The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-15

'lf tell you I would rather die
than marry this man. rather trust
myself to the mercies of those with
whom he is banded in this bond OF
crime; that my sottis revolts at the
mere thought OF his touch, and that
should loathe myself II l could en-
terrain even a thought of yieldinE-is
your heart still steeled against me?"
You are getting hysterical, that is
ALL Olive threw uHher hands and
turned away signing deeply. II an,
going away now for some days, Olive
You will have the interval to grow
moro reasonable. If you have not
changed your mind BY my return some
other steps will be taken. Good-by.'
~ cannot wish good to any one so
hard as you are, and I will not pre-
tend" and Olive threw herself into n
chair. II hope you Will never neod
n friend as l need one now. and never
feel the wound of such conduct as
yours to me-.
Waiting few minutes to be sure
that Mrs Taunton had gone, Olive
Went to the window. Her friend was
watching for her. She slgnalled to
him, and with beating heart wrote
the message:
II am Olive Parmenter and in peril
of my life. Please wire Mr.. Easement,
solicitor. Frampton, OXfordsliire, to
come to me Instantly. For Gods sake"
She read 1t over and with trembling
fingers fastened 1t round the paper
weight. Her friend was already wait
ing. in the garden. and when he saw
her lifted his hand and smiled.
She pushed up the window to its
farthest extent. and with a fervent
little prayer for the success of her
"a ~ IL l.A. IL.
appeal for help.
was extended for the throw, some one
seized ii and the letter was torn from
her grasp.
CHAPTER NXXI.
Escape.
Foiled in her attempt to attract help
from the outside just at the very in
in her grasp, olive turned With cry
of dismay to find Mrs. Taunton regard
ing her with agcold, cynical smile OF
triumph.
You really must not bring my house
into disrepute by making love to
young men in the surrounding houses,
olive 1t is most disgraceful." she
said, as she made haste to close the
window, first glancins out in time to
see the secretary beating hurried re-
treat into his house.
You know, of course, it was moth
lug of the kind retorted Olive. flu
riously Give me back that paper
at once"
Mrs Taunton put it in her pocket
instead, i really must look after you
better. olive" she replied with a
sheer.
will you drive me to take 1t from
you by force?" cried Olive.
"Panton! called Mrs. Taunton.
The woman entered the room in
stantly, having evidently been waiting
just outside the door in readiness. AS
soon as she was inside Mrs. Taunton
took out the packet and opened and
read 1t.
This is really worse than l thought
would sooner have had mere as
ssnation than this OF course. after
this l cannot trust you to be alone in
the room. Panton, you will stay here
with Miss Parmenter; and mind. she is
never to be left for an instant alone.
you understands"
Yes, madam"
And you will not allow her to go
near the window after this. If she
attempts, you are to take any means
HettSsdIy 10 prevent uel. L WALL make
arrangements to place you in another
room. Olive where you will be spared
from the impertinent attentions of the
neighbors,' and with that parting shot
she left the room.
Olive let her go without any further
words. Her anger had passed, giving
way to depression that overwhelmed
and almost Frustrated her.
She had built so much on the at
tempt, had indulged such hopes, and
had been so near success that the dis
appointment seemed to crush the very
life out of her for the time.
There was nothing else to try. She
was now hopelessly in the power of
this relentless merciless woman and
the desperate man with whom she was
in league. 1t was no use to struggle
farther against them. There was moth
Ing to do but to wait and see what
steps they would take next to attain
their end
Panton had obviously come up pre-
pared for the watch which had been
assigned to her for she had brought
up some needlework. Placing chair
by the window, she sat down and
commenced to sew as fundamentally
as if this jailer work were the most
usual routine of her life.
Stitch, stitch. stitch, her work went
on. the sewing only interrupted when
ono needleful of cotton was used up
and the needle had to be threaded.
Her hard, grim face was bent over
from 1t, and all her thoughts seemed
to be concentrated upon her task.
olive had thrown herself on the bed
and lay watching her until the cold
limpassive monotony got on her nerves
and she felt that she could have torn
the work out OF the woman's hands
| in frenzy.
| She turned her back to her at last
unable TO bear the sight of 1t, only to
find that the sound of 1.-THE prick
prick of the needle and the drawine
| through of the thread---was as rackinp
4 as the sight had been. She put hel
fingers to her ears to,,stop the sound
/ hut even that gave no relief.
on, for heavens sake, stop tina,
sewing" she cried at length
Panton looked up in surprise. ''Yo,
are excited, miss. You had better tn,
I 10 sleep or your nerves will suffer-"
Have You no pity In your hear
any more than your mistress?"
II don't know what you mean. miss.
! You know that l am being kept her
. prisoner; to be forced to do tina
winch l would rather die than do
mat am prevented from seeing m,
liriendsi that ! am helpless and alone
You know all this. VIII YOU do moth
"a al