Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-07-06
CHAPTER XII.
THE HAUNTED MILL,
LTHOuGH

LTHOUGH, as
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 :S27 sMZaC !" seemed even de-
 ,J"n~ NA@shSyN' fusion and hol-
 ~iNs;~Z/M low mockery, she had never ex- pected 1t to come fin the way it did.
 When the gas was so suddenly extfn. guished, through the agency of the shrewd Andrew, who had arranged all theso matters with the young man before hand, she too was somewhat alarmed by the total darkness that came upon the see ne.
 Before she had time. however, to col lect her senses, which had been rather confused, owing to the critical position in which she had been found when the gas was put out, she felt the Captains arm encircle her waist and draw her close to him.
 That it was the man to whom she was being welded when the interruption oc- cured, she readily knew, for he muttered words as he held her fast-words that told the young girl he feared she herself was the object for which this scheme of sudden darkness had been brought about, and that he was determined 1t should not succeed if he had anything to say about 1t.
 Hardly had these words escaped his lips when Carol was taken suddenly from his arms. Into whose possession she had now ftorn1 o0lr1d mt taken even at the vAry worst, it could not be more bitter than finding herself in the arms of the man she hated and despised Capt. Grant.
 Somehow, delicious sense of repose she gave way to the multitude of fancies that flooded her brain, by fainting dead away.
 She was dimly conscious of jolting motion, as If on the back of q horse and moving rapidly, but 1t was long time before consciousness returned in full.
 She was still clasped in the arms of her abductor, and looking up, could eco his face in the mystic starlight. It was tho countenance of Roger Dar- rel!
 He seemed to be aware of the fact that she had once moro come back to life, for presently he stopped down and softly spoke her name.
 "Oh, Roger, you have saved mo from glad"
 It was all she could say simple enough in itself truly, and yet tho relieved cry of an overburdened heart. Roger looked down upon her tenderly. and even drew her closer to him, an ao- tion she could do nothing to prevent, oven had she so desired.
 And it was impossible to withdraw her. self from his clasp: she could only re- main passive, and forgetting what terri ble rocks rose up in front, gave herself up to the enjoyment of tho present. She soon be rudely broken, that there lay be- fore her path of duty which she must and would tread, no matter what pain it might cost her; and who can blame her If she allowed conscience to sink into a lethargy for the time being, seeing that she could not help herself, only that sho might gain strength of mind to resist tho temptation that must soon como in her way2
 How long they had boon riding Carol could not even guess, but 1t must have been quite 8 time. Where was Roger taking her? The thought came to her suddenly, and she instantly made up her mind to ask.
 "I will take you anywhere you wish, Carol. was heading for the old ruined mill, where, as you know, the widow, Mrs. Randall, lives alone. If you can think of any better place, tell me, and ] | bo1 My Ivy ;r carrying you off was to save you from a designing villain, a man whom have met before, and about whom there is 6 mysterious familiarity that puzzles mo at times."
 "I believe you, Roger, and soone, would have died than have become his wife but it seemed as If my senses were bound, and all that did was in me chanical way. Thank heaven you saved me from such fate. shall never for get 1t, Roger, never"
 There was sincerity in her voice, bu Roger made no reply. His heart was toe full for utterance, knowing as he did, tha' all was over between them, and that o her own free will she had yielded to the dictates of fate, and renounced all happi , ness and peace.
 Once or twice wild thrill seemed te l take possession of his heart as tn, thought flashed into his mind that per r haps it might make some difference now that he had saved her. Surely even witt such taint upon his family name, al , alliance with him could not be any wors than with such a scoundrel as Capt Grant, as the adventurer was pleased t f call himself.
 aI CONCORD BUGGIEs,