Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-03-04
CHAPTER XXI,
ANNIE's STORY CONCLUDED.


At seven O'Clock that same evening, the
two arrived in London, johnson tOleraby
cOntented with himself for the neatneSs and
dispatch with which he had managed the
Journey, little guessing that he had been de-
tected by the keen eyes of John Rudd. Ar
rived at Euston, a f0uT-wheeler was sum-
mOned, and the two got into it and We're
driven away Then Johnson turned to An
ME.
My dear" he said, Il may as well make
you acquainted with our plans now. The
fact is the master won't be able to join you
for week, and | am going to stop and take
care Of you till he comes. l have taken some
apartments for that week in a hotel; and, in
order to simplify matters, [ have given our
names as Mr.. and Miss Johnson. Therefore,
for the time being, you are my sister, Miss
Annie johnson. Do you understands
Annie nodded. She quite understood;
though she was beginning to feel alarmed as
well as puzzled at the strangenesS of the
whole proceedings. She was still more
alarmed at the subsequent manner in which
johnson conducted himself. True, he had
taken rooms in the hotel, as he had said
private rooms, which they occupied in com
mon. She was apparently allowed to go
and come at will; yet she soon found that
she was as much a prisoner as il she had
been inclOSed by iron bars. Whatever she
she did, Johnson knew Of; and once or twice,
when she attempted to write to her friends,
ne quietly but firmly refused to allow any
such thing.
Look here" he said, don't you think
this here game is to my taste at all, cause
YOU d be wrong. I've done a gOOdish many
things in my time but running away WI
girls, and keepin' 'em Gagged up like DlrdS,
amt one Of 'em: however, ! gave my word
TO Young Redruth as Id keep We square till
he came, and Pm agOin' to keep my word +;
but precious glad | shall be when these six
days are over
In due time the SIX days came to an end,
and Annie received from johnson the glad
intelligence that on the afternoon of the sixth
day her lover would be with her. Tremb-
ling with excitement and JOY, she Obeyed her
wOman'S instinct and fastened to make her
self look her very best Sh, aTTayed herself
in the pretty gray dress which she had
brought with her from her home, and put
some flowers at her throat; so that when, a
few hours later, young Redruth arrived, he
clasped her to him again and again, and,
looking into. her tear-dlmmed eyes, said he
had never seen her looking so pretty in all
her life.
And you will never go away from me
again" said Annie, as she clung, sobbing, to
him; you will always stay with me-
Always, my darling"
And we-shall-be married."
This very night. Though l have been
away, have not been unmindful of my
duty to you, my pet. | have arranged for
our marriage, l have taken house where
We will live. We will go straight from here
after dinner, and get the ceremony over. II
will be 4 quiet marriage, and, 10 you, d
strange one. | fear. 1t will not be solemn
lied in a church, with all the brightness and
beauty that should have surrounded nv
darling. We shall go before a registrar and
be married QuieJly-thiS IS another sacrifice
which my love demands
But this was no sacrifice to Annie SO long
as she was married, and knew her love 10 be
no Sin-that was all She asked; so she cried
q little on his shoulder; but it was for 10Y.
not sorrow.
Everything seemed changed now the
young master had come. A charming little
dinner was ordered and served in the hand
some sitting-room, which during the past
week had been occupied by johnson and
Annie. The little party of three sat down
hosts; after the dinner was over, johnson
! took his leave; and the lovers were alone.
| There was no time just then for billing and
cooling, if anything was to be done it must
| be done quickly, for the day was well-nigh
spent. George told Annie to get on her bon
net and cloak; she did so, and the two got
| into hanson and were driven away.
! The house which he had taken for her,
| and to which he conducted her Immediately
after the ceremony, was situated in Lon
| don suburb. 1t was an elegant mansion,
| furnished and fitted in a style which COM
| pletely dazZled poor Annie. But in those
| early days of their union he certainly loved
| her as much as it was in his power to love
and Annie was happy. Besides lie was al
ways with her: during the day they drove
| together, and in the evening they Went to
! the theater or opera-Annie clad III silk ANA