The evening times., 1896-01-12

and he could scarce controjs afh outbu rst O
feeling, while the otheE, looked doub4ful.
but suppose she does not act he
part?" .-.sss.s,ss- -
why, then We win simply be a whipped
pair, and the world wilf be none I'll,
! WISER,
But what about the magistrate and the
They'd never know the cause. and. he
sides, money aIwayssgainsS Ssilence Blu
leave 1t all to me, and IN be eyerIastingly
| indebted to you n,you are Rot~aA mia rriet
| man before one a,1..
I'VE had better not run the risk. It /,
now nearly seven, and must be going, ol
the dear girl Will be kept waiting
go ahead. I'll have al, arranged and
be there by twelve sharp. What is helady's
full name?'' --sssesssS rsH,'
mo, don't do that"
Yes, sir, the plan shall be carried out
You may as well not oppose. What is heI
manner"
Elizabeth Wilcox. But 1t is perfectly
useless FOR you to come. could not be
party to such IN Infamous scheme"
"oh, you'll change your mind. Look for
me at twelve. Good-by till then.''
N '' ..a.s. -
II was a wretched night,-- \ -hiting & wind
was blowing furiously from the northwest,
making the large houses eTeak and sshake,
and causing the tall trees TO writhe aud
wrench until it appeared that their limbs
would be riven asunder. With The exception
OF one young man the street was totally
abandoned. y---1-s=,,.,.s.y
Excellent night for ghosts 10 walk"
muttered he between his teeth. Il fnsvsn-
der II that somDambuIist Will have sense
enough TO remain in,iicr -te-nieht-"
Pulling his coat closer over him and
looking around as il to make sure that no
unsightiy ghost shadpwed his. path, he
quickened his already rapid pace.
Il believe this is the place,n he said,
entering a house and ringing the bell. The
him.
1T is already twelve" said the new
conner. Have You the Iicense?" -, i,s,g
'All prepared" answered one OF them
Strange time and place,
You must remember" impatiently
interrupted the first speaker, that You
are paid to perform the ceremony, and be-
yond that neither Of you Is TO open his
mouth
Il fully understand" answered he, not
a little stuDg by the sharp reply. The
three men then sought their way silently
through The darkness tp the depot, and
soon ushered themselves into the waiting
room which was dimly lighted by badly
smoked lamp. The leader hurried 10
another room, leaving his Companions 10
hover over the last lingering sparks Of the
days fire which now smouldered in the
little heating stove. ,-sz--zss~< 49,, e,s--
The leader entered the telegraph office,
where RedwiDe rose evidently agitated at
lis appearance. The office had no other
occupant save woman who stood over the
telegraph table. A large bonnet almost
her head and face. and her W hole
or1n was enveloped in q long gossamer.
Wrapped as she was, George Arlington
'ould not help fancying that he saw the
'ecuilar qualities which characterized this
woman. She was short and plump, her
orin Indicating that she was one OF those
'id-fashioned little women possessed of an
xceilent nature and a jovial disposiilon-
dinirable in simplicity and beautiful in
nnocency. Her face was full and round.
rot noted for beauty, bus remarkable for
na gnetism.
fierce argument ensued between The
-oung men. For a long TIME each spoke
sith spirit and vehenIence, while the men
n the other room paced the floor impa-
iently. During the debate. so eager was
ach to carry his point, neither OF them
ouced the actions OF the girl.
Nearly an hour had elapsed. when Oscar
urning to the table, took the hand of the
nconscious girl. and, placing her hand
D his own. started toward the other room.
Wait whispered George, exctedly;
see II she is going to betray u.s.
viii you marry me?, asked Oscar.
She nodded affirnatively.
" Don't you hate me?"-i - - sz !
The same motion was repeated.
Oscar looked aGitItetf, ~fvffeF George |
ried TO smother his nifrth WITH his hand. /
erchief.
The ceremony was performed, and the I
wo men, unaware OF the treachery TO 4
which they had been accessory. returned to
heir homes The Others went hack 10 the
ffiCe, Oscar to sit before tie fire and re-
ret his action from the lowest depths Of
is soul; Elizabeth 10 return to the tcle-
raph table. dreaming that her daily dG-
les would soon he over. but being uEin-
)rmed by any goddess OF that land of yis-
)n that This was most important nc
lent in Ier young life; while George Io-
lained to view developments, triumphant
Yer his success.
A half hour later the UNCONSCIOUS bride
1t out the current, made necessary prep
rations for closing up, S10sefS iEe of<sess,
Gorge, after again oGngratuIating Oscar,
ION took his departure. wv 'sss'sS~<-i
Oscar Rcdwine was in. acduemna. The
Dor. weak, tinid fellow raeked his brain !
ntil both fertile and barren spots had
zen tilicu dITesn, III lne VAIN nope mat
,me place might give birth 10 some soiu-
on of the reriious position. The very
fought or oonfessinE TO his wife terrified
m. Vile! TIE word itself filled him with
smay.
George advised him to make conquest
the lady's heart. When that should be
on the difficulty would be removed. But
iZabeth was so abomiDabiy aud provok-
gly coquettish that he never could ap-g kl
oach her. When he, was hopeful she
It his courage to flight; when he was n
.spondent she was gay and hilarious. first ]
mpathzing, then ridiculing.
Poor girl" he wouii moan. ..how she 1
ould change If she only knew" He i'm I
pred George to be spokesman. but that ]
ntlemau did not think himself the prop
person. He next resolved to end his ]
serable life with laudaDum, but could s
t think of taking such an important d
'p without the advice of George, who as S
matter of course. dissuaded him. Drown. V
: would be an excellent eEd He forth {
ith sought the pond, but of course I
,orge was there and dragged out the t
man. Here he historically I
aDked his preserver, but wished that he b
d been permitted to>tlie.
1t length. however, the crisis came. a
orge swore that heswould publish an se- +
mt OF the marriage in the paper in three
Us. if Oscar did not tell all TO his wife.
car could not muster courage to face II
r wrath. so he decided to write. Two C
Iole days and nights were spent in the o
,paration of the letter. His apologies
re numerous and his offers xtreme. He
'uld join the army of Japan. go into the