Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-08-13
CHAPTER yI.-(Continued.)


At last came the eyentful day, and
Dame Nature could never have made a
more glorious one, for the sun shone
from a cloudless sky, cool, delicious
breezes blew, and everything looked
bright and beautiful.
When Carol assumed her bridal robes
she looked too sweet and sad for mortal
eyes, and even the heart of the fierce old
mar throbbed with a half-pity when she
directed look at him, as if in mute en-
treaty.
He had hoped against hope, and now
only anger and despair reigned in his
heart. There was no chance of rescue
3eft now, it seemed to him, and the sac
srifice must go on, though it cut him TO
the heart to see his darling child welded
to such q desperate villain as he knew
the Captain to be.
From an open window a pair Of keen
eyes watched all that was transpir:ng
Though many years had passed away
since he had set eyes on the interior OF
the Terrace, Roger did not seen TO for
get certain things about the mansion with
which he had been familiar at that time
and from among the vines outside little
Balcony he could observe without being
himself seen. Not twenty yards away
the swiftest horse in all the surrounding
country was in waiting, hidden by the
trees
Roger barrels was not the only form
chat crouched at a window and looked
On. for a man dressed in black, and with
Q certain foreign air about him, was at
one of those opening upon the piazza,
and his eyes were glued upon Captain
Grant with a cold CLEAN in them, while
from his mustached lips fell the words:
Eat last | have run him down"
The ceremony commenced. 1t was des-
tired never to go through, and yet aot
through this mysterious foreigner who
appeared to have such an attachment for
ethe soldier duelist came any interruption.
From the easy attitude he had assumed,
# was easy to see that he intended watch
ling it through.
Zone wife more cannot hurt the rogue,
for he has already had at least ten. so
far as my knowledge of him goes. As for
the girl, she loves him not, and 1t will
only please her to learn that she is not
his wife. The Count plays his cards
well, but that branded hand and the
black glove have betrayed him."
In the midst Of the ceremony, however.
quite an unlookedfor event occurred.
Both at Richmond Terrace and Darrell
Chaee there were machines for manufae-
turing gas. such as is the general custom
among the wealthy planters of the South
ern States, and the whole supply was fur
oished by q single pipe.
While the minister was just PROFOUND
ing to Carol the solemn question as to
whether she would take this man to be
your lawfully welded husband" sudden
and complete darkness came upon the
whole house. every gas jet being extin
guished on the instant.
The effect can be imagined Conster
nation filled the mind OF almost every
one, and the few guests present We're
alarmed, not knowing what was about to
happen.
Captain Grant did not realize whether
this was an accident or part of a deep
laid plan to rob him Of his intended bride,
90. In order to be ready for emergencies,
he threw one arm around her. At almost
abe same instant, however. Carol was
jerked from his encircling arm, and he
received a blow on the head that stag
gered him. He made a clutch, but his
arm only clasped the empty air. Whittier
the young girl had gone he could not
guess.
A light was struck, and upon being APP
piled TO the gas the rooms were once
more illuminated Then the truth became
apparent.
Carol was missing.
Whittier she had gone, or who had car
ried her away, not n soul 10 that room
could say. Perhaps Lawrence Richmond
could give shrewd guess, and, as some
thing like the truth came through his
mind, he could not help the faint, grim
smile that crept over his countenance. 1t
caught the eye of Captain Grant, and in
another instant he was at the mans side,
his hand clutching his arm.
"You have sealed your doom by this
act, Lawrence Richmond" he Missed,
@avagely.