Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-02-15

you are M gentleman 10 stand there
| preventing my friend from finding met Let
me look outr y
Still he was as immoveable as fate.
The train moved, and another moment II
had steamed away.
Dorothy, afraid of she knew not what, sat
down shiyering.
Just then the man turned round, and sal
down beside her, saying:
$50 i am no gentleman. Yet l am your
guardian, Miss Snow, and have q right to
know why you are travelling at night with
a man of whom / altogether disapproye."
With a shrek of terror Dorothy sank back
I'm her seat, her eyes riyeted on the exultani
face of the man she feared more han the
King OF Terrors.
God help mer' walled Dorothy. What
shall / do?'
why, act as a modest girl should: return
to your home with me, and try to trust your
best friend"
You my friend! Sooner than be at your
mercy l would throw myself among a pack
OF hungry wolves. Keep your distance,
don't dare 10 touch me, or / will throw my.
self out OF the train. / am no coward, there
is nothing under heaven ! fear asI do you"
"You are in my power, Dora; If you are
wise you will not provoke me. / am a des-
perate man, and this is a dangerous venture
for us both. You see this pistol? If you
don't promise 10 return to my protection, j
swear | will shoot you, and myself after
wards"
He put the sAkning toy away. and stood
over her, white with passion.
She tried to get away from him TO ring
the alarm, but his strength was too much for
her, yet he held her kindly.
keep quiet, Dora, and listen TO me. lam
your guardian, the law gives me control
over you. / followed you here tonight to
keep you from clipping with a man of whom
| do not approve.
II can enforce my authority, but prefer 10
use persuasion. Listen TO me. If you will
get out next time the train stops, i will for.
give all; IL not, and Pierce Pcnfold and |
meet, there will be murder done, for / am
desperate, and would risk more than life to
keep you with me-"
Dorothy looked at the stern set face, re.
viewed her position quickly, then said, with
her innocent eyes appraised TO his:
Horace Middleton, let me appeal to your
better nature. Hear me. i love Mr.. PEN
fold, and have promised TO marry him at
any cost. l will keep my promise. / do
not fear death. but ] do a ~loveless life.
For the sake OF my fathers friendship,
my mothers trust, do not betray me; let me
go my own way, and be happy. Even If
had not got 10 care for Pierce | could never
have cared for you.
For once be kind 20 me: If you loved me
you could not be so cruel as to make me
wretched. IL you attempt TO harm me /
will find a way to punish you, or die in the
attempt. Remember / rave friends-per.
haps but a panel divides me from my ciIo-
sen protector. Pause before you make
yourself amenable to the law"
II fear nothing but your loss. l swear
that man shall never marry you; | would
kill you first. Oh, Dora! why won't you
love me a little?"
Dorothy did not answer. She was sick
with fear; he held her as in a vice, and II
she screamed, the wind, through which they
were rushing at phantom speed, would carry
her voice away like a whisper.
On, on, they sped in silence, their eyes
regarding each other susplciously.
After a time the train slackened speed,
and Dorothy's hopes rose.
If they were 10 stop at a station, all might
yet be we'll; Pierce would seek her and az
surely find and deliver her.
Horace Middleton seemed TO read her
thoughts.
They were close to the door, he looked
oat. On one side was a plled-up bank of
snow; the station was still far off.
He held both her hands in one of his,
deity undid the door, and lifting the
screaming struggling girl in his arms,
jumped out, throwing her on the snow-heap
insensible.