The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-11-09
CHECKhATED.
BY G. Stanley.

1t was a queer old house, half dis
mantled and overgrown with ivy.
Standing by itself, on the very borders
Of a dismal-looking part of the coun-
try, where a few travellers came.
Thane Underhill had selected it as the
most secure hiding place for the wom-
an he intended some day to make his
wife.
If he could have won her consent
ehe would have been his wife long
ago; but Alice Miles had will of her
own, Notwithstanding her low spirit
had been sadly broken by the treat
ment she had undergone, she still re-
fused to listen to Thane underhill's
protestation of love.
For three months she had been Sc
cluded in that ruinous old house, with
only one servant for company and
protection, and the dreadful thought
urging to and fro in her mind that
in one week more he would make her
his wife, unless in that time she could
manage to escape.
Out OF her narrow windows she
could see the moon, and a white-robed
train Of stars, that lighted up the dim
fields stretching away toward the sea;
she could catch the sweet murmurs
of the winds that waited by, drifting
away under the cool shadow of the
trees; far away there was the sound of
y bell, rising and falling on the lone
some night air.
And as she sat there in the moonlit
stiffness host of happy memories
thronged her brain, whose perished
brightness brought tears to her eyes.
There was her mother, who mourned
her as dead, and who was going down
in sorrow TO the grave-and there was
Acton Lloyd. whose promised wife she
was six months before; he thought her
false first-then dead-and she had no
knowledge Of him at all.
II was long time before she even
knew so much. II was one night,
when locked in her lonely room, and
Thane Underhill had supposed her
asleep, that he had jested carelessly
with the man who aad promised to
marry them, and revealed all his own
villainy to the shuddering listener.
"Hush, not so loud" the second
voice had said. "She may hear you,"
1T wouldn't matter il she did" and
that she knew was in Thane Under
hills voice. Il have treated her with
kindness long enough, in the hope that
she would learn to love me; for in
spite Of the sneer on your face, love
the girl, and would give half possess
II she loved me in return. But she
never will, and so she must be my wife
without it."
How will you manage it?"
II shall take tea with her tomorrow
night, and put powder in her cup
which will make her powerless to re-
sist us. II won't injure her, but for
the time it will so benumb her senses
that she will do as | command her.
When the old clock in the hall there
strikes ten you will come in and say
the words that are to make her my
wife"
And what do you propose to do
then? Live here and enjoy yourselves
like a pair of turtle doves?"
I'VE must stay here week or two"
Thane Underhill rejoined, until | can
settle my business affairs, and then !
shall take her abroad. Her mother
and her lover both suppose that she
eloped with me and was killed in that
railway collision. So they sit at home
and mourn, and give me chance to
carry out my plans"
Thane Underhill did in reality SUD.
pose that Ethelyn White, the girl who
had waited on Alice for the last -four
days, had given her a sleeping potion
and tkIt her senses were locked in
slumber; but for some purpose of heI
own Ethelyn had withheld 1t, and sc
Alice had heard every word OF the
conversation in the next room.
When they went out she crept quiet
iy away from the door and threw
herself down on the bed in an agony
of weeping.
There was slight noise at the door
and the little waiting-maid came soft
~ IA, hoiuihb UP hci uicSS leSt II
should rustic on the floor
"Are you asleep, Miss Alice?" sh,
whispered.
mo" said Alice, aloud.
"Hush! Speak in whispers, and d.
not lose your courage, for you hav,
friends waiting to help you"
Heaven be thanked" exclaime,
Alice. "But who are you? Are yo,
cne of my frieDdsT
"You shall know who am in goo,
time" the maid rejoined. IF l ha,
not SNen your friend you would hav
had a drink tonight that would hav
sent you to sleep two hours ago. Hav
vou gained anything by being awake ?
'.Everything!" said Alice. softly