The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1903-11-12

increase Bessemer's determination.
1T may be that my memory plays me
FALSE" he remarked, ''yet it occurs
to me that the other night you
promised to marry me at any mo-
ment which might seem to me most
~expedient. This is the moment; but
if such were not your promise, then,
of course"
"Such was my promise, but"
"But now that the object for which
that promise was given is attained,
may whistle for the payment of my
claim? Is that your stand? Well,
while I should have looked for fairer
treatment at the hands of a
daughter of the Ellerys and the sister
of your brother, still"
"Say no more" Jane interrupted
proudly. 81 shall beseech no further
favors. I am prepared to do your
bidding"
"Ah, madam" he observed, at is
your better self which speaks" He
turned toward the porch upon which
I Mrs. Ellery had remained impatient.
my dear aunt to be-" he said, II am
u candidate for your congratulations.
Your beloved niece has promised to
marry me at once"
"Jane, what folly is this?" her aunt
cried. ut cannot be that you have
submitted to this mans importu-
mites? File, I am ashamed of you!
You are no niece of mine"
Dear aunt" Jane answered
YEARLY, sit is the keeping of a
promise. You would not have me
break it?"
"TusS!" the other woman cx-
claimed; "there are worse things
than broken promises. I have seen
the Ellerys make fools of themselves
many a time to keep their word, and
regret it bitterly afterwards. Thank
God, I have nc silly Ellery traditions
back of me. I am a Morgan, and a
Morgan is not afraid to break a
promise if by SO doing greater crimes
can be prevented; and what greater
crime could there be, Jane, than the
perjury of swearing to love and honor
this man when you know that you
do neither? Think you,' she con-
tinued, chat I will permit my house
to be the scene of such a farce?
Never! You must find some other
spot"
Bessemer turned with lifted brows
to Jane. "If," she said, in answer to
his look, my aunt will not permit us
to be married under her roof, she
will not, I am sure, drive us from her
garden"
She descended the steps as she
spoke, glad to get into the open, for
even the differentiated hall was
choking her. Her pride forbade her
to make another protest against the
keeping of her promise, and she was
anxious to have the ordeal over.
Bessemer summoned the chaplain
and the higher officers, and with Il
brief but adroit explanation request
ed the reverend gentleman to per-
+. form the ceremony. That holy man
began a fAsty search for. his book,
not being prepared for SO startling
a demand. sBessemer's brows con
tracted as the search heightened.
While they all stood thus, theywere
startled by shouts coming from. the
hill where the Ellery mansion had
once stood. The shouts were followed
by some scattering shots which fell
far short, as they were meant to do,
Of the waiting group, Upon the hill
could be seen a gathering Of many
horsemen. -..
Officers and men turned eager eyes
upon Bessemer. Would he respond to
this challenge sent him from that
distant point, or would he proceed
with his marriage? But Bessemer
had been soldier before he was lover,
and to do aught but respond was not
his nature. With a hasty word to
Jane, a ringing command to his men,
he leaped into his saddle and dashed
towards the eminence. The horsemen
whirled about. Their mission was
acomplished-to draw him from the
Ellery place. Neatly lodging Edward
with his pursuing force, they had
galloped towards the Elijah Ellery
plantation, only to find Bessemer
there before them. Worthington,
remembering Bessemer's hand in
burning Mrs. Ellery's other home and
too far off to recognize Jane, had not
known but that Bessemer's present
mission was a marauding one. To
draw Bessemer's attention from the
unprotected mistress of the house to
themselves was the quick scheme OF
his companions and himself.
Then began a long chase and a
hot one Bessemer's force was near,
ly quadruple his opponents, and
could he have cornered them it would
have meant their determination; but
with their wirier steeds, their knowl-
edge Of every hollow and ravine,
every rock and crevice, he had only
the excitement of the race for his
pains; yet it was not in him to give
up SO long as his willy foes let him
keep them in sight, and night over
took him ere he abandoned the. pur-
suit.
Returning d%isgruntled to the high
way, he met a messenger from Corn
wallis with IN imperative summons
to join the main army at once. How
e great the temptation might have
been to tarry long enough to con-
summate his interrupted marriage
with Jane, he was yet too great a
stickler for discipline to do other
wise than obey instantly the com
mands Of his chief.