The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-02-22
His voice was dangerously sweet and

peratetely, cl1nching her lists. II shall
go away from here tomorrow"
'Preposterousl" he exclaimed, throw
ing himself away from her and striding
across the room.
"You shall not go away from me into
the great, cruel world. I'll put you un.
der lock and key"
She smiled at him through her tears.
"Look here, Jo," he said, coming to
stand-still before her, suppose prom.
ise to reform-will you marry me? What
degree of perfection must man obtain
in order to become your husband?"
This with sarcasm.
She met his angry, cleaning eyes
steadily.
The man whom / marry must not
spend his life in selfish dissipation,
neither must he ride headlong over all
the gifts which God has bestowed upon
MIN. Think what God made you," she
added, passionately. "Thinlt what you
have mado yourself.
Glow can you come before your little
boy, carrying all the aroma of debauch-
cry, when you might make hero OF
yourself for him to reverence and to pat
tern after? When you have conquered
your vices i will be your wife, for / do
love you, even better than you dream,
and it breaks my heart to see you so
scornful of all thatis good and pure"
"IIow do you know that?" he inter-
rupted. 81 am not scornful of this good
and pure little woman. You have little
faith in me, Jo, that is plain; but l will
astonish you.
Tomorrow you shall go, as you
choose--for | can find you wherever you
60 and when have exercised the dew
lis which have possession here, 1 will
come for my reward. Only, remember,
if L find any other man has usurped me
| shall make a small matter of shooting
him."
Jo laughed miserably; she was quite
sure in her own mind that she should
never see him again.
She turned blindly away, but he de-
tanned her.
"What, going without another word?
Without goodbye kiss? l go to town
tonight, and shall not return until after
you are gone. Kiss me farewell, Jo!'
She lifted her pale and trembling lips.
gave him her first kiss, and sped away,
fearful lest her resolution should falter
under the light of his dark eyes.
Five years passed away.
For year, yes, two years, Jo kept
alive desperate flicker OF hope in her
heart.
She never heard of Julian Vane's long
long months of battle with his evil
spirit
tcl,n al &c l. A,c
casional back-slidings, when he reck-
lessly plunged into every kind of dissi-
patton.
He never came to her, although she
was in the city and he knew it, and at
last 10 gave up her dream of happiness
and tried to forget it and him.
She left the city, drifted here and
there as fortune seemed to beckon, now
sewing, now teaching, until at last she
found herself installed mistress of a lit
tie school in a struggling California set
tlement known as Devils Creek.
1t was a pleanant spot, in spite of its
name, and 10 began to think herself set
tied for life. until an annoyance arose
in the shape of big, burly rough, known
as Jerry Galore, who had conceived vio-
lent passion for the quiet, sad-eyed lit
tie school-ma'a
He followed her everywhere, made
desperate love to her on every occasion,
sent her badly spelled notes, until she
finally began to fear him.
One night she was delayed after school
by some reports she wished to fill out.
The school-house was in a lonely
place, nearly mile from any other
building; and, looking up from her
writing presently, she was alarmed to
see Jerry Galore leering at her from the
doorway.
AS she sprang to her feet he stepped
over the threshold, closed and locked
the door.
What do you mean, sir?" she de-
manded, sternly. ''Stand aside; l wish
to pass"
mot so fast, Miss Holland. You'll
stay here awhile with me. You've put
on too many airs with me, my lady.
Perhaps after you've passed the night
here you'll be ready to be my wife. I'm
bound to have you"
JOS head was up; her nostrils dilated,
her eyes flashing, but her heart quailed
AT that moment one of the windows
was thrown open from the outside, and
man vaulted through into the school
room.
1t was Julian Vane.
Instantly the ruffian's revolver was
leveled at him.
"You just make tracks out of here"
said Jerry Galore, ''or Fll-"
Here 10 struck his wrist suddenly with
one firmly clinched first, and the re-
volver went spinning to the floor.
Before Jerry had recovered from his
astonishment Vance possessed himself
of the revolver, and in turn took aim at
the bully's head.
81 understand" said Vane. looking
the fellow over with the supercilious
smile which 10 remembered so we'll,
81 understand that this settlement is
called Devils Creek For all know
you ma be the old gentleman himself,
but as this lady is my future wife, and
have not seen her before for five years,
/ hope you will pardon me for insisting
upon your immediate departure"
The rough glared at him for few
seconds, taking in the build OF the mus
cular figure, and then realizing that
Vane was more than match for him,
he staggered out of the room.
10, with little tremulOEs cry, ran
into the arms outstretched for her, and
searched the beloved face anMously.
~. IL II.