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

~ T. Z
the wall, she gave herself UP to the
misery that consumed her.
Panton resumed her sewing as un-
concernedly as before.
In the afternoon Merridew came, and
Panton left the ROOM
He adopted the same line as Mrs
Taunton. Olive was in great danger
from Hartmann and the rest who had
discovered the deception she had prac-
ticed; they declared that her life was
forfeited by her trcachery, and they
had sworn to kill her. The only es-
cape would be for her to make 1t pos
sible for him to say that she was his
wife. He would then be able to pro-
tect her from them.
At first Olive would not reply, but
when he BEGAN to renew his protesta-
lions 6f love and vowed to devote his
life to her she would not bear It,
Facing him resolutely. she said in a
tone of irrevocable resolves: II have
given my answer. Never so long as
there is n breath in my body and I
have strength left to speak Will l
give any other. You can kill me, as
you tried once before to do, but make
me consent to deflle myself by being
your wife you cannot. No power on
earth, no means YOU can employ, no
threats you can utter, will ever make
me change that resolve. Now go. The
mere sight of you disgusts me"
He listened to her his brow drawn
in heavy frown, his eyes threaten
ing and his face white and set.
II am convinced now that persuasion
is no use, Miss Parmenter. And shall
try it no more. But shall yet pre-
vail And II have to resort to force
you have only yourself to blame"
The interview with him did her good.
1t served to restore tone to her nerves.
and her courage revived. She had de-
fled him. She knew what store he set
on the marriage. and by thwartins
him in that she could still foil him in
what she knew was the paramount pur-
pose with him.
A belief took possession of her that
they would not attempt to take her
life, at any rate until they had made
some desperate effort to force her to
marry him. This suggested a fresh
puzzle to her. and SO gave her food for
thought during the weary hours of the
rest of the day and evening.
Something had occurred to cause
change in their plans. He had at
tempted her death in that railway Jour-
ney, and then had sought to have her
put away as n lunatic. If they were
still in the same mind as when that
attempt had been made they would
renew one or other of the same at
Jtempts
why didn't they? She thought she
could detect Mrs. Taunton's subtler
shrewdness In the change. And then
an explanation occurred to her. AS
the result of her journey to Sheffield
she had set forces to work which might
result in the fraud to her fathers al
legged marriage being discovered. In
that event they would lose everything
And 1t was only the marriage with
her which could render them secure.
Thus gradually the conviction grew
upon her that her life was safe at least
until Merridew had exhausted every
means Of compelling her to become his
wife. She was worth more to these
wretches alive than dead. There was
some comfort even in such considera-
ton.
Moreover. as long as she could fight
on, there was a possibility that some
chance might come to escape She was
hungry for even crumb of hope; and
in this she found enough to sustain
her and once more steel her nerves
and knit her courage.
She took to her books again, forcing
after time committing passages Of
prose and verse to memory. The men
tai discipline benefited her greatly. re-
storing her balance, and giving her
ease of mind and relief from the rack
of her troubled thoughts.
If 1t was to be a trial OF endurance
between her and Merrldew, she would
need to husband her strength care
fully: and she was resolute enough OF
purpose to put all the necessary re-
straint upon herself.
1t was we'll indeed for her that she
had lost no time in adopting these
means OF recovering. self-command. A
searching experience was in store for
her
Panton had passed the whole day in
her interminable sewing. seemingly
absorbed in 1t entirely; but she had
observed Olives strenuous struggle
for self-mastery; and, hard though she
was. tho woman had been touched
by It.
as the evening meal was being laid.
They were the first words which had
passed for some hours, and Olive
glanced up In establishment.
81 am resigned. Panton. I don't care
now what happens"
81 think you are very brave miss.
I ought not to tell you. but 1t can do
no HARM You need not fear any sort
of injury or violence"
Olive looked at her coldly My ex-
.perience here has taught me that when
any one tells me anything 1t is prob
ably false. You have, Of course, been
told to say that, and I do not believe
YOU
.You may be glad to remember it,
miss. all the same"
No more was spoken. Olive ate In
silence the little food for which she
had appetite and returned to her books
She read for few minutes and then
found that she had great difficulty In
fixing her attention on the words. The
print of the letters began to run one
into the other. Sho laid down the
book and passed her hand across her
eyes; and then noticed that Panton
was watching her Intently.
The woman's face seemed to undergo
strange changes as she stared at 1t.
1t receded into tho distance and then
came close up to her, Gradually mist
began to come between them; her head
lfelt heavy on her shoulders; tho air
darkened, and when she strove to rise
her legs and feet refused to bear her
weight.
1t flashed upon her then that she
had been poisoned. She made a.yigor-
Gus effort to stagger to her feet and
CITY out. l5ut was In vain. She could