The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-09-27
pected It to come

pocfed 1t TO come IN the way 1t did.
When the gas was 80 suddenly extln-
guished, through the agency of the
shrewd Andrew, who had arranged all
these matters with tho young man before
hand, she too was somewhat alarmed by
the total darkness that camo upon the
see no.
Before she had time, however, to col
lect hor 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
cncircle her waist and draw her close to
him.
That it was the man to whom she was
being wedded when the interruption oc-
Cured, she readily knew, for he muttered
words as he hold her fast-words that
told the young girl he feared she herself
was the object for which this scheme Of
sudden darkness had boen brought about,
and that he was determined it should not
succeed ifhe 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
come, Carol could not even guess, and,
taken evon at the worry worst, 1t could not
be more bittor than finding herself in the
arms Of tho man she hated and despiscd
Capt. Grant.
Somehow, delicious sense of repose
seemed to pervade her whole being, and
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 horse and
moving rapidly, but it was q long time
before consciousness returned In full.
She was still clasped in the arms Of
her abductor, and looking up, could SEQ
his face In the mystic starlight.
1t was the countenance OF Roger Dar-
rel
she had once more come back to life, for
presently he stopped down and softly
spoke her namo.
"Oh, Roger, you have saved me from
that dreadful man. am 80 glad, 30
glad"
1t was all she could say simple enough
In itself truly, and yet the relieved cry Of
an overburdenod heart.
Roger looked down upon hcr tenderly.
and even drew her closer to him, an ac-
tion she could do nothing to prevent, even
had she so desired.
And 1t was impossible to withdraw her-
self from his clasp: she could only re-
main passive, and forgetting what terri
BILE rocks rose up in front, gave herself
up to the enjoyment Of the present. She
know, poor girl, that tho dream would
soon bo rudely broken, that there lay be-
fore her a path Of duty which she must
and would tread, no matter what pain II
might cost her; and who can blame her
II she allowed conscience to sink into
lethargy for tho time being, seeing that
she could not help herself. only that she
might gain strength Of mind to rosist tho
temptation that must soon come in her
way?
How long thoy had been riding Carol
could not even guess, but 1t must have
been quito time. Who're was Roger
taking her? Tho thought came to her
suddenly, and she instantly made up her
mind to ask.
II will take you anywhere you wish.
Carol. was heading for the old ruined
mill, where, as you know, the widow,
Mrs. Randall, livos alone. II you can
think of any bettor place, tell me, and l
shall carry you there. My only object in
carrying you off was to save you from a
designing villain, man whom l have
met before, and about whom there is u
mysterious familiarity that puzzles me at
times"
II believe you, Roger, and sooner
would have died than have become his
wife; but 1t seemed as II my senses were
bound. and all that did was in mo-
chanical way. Thank heaven you saved
mo from such fate. shall never for
get it, Roger, never"
There was sincerity in her voice, but
Roger made no reply. His heart was too
full for utterance, knowing as he did, that
all was ovcr between them, and that Of
her own FREQ will she had yielded to the
dictates OF fate, and renounced all happi-
ness and peace.
Once or twice a wild thrill seemed to
take possession OF his heart as the
thought flashed into his mind that per-
haps it might make some difference now
that he had saved her. Surely even with
such a taint upon his family name, an
alliance with him could not be any worse
than with such a scoundrel as Capt.
Grant. as the adyenturer was pleased to