Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-12-07

ton for physical courage in q man
was pushed to an abnormal extreme;
it had been her fate to be tied to a
liver-hcarted weakling. to one who,
in the face Of danger, thought FIRST
of himself and left the woman he
married to such destiny as might be-
fall her!
For herself, she had known no fear.
Anger and terrible disdain had driven
cut every other feeling. When Cas-.
par, riding furiously at the head of a
half-d0zen men whom no had re-
cruited from about their future home
had joined her upon the sodden road,
she had turned upon him stony face
Of worse than hatred.
"What is it," he stammered.
Then, abruptly: "You cannot think?
1t is not possible! Let me explain"
She had turned her back upon him.
When they had reached the house
he had followed her TO the pretty
drawing-room, where flowers stood in
vases, in honor of their coming. Then
she had spoken frigidly, distinctly:
II am a woman who abhors COM
edieS l never dissemble. I con-
sented TO marry you without love,
because respected you Now l de-
spise you"
And he had stood before her with
out word. Save that he grew white
his face had not changed. He had
made no effort to speak. He had left
her to sweep from him without mo-
ton to retain her.
Neither then nor at any other time
had he exculpated himself. And
now, ten months later, they were as
much strangers to each other as upon
that first day.
''Things look bad, madam" said
Hermione's maid, stepping to her bed.
side week after the first intimation
of her trouble at the works
What do you mean?" asked Mrs
WhitehOuse, awake on the instant.
''They's all talkin' about it in the
kitchen and in the out houses loves
come back"
Lowe, Hermione Immediately re-.
membered, was the blonde bearded
leader Of the uprising on the occasion
OF her return as a bride and Casper's
new pr0prietorship
'Well?" she said, sharply.
"He's terrible fellow, madam! or
course, since Mr.. Whitehouse put
down that disturbance Sc strong and
quiet-like and discharged Lowe and
the other hands that was with him,
Lowe amt had no cause to come here
But seems like as ii he was thinkin'
OF the works all the time and seekin'
to make trouble. He useter to be
stiddy as anythin', but he's wild now,
they say, and it amt liquor neither,
but something turnin' his brain. And
it's him eggin' the men to strike for
more wages"
The day passed quietly. Hermione
saw nothing of her husband. Would
he leave the house before night il he
apprehended danger? She smiled to
herself and, in spite of herself, there
was bitterness in the smile. For
there were times, of late, when she
had found herself thinking of her
husband Oftener than she would have
liked. Gould it be that, despising
him as she did, she was falling in love
with him? Away with this odious
thought The servants in the house,
the foreman at the works, all those
who came into contact with him.
evinced strong liking and respected
HIM. They seemed to feel him to be
what her step-father, what her uncle
had thought him; a noble man, who
Inspired confidence. But She, she
knew him better!
Hermione awakened from a light
sleep that night with the sudden
sense that the worst had come.
A light burned in the room. She
threw on wrapper and, her hair
falling in shower over her shout
ders, hurried to the door.
The halls and stairs were in dark
ness, but hideOus sounds OF tramping
feet, of drunken Oaths, filed the
lower part Ut the house.
LAT that instant dark form de-
tatched itself from the shadow at
her door. Strong as were her nerves
she uttered low cry.
"Don't fear. 1t is l." said Caspar
quietly 'They have broken into
the basement.
where are all the servants?" she
cried.
'Gone. Nothing would keep them.
l have sent for force of detectives,
They should have been here two
hours ago."
Rapid as were the words they ex-
changed the tones Of each were calm
and steady. Hermione realized that
Caspar was standing before her, as
her only bulwark in that empty house,
against death, or worse than death.
Something cleaned in his hand and
she saw that he carried a pistol.
''How long have you been at the
door," she asked, swiftly.