The southern sentinel., 1903-09-11

She laid her hand in mine for min
ute, and then walked toward a door
at the other side Of the room. The
swish, swish of her dress seemed to
beckon me on, and started after her.
The man held out restraining hand.
"Wait," he said, with a smile; "shewiii
be yours in an hour"
After she had gone, I turned to him.
what does this all mean?" asked.
"You have been sick for a month"
he said, slowly, "and am afraid you
have suffered lapse of memory.
"Sick?" I repeated, DULY.
"Yes. At one time we despaired OF
your life. Your brain seemed on fire,
and you were filled with all sorts OF
queer fancies. You did not know me,
nor Rose"
"Rose?"
"Yes; your fiance."
"My fiance! Why, man, never saw
her before!"
He smiled, a little sadly, and said.
gently, as he might to child: "1ou
have been very sick, and you have for
gotten many things. You have been
engaged to my sister for nearly six
months. and you set to-day for your
marriage. Can't you remembers"
l pressed my hand over my aching
head.
NO." said. "Does she expect me to
marry her to-day?" nodded toward
the other room, and thought of the
laughing black eyes and the hair that
smelled of flowers that bloom in the
springtime.
.'Of course" he said. "You see, she
wishes to be your wife, even if you
can't remember all that has hap
pened."
I said nothing. Twas mad with love
for the girl, and yet I felt I had no
right to make her marry a man who
had lost all memory of having known
her in the past.
"Does she want the ceremony to take
place." asked.
docs she? Why. man, can't you
see the love light in her eyes, and the
passion in every move she makes:
Can't you feel it when she takes your
hand in hers? Don't you know it BY
her very presence?"
"Then," said, looking him full in
the face, "then all the men in Christen-
dom can't keep us from becoming hus-
band and WIFE"
"Jack!" he cried. 81 am proud OF
you. There isn't another man in the
whole world I'd rather have for a
brother-in-law. I'll get the preacher
at once, and we will have a quiet cere-
mony here in the parlor."
Rose came in from the other room
Just then. Straight to me she walked,
and placed her two hands confidingly
in mine. The man leaned over us with
a "God bless you. Children" and then
slipped out into the hall.
The preacher, whitc-haired and
sanity, came back with him, and We
stood up, ready to be married.
I don't remember when heard the
noise first. I think I was watching
Roses brother, and that his frightened
face was my first intimation OF the
trouble. Then I heard q tramp Of
many feet, and a knocking on our door.
Ithrew my arm protectingly about the
girl.
''Come in!" I shouted.
Before I had spoken the words, ths
door opened. The first man to enter
was my brother. After him came two
burly officers Of the law.
"My God. jack he cried. as he saw
our position. 1T isn't too late?"
"Too late for what?" demanded.
white with anger at the interruption
"You aren't-aren't rharried?"
"No," said, ''but I will be in fivs
minutes. Stand back, and let the cerc.
mony proceed"
/ He sprang forward. "You will never
marry that woman" he declared.
Cant you see, you fool, that she is no
fit wife for you?"
"But she loves me-" I said, weakly,
seeking an excuse.
EYES," he sneered; "she loves you. as
she loves any man who will bring her
money. And you, with your inheri-
tance of uncle's, will make a capital
husband for her"
my inheritance?" repeated. push
ing away the girl to look 1T her; "my
inheritance"
Then, like a fash, it all came back to
me. I had been notified Of the death
of my uncle. with will that left ali
Of his rich property to me. had
heard of it only yesterday-or was it
last year?"
swhat day Of the month is this?" I
demanded.
.June "a. 1902" answered my
brother.
Then saw the trick. It had all been
planned, from the smallest detail. In
some way they had learned Of my in
heritance, had calmly kidnapped me
from my own lodgings. and had put up
the cock-and-bull story of my sickness,
after drugging me with some men,
ory-destroying connection. The plan
was so bold that it had almost sue
ceeded.
Hooked at the girl. Tie brown eyes
leered at me malevolently, the red lips
- A. vsulr ok>>E~ ~~>~~ -,..-Y