Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-08-16
CHATTER XXYEm.
no WIN Or LOSE

/ nanus. EOr8lVe me II seem TOO 1tup6G-
uQuT a woOer.
CHAPTER xvii.
TO WIN OR LOSE
ulcie's heart sank, but she dared not
give way to the sickening fears that beset
/ her. Firmly meeting the handsome VII
lain's gaze, she returned:
IF you have any thought of making
me your wife, it must be given up at once
and forever, Mr.. Vaudeville. Twill not
marry you"
I'VE will see about that.
Guy took the hand Major Yillars re-
leased to his clasp, and led her before the
waiting priest.
Proceed with the ceremony, he said,
/ peremptorily.
Dulcie stopped him before he could utter
a word.
Il appeal to you for protection, good
sir. do not wish to become Guy Man
/ deville's wife.
The priest looked nervous and shame
! faced, and thumbed his book cOnfusedly.
Proceed, proceed What are you wait
/ ing for2" Major Villars demanded, in an
| impatient tone after moments silence.
I am the brides guardian; this marriage
/ has my hearty approval. I give the bride
/ away.
The priest cleared his throat. Dulcie
! realized, with a deeper thrill of terror,
! that the man was mere tool of the IN
I
/ scrupulOus villains from whom she had
! nothing to hope.
You have led me a pretty chase, TOi-
nette, " Guy said, with a long, intent look;
"but I forgive you. All is going to end
/ happily. In five minutes you will be my
wife.
mo true priest would marry me to you
/ against my Will. "
He laughed mockingly.
MY priest Will do anything I require of
him. He is in my power and dare not re-
| fuse.
Dulcie knew he spoke truly. She glanced
| wildly around the room. There was no
pity in those dark, relentless faces. She
might scream, but in all probability the
servants had been sent out of the way.
| Rosine was in the house, but what could
one weak girl do against such odds?
She saw but one way out Of the desper-
ate situation, and took it. Again fixing
her steady gaze upon Guys face, she said,
quietly:
you have been deceived. am not
Major Villars sprang at her furiously,
! Kissing an oath between his teeth.
"D-n! Don't think to impose upon
us by so shallow trick. Why didn't you
say so at Highlands yesterday? You
would have been glad to do it but for
having the lie hurled back upon you. No,
it is late in the day to deny your own
/ identity. The subterfuge viii not avail
you"
Il am not Toinette, Duicie reiterated
st would be crime for me to wed that
mani am Philip RaynOr's wife.
You lie!"
"As God is my witness, it is the truth. :"
Look and tone had their effect. All the
Majors old doubts and misgivings re-
turned with redOubled force. He glared
at her, fearful curses breaking in quick
succession from his lips.
cole - Al,
a deception?' he savagely demanded.
What does it mean?"
was esperate-WOrn out with strug-
Cling against fate"
Guy flung the hand he held furious1y
from him. His own vague misgiyings
were now FULLY explained
"I am convincedi" he exclaimed, with
an oath. @It is Du1cie. She and TOi-
nette have entered into a conspiracy to
deceive US.
Major ViIlars could have murdered the
girl He stood clinching and unclinching
his hand as though cropping for a knife.
He was puzzled-unable to understand
what motive had led Dulcie to sacrifice
herself-though no longer doubling that
she had done so.
Return tt your room, he said, hoarse-
/ ", after a silence. But I am not done
with you-don'U think that. 1t was
1 scarcely a prudent thing to do, TO play
I such a trick upon a man of my tempers-
ment. spare you now, but our reckon
ing is coming later. Col"
Dulcie had no wish TO disObey. She
found ROsine croUChing in the corridor,
pule as ghost.
oh, my sweet mistress!" gasped the
maid, shaking with excitement; what
have the wTetches succeeded in doing!
Married you to a man you hate?"
DuIcie drew her into the pretty bOUdOu
. and shut the door.
Il have something to tell you, my faith
! full friend. I am not your mistress. She
is at Highlands. To save my husband
from imprisonment and disgrace 1 changed
identities with Toinette, as once before
Heaven pity me, I fear the sacrifice has
been in vain.
And she sank, sobbing, into a chair.
The startled girl made an effort to com
fort her She could but pity the helpless
creature whose life-bark had been drifteC
/ before the pillows Of fate until 1t seemed
ready TO strike OE the rocks
Suddenly there came the sound Of car
rage wheels in the drive below. DUlcie
sprang to the window just In season *
see Major EiilaEs and Guy drive away IL
3 the direction OF Highlands. She Wruns
t her hands and cried aloud in the bitter.
, ness of her anguish
what have 1 done? Philip VIII b,
! dragged to prison, his proud name bec0m
g a Jest and by-WOrd! Would I had sui
9 fered every torture In the power OF tbOs
I villains to infiics before declaring Tia
truth! Oh, miseryl 1t Is 1 Who hay,
brought this suffering upon bin i Lowell
/. LTo Bz CcNIuE UED.t