Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-09-24

| 1T was he who was heartless, he VINO
drove me from what has been my home.
| Think y0u ! would ever have gone but
| for his cruelty? / promised him / would
never marry without his consent, but |
| did not tell him he could choose my hus-
band for me. / know all. sir-how you
| held power over his head and forced
| him to do this cruel deed, but that does
not entirely exonerate him. Why do you
ask me, Captain Grant,"
Because / would take you home again;
| because | would have you for my wife.
In spite Of all | am ready TO forgive you
and take you back again. You see how
love you, girl? You ran away with a
man Of the world, a man your father had
no confidence in, aud had refused admis-
sion To his house, but | am disposed to
be Ihagnanimous and forget it all.
Indeed. well, no one asked you to be
so magnanimous, Captain Grant. | have
found a protector against whom even my
father could not prevail TO give INC up"
The Captain uttered cry.
my soul! you are not marriedT' he
cried
Married! l married? No. 1 did not
mean to imply that. Roger Darrell took
away from the Terrace"
Your mother! Why girl, your moth
er died many years ago, when all the rest
of your family went" said the Captain.
$50 every one was made to believe,
but it was not So My mother was be-
lieyed deceitful by her husband, who sent
her from him with curses that soon came
back to him. for there fell the terrible
blow that left him almost childless as
well as wifeless. My mother is living,
and on her heart l have found the peace
that was denied me elsewhere
Come, come, this will never do; you
must go home with me. Girl, | have
sworn to make you my wife either by
fair means or foul Mine you shall be,
must be- Do you give in to the working
Of fate?'
Il hardly know what you mean Cap
tain Grant My poor brain has received
so many blows of late that / seem to be
in . species of daze the while; but if 1t is
your intention to push the dastardly act
in which you were engaged on that night
when was saved at the last minute from
your wolfsh power by the bravery of the
only true friend / had left, then | will
tell you it can never be-"
She spoke calmly and in a manner that
carried the conviction of her firmness, but
the only result was TO cause the usually
cool Captain to grow excited.
Say not so, Carol. Do you not know
that your fathers wishes are bound up
in this affair? l hold dreadful secret
over his head, and, should l let it fall,
he is a ruined man, not financially, l do
not mean that but in the eyes of the law
he becomes felon."
"A felon"
Eyes, q felon. murderer"
"Oh, what is this you are telling me?
1t cannot be; it cannot be. Captain
Grant, if you had the heart of a man
you would never prosecute poor girl in
this way. You will drive me to despair"
she walled.
"On the contrary, it is you who will
drive me to despair. You have bewitch.
ed me by your beauty until | would risk
torments to win you. Why not yield to
fate? Surely you can struggle but lit
tie longer. Come, give me a fair an
swer, Carol"
Can you not be merciful, sir? Ny faith
er has never wronged you; why bring him
me as other men might, and, if heaven
decreed that it should not be, accept the
decree with fortitude?"
Because" he replied, with sheer, 81
saw the game was too well decided when
/ came, and that only by some superhu-
man agency could you be saved from
throwing yourself away on that villain of
a Roger Darrell"
Hush, sir, do not bring him into the
present matter"
Il would that he had never been in it,
and then all might have been plane sail
ing for me. Come. girl, your answer"
1T is easily given. Once before | came
near yielding to Your wishes because of
a false idea Of duty toward my father
Thank heaven. l was saved from the pit
by one who knew far better than | the
wrong that was being put upon me. Since
then have found my mother and learned
her story l still love my father, and
would do much for him, but l cannot,
will not. make the sacrifice of my life,
my happiness. for the sake of the an
who sent his innocent Wife from him, anu
has since hravcd heaven itself"
He sciz.l her wrist in an iron clasp
and his eyes were fastened upon hers
with the fascinating glare OF serpent's.
She seemed charmed, powerless to move.
and could only look into his scintillating
orbs and shudder.
Hands of. you villainw
The voice was not that Of man. and,
dropping the wrist Of Carol Captain
Grant turned like lightning to the SPOT
from .ancc it had come. Then a cry
fell from his lips-the cry Of batHed
conspirator almost driven to the walls
Barbara Mcrriles" he gasped.