Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-08-09
CHAPTER XIV.
PERPLEXED.
q the girl bv force, "

L can take the girl by force.
Don't attempt it, said Philip, quietly.
She is subject to my control, 1 tell
you"
MY wife aclnowIed ges no mans au-
thOrity over her save my own.
TOinette breathed a long, sObbing sigh
of relief, and clasI ed her arms more tight
ly around Philips neck. If he kept his
worst.
Major VilIars saw the gesture and
sprang at them, making a kissing, hungry
sound between his teeth.
The girl is not your wife, and you know
it. Try any internal game of bluff if you
dare. Give up my ward, or III make you
suffer for it.
The clergyman darted between them,
white, trembling, and holding up his
hands in horror.
NO violence, gentlemen, I beg of you.
Philip had already given a violent pull
was filled with startled servants.
Release Gar, he said to one of the
men.
Gar was fierce Siberian bloodhound
He was always kept chained. Fabulous
stories of his ferocity had penetrated
even to BOnnyview Hall.
Major Villars turned pale. The look
in Philips eyes told him what to expect
if he fingered.
Uttering fearful maledictions, he
turned and walked out of the room, fol-
lowed by Guy. His last words were q
threat to call the law to his aid.
When the place was we'll rid of the two
rufians Philip led TOinette into a small
parlOr near by, where they could be alone,
and placed her IN a chair But he con-
! tinued silent so long, her guilty heart
sickened again with fear.
Philip" she sObbed, holding out her
hands, that wretch frightened me dread
fully. am so glad you sent him away.
He must be mad to persist in calling me
his missing ward.
The perplexed man came no nearer, but
folded his arms and gazed at her with
/ sOrrOwful intensity.
we are alOne-yoU can tell me the
truth. Are you DuIcie or TOinette?"
For a moment she quailed under that
look, then summoned all her natural
audacity to her aid.
Philip, do you feel a lurking doubt? "
she said, in a soft, rsprOachful tone. 1T
/ is not strange, then, that Major ViIlars is
/ so reluctant to be convinced"
! Swear that you are Dulcie, my wife"
/ Il do swear It'll"
He made a movement as if to clasp her
| in his arms, but fell back again, shudder-
/ ing cOnvulsiyely.
He felt compelled to believe. It seemed
] such a strange, horrible thing for her to
/ sit there and swear to a falsehOOd-one
! that might eventually OverWheIm her IN
ruin. But he had never sounded the
depths Of that passionate, undisciplined
! heart.
His own lay like a lump of ice in his
/ breast. Some subtle instinct made him
shrink from the beautiful girl-long to
escape from her very presence.
TOinette must have read this in his
! looks, for she said wistfUily, her voice
thrilling with its pain and hOpelessness:
Is there nothing, Philip, to tell you
am the woman to whom you plight cd
/ your VOWS, and no impostor? What a SAD
fate-to be so doubted by him L lOYe!"
The mans heart was touched.
Forgive me, darling, he said, pressing
his cold lips to her forehead. L mus
seem hard and cruel to you, but am very
wretched. 1 will try to accept you as my
wife.
As he kneIt before her she rested he
bright head upon his shoulder like tired
child.
Philip, she whispered persuasively
will you call the clergyman in and let tn,
interrupted ceremony proceed?"
He started and shuddered
Why do you desire this if you are wha
you claim?"
I have called it a caprice, and so it is
But oh, it means so much to mel YO1