The record-union., 1895-09-21

supper came she determined TO eat some
thing for she sadly needed strength. The
| hours went by.
! Sometime in the night she fell asleep
| anu dreamed she was a little girl, and
Clinton anu Arthur were carrying hei
across a brook with hands and wrists
{ locked 10 make Il chair. how sweet was
! that moment. Too sweet TO last, and she
awoke only TO realize her dreadful sltua-
! tlon, made more terrible by that glimpse
of happiness.
| What time was it? Perhaps morning
/ had come. She knew there were others
i'll the cave. villains like Kirk, ana ready
To do his bidding. Occasionslly she
| heard the hum OF voices, but saw only
! Kirk and the sneaking gatekeeper VINO
no doubt, was at his post night and day.
/ Every hour she expected TO hear Kirk' s
! voice summoning her to that disgusting
| mockery. What should she do when l
! came?
Breakfast was brought. Ali. ar hour'
more. she was too weak and agltated TO
! eat, but IN q hysterical way drank some
of the coffee. Alter awhile she heard
! voices, and in a moment more kIrk
! opened the door, and, wiLhouta word en-
! tered, accompanied by two men. Her
/ heart sank, and although she strove to
rise she found her limbs unable to sustain
| her. Kirk advanced at once To her side.
This gentleman" said he. indicating
one by wave of his hand. will perform
the marriage ceremony, and at once.
/ Come" said he, taking her by tile arm,
! 'we have no time to waste"
That touch reused her to frenzy, and.
springing to her feet. she flung him off,
| and turning to the man she cried:
ION! II you are men and have mothers
and sisters look upon me, poor, de-
! ienseless girl, torn from her brother and
| friends and taken to this horrid place and
subjected TO this fearful outrage. Save
me! You can If you will. Obi do it and
heaven Will bless you, and"
Enough OF this" said Kirk. ''Do as
you are bid. Marry us as we stand"
''All right" SAID the man. "Remem-
ber l am Justice OF the Peace. Kirby
| Kirk, do you take this woman for your
! lawful wife? VIII you protect and keep
her in sickness and in health as long as
you both shall live?"
! Il do,' said Kirk, quickly.
Lucy Ray. do you take this man for
! your lawful husband and"
Never" said Lucy, interrupting
This is sheer nonsense-mere mockery.
l am no child. and am not 10 be misled by
/ such sham"
"Will you love, honor and obey him?"
Never" said Lucy. ''He is a villain
and a robber!"
But they paid no attention and went on
to the end, and they were pronounced
husband and wife, and with hardly anoth-
er word they Withdrew, leaving Kirk with
| Lucy.
lie Immediately turned to her and
said, with an effort at caimness:
''4 ou are now my wife. Let there be
no more nonsense. There is utterly no
escape. If you are reasonable | shall be
KIND to you, but, remember, am your
husband and will be an lndulgont one
! Be dutlful wife" and he suddenly drew
her to him. Before she could tear herself
away from his grasp u pistol shot re-
! sounded through the cave. II q cannon
! had been tired it'could not have seemed
! to Lucy louder. and almost at the same
! time excited voices were heard. Kirk
started as though shot. His face flushed.
and he darted with an oath TO the gate
/ just as Iush rushed up with:
They've found us, Cap'n."
Get my pistols. quick" cried Kirk
Where's Major?'
Lucy could distinguish no more. An
| other shot rang out, aud before she had
! recovered from her astOnishment another
shot sounded not far away. Her trst
thought was, The robbers are lighting
among themselves. Oh, God! what will
become OF me?''
Suddenly she thought perhaps Kirk,
in his excitement, forgot TO fasten the
gate. Ii was unfastened. In her ioy she
caught up Lighted candle and a stalactite
| she had secreted in her couch TO defend
herself with to the last if need be. and
ran back into the cave as she still heard
excited voices towards the entrance
! Without thought where she was going
she ran down corridor hung with gIist-
ening stalactites for some distance. 1t
/ then opened out into quite large room:
| beyond was another opening, into which
/ she ran Without a moments hesitation,
1t wound around tor some distance to q
pool OF water. Here she stopped a mo-
ment. and noticing another passage to
her right, which seemed to lead upwards
somewhat, she entered it, and, al
though she was forced TO stooD, ran along
az swiftly as she could until her way
seemed efteeiually barred.
/ In her hight she had been governed by
but one impulse-to escape from Kirk.
/ Every moment she expected to near his
pursuing footsteps. Anywhere, any
| where that would hide her from him.
| Thirst, starvation, she did not dread.
/ She knew not what To do now. After a
moment she espied an opening which,
/ by climbing among the stalaginites,
led her TO Il low passage beyond, but III
turning q corner her candle struck rock
and in an instant she was n midnight
/ darkness. The terror OF her situation
/ flashed upon her in all it's dreadful real
! ity. She sank upon the ground in a
/ sWoon.
To be Continued.