some one who had known him
In the past, and whom he was afraid to
see, might learn of his whereabouts.
Filled with this k3ea the Nirgtnian made
haste to have an announcement OF the