Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-04-03


"Can do as / please?' she asked. do
you think that can go in and out at all
times and seasons and not be notcedY'
"You are not a servant" he said.
mo, but l am lady, and there are re-
strictions attached to my position that you
know nothing about"
'Then you must break through them
"With what result do you thinkT' Vida
asked contemptuously. Exposure, OF course,
and with exposure suspicion and disaster.
We must be prudent"
Prudence isn't in my line" he answered
hOarsely.
Then you must adopt it," Vida rejoined.
"Now, mark me well. will not come TO
the wood TO meet you"
"You will not%'
mo. We must have a trysting-place more
secure from observation. am going to sug-
gest one-the old belfry of the church-tow-
err"
"Pve heard it's haunted" Bardolph said.
"A village tale" returned Vida, land it
will serve us well. We shall be safe from
intrusion there. The little door is never
locked and the staircase leads to the belfry
above. You cannot lose your way"
And when will you meet me?"
Tomorrow afternoon. Go early, and
wait for me, and we will talk over the fu-
ture together"
1--WE made up my mind about that" he
said with leer. lie had got over his first
embarrassment and was himself again. II
am going to make you Mrs. Dimsey"
1t was in the heart OF Vida TO strike him
as he stood, and her hands impulsively
clenched, but she restrained herself, and
only said:
'Indeedv'
Yes; I've got my plans worked out" he
said. MAY sit down."
~ cannot give you much more time now.
The dinner-hOur is near"
IL sha'nt be long. I've a otion for sit
ting in chair like gentleman" said Bar
dolph. THE ground is more in my line at
present, but Pm going in for something bet
ter. Here's the sort of thing TO suit me-"
lie threw himself into Vida's own easy
chair, and, crossing his legs, leered up at
her with an impudence that was all his own.
"Will you take that little chair facing
me-" he said, "and we shall be quite cosy"
She sat down, white and trembling with
fury.
"Oh, for the power to wther him with
lightning, as he lolled before her!
She would have risked an age of torture
Z
would have killed him by inches.
Now pipe would make the thing COM
| plete," he said. 1--WE should then be like
man and wife at our own fresidc."
you can't smoke here she answered
CURLY.
NO, suppose not" he replied 'but
really this chair is nice. don't wonder at
| you swell people putting yourselves above
the poor. begin to feel that am gentle
man.
what proposal have you to make to me?'
asked Vida. Let me hear what it is, and
go. / am expecting my maid every mo-
ment."
"In the first place." he said, ''you are to
be Mrs. Dimsey."
"Well, you said so before"
And, secondly, as one marriage cere-
mony is as good as another, | propose that
we make gypsy wedding of it,"
'Why should your people know anything
about it?''
'"They know everything as it is" he said
"but they are as close as death. Jim tho
Snowman caught the horse-his horse, you
know-and by docking his tail and name,
and putting false marks on the brute, he got
| him safely away. The others helped with
the grave and burial"
What madness to trust anyoner Kissed
| Vida. Il never dreamt you were such a
fool"
Gould do it all alone?' he asked; "but
don't you fear. Ten thousand pounds re-
ward would not tempt them with the fear
of Hecate's curse before their eyes"
And who is Heater
"The head of our tribe-the mother of us
all, and am her darling child-agood thing
for me, isn't it?'
AZ don't know" said Vida indiffercntly.
$50 am to be married among your people
what next? Am to live with them?'
NO" said Bardolph, eagerly bending for
| ward 1--WE must leave them. | want TO get
| away, and would have gone long ago If
! burst, but they know too much of me, and
know too much of them. 1t wasn't safe"
us it safe now"
"Ycs for I've lied 20 'em; I've told 'em
that I'm going away with you for year."
'0h, Heavenr'
'What did you say?r'
Nothing. Do not mind me, 60 on"
For year only, and they've consented
And you've money, haven't your
Il have few thousands in my own TigS.,"
said Vida coldy.
Thousands! he repeated with cleaning
! eyes. Come, that's brave. We could go
away, right across the seas, and live like a
lady and gentleman together. I'm mady
in love with you, am, and I'll be your dog,
| your slave-anything."
He had risen up, and was approaching
her, but she motioned for him to keep back.
You have taken me by SURPRISE" she
said. IL must have time to think"
Il can't wait" he returned, my blood's
afire. I'm not moment free from you. I'm
haunted by your beauty. 1t is like sweet
scented flower, and l can't rest until I've
made you my wife"
Don't touch me now" she said hurried
ly; II agree with your proposal. To-mor-
row night will come to the camp, and we
need not meet in the belfry until the next
day."
But when we are married we shall go
away together"
BE reasonable and prudent" said Vida,
still speaking holly and sur-iedly; "there
are some things / must do. ] must collect
my jewelry."
AYE, your jewclry," he said, nodding
his head.
And get some money to enable us to get
away. will write to my lawyer tonight.
He will write 10 me tomorrow. On the