Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-08-09
Philip RaynoP' S Bride;
HAJORYIILARY FATAL MISTAKE.
BY RETT WILDWOOD.
CHAPTER xxIm-GContinueD.
OR

Wnen UWenJy-IOuf hours elapsed without
bringing her back, or any message to re-
assure her guardian, the latter grew
thoroughly frightened.
"The Jade has taken French leave
again, he exclaimed, gnaWing viciOusly
at his under lip. She has been given
too much liberty of late-al because of
your cursed lunacy, Guy. Now you see
what has come of it.
The younger villain was more alarmed
than his confederate. DUlcie's disap-
pearance had given different aspect to
affairs.
If the girl had destroyed herself, Philip
Rayner was free to WOO another wife.
Had TOinette gone to her old lover for
protection? Too late he cursed his own
folly for not having watched her more
carefully
~She has been so quiet and submissive
of late, I never dreamed of her giving
us the slip like this" he muttered.
He rode straight to Highlands, leaving
his horse in a thicket outside the gate.
It was no part of his plan to present
himself abruptly to the master of the
house. 1t was of the first Importance to
fully understand the grounds.
Should Philip be ignorant of Toi-
nette's second fight, he had no desire to
enlighten him.
Seeing the gardener at work trimming
the rose bushes, Guy crawled through
the hedge and accOsted him.
1t was at this very moment TOinette
left Philip sitting on the rustic bench,
after that unsatisfactory ramble in the
grounds. Guy caught glimpse of her
through the shrubbery as she moved with
a rapid, nervous step toward the house.
Who is that?" he demanded, his heart
giving a sudden, wild bound.
My dear mistress" the old man an
swered
do you mean Mrs. Raynor?" staring
after the receding figure. 4 thought she
was dead-drowned in the river"
So did we all, sir. But it was mis-
take She went away secretly-tO New
York. Mr.. RaynOr brought her home
again last night It vas like welcoming
one from the grave"
Il could have sworn it was TOinette, ="
Guy muttered. Then he remembered
how strikingly the two girls resembled
each other, and turned away, more at
ease in his own mind.
He felt secretly rejoiced that Dulcie
was alive and had returned to her hus-
bands house.
When Toinette learns this, she will
see the folly of holding out" he told
himself, with sinister smile.
The remainder of the day was spent IN
seeking elsewhere udings of the woman
he loved. He little dreamed how near
he had been to success.
But luck is often on the side of the
Undeserying. The next morning Guy
tive, and by some happy chance fell Ia
with the servant and the clergyman, at
that moment on their way to Highlands.
Both men were known to him by sight,
and his curiosity was so profoundly
aroused he at once began to question the
Unsuspecting servant.
8 MY pretty young mistress must have
some strange project in her head" the
fellow declared. She gave me gold
piece, and charged me to bring the dom
inie in hot haste, and only this one would
do. And / was not to lisp a word to
anybody in the house"
A wild suspicion flashed upon Guy
mind with startling suddenness. Every
thing grew dark before his eyes, and the
dull face of the stupid servant seemed
floating away in that darkness.
Quickly recovering himself, he stuck
his spurs deep into his horses sides, and
dashed like the wind down the hill, IN
the direction of Bonnyview Hall.
1T 1DGs Toinette! She is daring and
desperate enough for anything. She be-
lieves Dulcie is dead, and has taken hel
place and deceived them all-RaynoI
himself, it may be. FOOli why did not
suspect the truth at Once?"
The clergyman could only have been
summoned for one purpose. Major Vii
lars, as TOinette's guardian, would have
power to act. lie must be gotten to High
lands in time to assert his authority.
4 OIbundIGlN ne was JUST mo uul4uB Ms
horse when Guy reached the hall. Call
ing on the astonished man to follow
Guy turned quickly back, waiting unit
thew were on the road before explaining
his startling fears and surmises.
@The cunning jadel" Major Viliar
Kissed, furiously, breaking into tOrren
of maledictions. "She must not marr7
that man, and make beggars of you anC
me, Guy!"
Urging on their horses with whip anC
spur, the worthy cOnfederates reached
Highlands in the nick of time, and in
terrupted the ceremony, as we have seen
at the very outset.
Toinette reeled as though an earth
quake had rolled under her feet at tn
sight of her guardian and Guy Mande
vile striding into the room.
Then her lovely face whitened with
look of desperate resolution. Nothing
was left her now but to take a firm stan,
and fight out the bitter battle to the end
I forbid the marriagel It cannot g
on, Major Vilars cried in a furiOu
voice.
The clergyman dropped his book
TOinette fell back in her lovers arms
gasping, Historically:
Save me, Philip! Don't listen to tbs
wretch. Let the ceremony proceed"
He held her close in his firm, strOn
clasp, and said sOOthingly:
Courage, darling. No one has th
right to interfere. Besides, what doe
this matter whether this useless ceremOn
goes to the end or not? You are my wife
have been my wife for weeks.
The Major laughed N ockingly. Philip
look and tone convinced him that I'll
young man was thoroughly In earnes
aud had been deceived.