The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1893-12-09

ttIS EAstu Ill d long, usttk uOIlutQ, cfOuCu-i
ing beside her. 81. S5# III 81 sS5.5s#
81 "HEshi" cautioned the intruder, as
She would have cried out in fright.
| Come with me Instantly, if you would
escape deadly peril. b It is Marie.
| a moment ago heard Carlo, who IS
hers, plotting with a couple Of men
to seize you and carry you off. Come
with H. to the dressillg-r they
know OF are here, ard will be upon
| you in minute, else-and then I will
search for Arthur ard bring him to
| you. CONG! an illstant's delay and
you are lost. = # , ..2
Selling Elma's hand she assisted her
to her feet, and leading her by in out
side way hurried llrr along into the
house and UP to the dressing room,
| which was entirely deserted and where
Elma sunk. haf-fainting, into a chair.
''Ch. Afhrie, how good you are!" she
painted. "How fortunate you were
here, after ALL -.s
Eyes, exclaimed Marie, between her
teeth. II told him / would not come,
SO that might the better spy upon
him. He has been false to me, but
yol shall not be his victim"
'Bless you, bless your sobbed Elma.
snow go and bring Arthur to me, that
he may take me right home. I do not
feel safe here any longer"
Let me give you a glass Of water
first" said Marie. 'You look faint"
She filed her glass AID approached her
victim, but the water trickled harmless
" upon the carpet, while a sponge,
saturated With the Iungent liquid, was
p1 essed against her face. There was
a brief Struggle, and then she lay ull-
conscious on Marie's bosom.
Lifting her in her arms Marie bore
her to a small curtained recess, striped
off her costume With eager hands, To-
placed it by hcr own domino. and five
minutes later hurried out Of the rooEa.
! The bower was still empty VIXEN she
reached it, but she had hardly taken her
seat when the Spanish cavalier came
hurriedly toward her. Iinpulsively she
sprung to meet him.
Il will 20, Arthur! I will do as you
wish!" she painted in an agitated whis-
per. LET us hasten before something
happens to prevent us!''
An exultant exclamation broke from
the Spaniard's lips, as he seized her
hand and crushed it against his lips;
then drawing it through his arm, hur-
ried her away. At the end Of a short
road a carriage wss waiting; they
sprung in, and were driven to the resi-
dence Of a minister. At their request
to- be married without unmasking, he
demurred at first, but a generous fee
silenced all opposition, and standing
| before him, they took the vows that
made them man and wife.
| The same carriage that had taken
them brought them back, and dismiss
ing it at the point where it had waited,
the bridegroom turned exultantly to-
ward his companion.
| 'Now!' he exclaimed in ringing tones,
''take off your mask, and let me look
upon the treasure that my successful
| little ruse has won."
His hand was upon her mask as he
spoke, but with great start she sprung
from him. Then an excavation of baf-
fled rage broke from the lips of each, as
Marie and Carlo looked into each 9TH
, er's face.
| what does this mean, you fiend-you
| she-devil!' broke from his lips with a
frlghtfuI imprecation. But she, wo-
man-llke, burst into a high, derisive
laugh even over her own downfall.
| Sop she exclaimed. II have kept
the VOW swore to in case I was baked
OF my scheme. Mean, my dear Carlo?
1t means case of diamond cut dia-
mond, that is ALL! We have both at
tempted to play the same game, and we
have played it diabolically well! I
didn't know I told yonder little silly
fool the truth when I said you were
planning to carry her off. But she is
safe enough now, unless the chloro-
form may have been too strong How
does it happen there are two Spanish
cavaliers? l saw but one all the even
ing, and knew well who he WASH
Il copied his costume and wore it
under my domino!' Kissed Carlo II
was behind them in the ballroom when
he was urging her to go with him; I
followed them to the bower, saw him
leave her, and then hurried away to
lay aside my domino. And in that mo-
ment, that fraction of time, you got in
your devils work! I could strangle
your
II dare sayv' retorted Marie, pos
sessed by a mood of utter recklessness
II shall take good care that you don't,
however. Take ME home. We are not
safe here after my part in this nights
work. We must not be seen until we
|
if it turns out ill.,
Without another word they hurried
away Getting back to the hotel, they
found everything in confusion, servants
hurrying hither and thither, doctors in
attendance, and from passing servant
they learned that Miss Deane had been
found lying on the floor Of the dressing
room at the ball. and brought nome for
dead, and even yet the doctors would
not say that she would certainly re-
cover.
"a word to the wise, Carlo mic"
whispered the mocking voice Of his
bride in his ear. "Our luggage can be
sent after us Or abandoned entirely if
need be. Seh-preservation is our mot
to now"
TO see.- their rooms and effect hasty
| change of costume and steal out again,
was comparatively easy under the Cir
cumstances. And just Us the sound of
the carriage that bore them died out,
Elma opened her eyes and looked into
the angltshed faces bending over her.
1t was not much that she could tell
when she WAS at length able to talk