The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-02

slaughtar.s The voice spoke calmly and logically. but 1t grew very faint as fear Sgripped her heart. Even the a thing too terrible to contemplate. She knew well enough that innocent men had sometimes been condemned to death. and John Shil was certainly not an innocent man.
 She was dear alike to the voice of conscience and reason, and there only remained single thought to combat the halfformed resolution in her brain. Would her marriage to William to John Shil or would the loss of her be more terrible for him to bear than shame. or degrada, ton or death itself? These were the questions she asked herself again and again and she could find no definite answer to them
 The neglected fire burnt down to a logs of wood. A few patches of dull red light still glowed in the embers but the room was almost in total darkness. The shadows on the ceiling had died away and the whole apart ment Itself was one deep blur of shadow. He face was scarcely visible "a mere patch cf white against the blackness
 And there in the silence and the darkness young girl, on the thresh- hold of life, with a great love in her strong. simple heart, and with all the world opening out before her like some gorgeous flower, resolved to sacrifice her mird her body, perhaps even her very soul, lest harm should come to the man she loved. Such is the love of women, foolish and illogi- tx.& c4ra ha h and set on a height to which no man dare lift his eyes.
 CHAPTER ".
 The couraEe of Despair.
 The next morning MT. William Tan kerlane called and received his am swer.
 T have decided to marry you" said the girl quietly. Tt is the least of two evils. and must accept 1t. Your own common sense will tell you how much happiness is likely to re- suit from such union--either for you or. for me-"
 T am prepared to take the risk" he replied firmly, "and you know l lovo you. Do not judge me hardly. Laura. I know that I am driving a hard bargain. but I would do worse things than that to gain you. Do you realize what love means. how 1t grips the soul. how 1t fires the mind to hadness how it sites conscience and drives men to do that which honor forbids them to do, Do you understand that 1t is an angel with a flaming sword?'
 q understand what love means" she said slowly. She spoke very quiel- ty and there was not even tinge of bitterness in her voice. Her face was pale, but save for its exceeding whiteness 1t bore no traces of the storm that had wrecked her life. Yet. for all of that. both face and voice told William Tankrlane that she knew the true meaning of a great love, and that it was, of very truth, an angel with a flaming sword
 He moved slightly toward her, with passion burning in his eyes, and with outstretched arms, as though he would take her in his arms. But she shrank back from him.
 .T will marry you" she said coldly, as though discussing a matter of bus mess. but only on one condition that the marriage is kept a secret and that no one, and least of all John Shil, shall know of 1t until year after it has taken place."
 A sudden gleam came into the mans eyes, and a look or relief fasheed across his face. Both were momentary, and escaped the mo- tice of the girl. She did not know that William Tankerlane, for a very differ ent reason, had been about to make the very same proposition.
 Tt is a reasonable condition, he answered after a. slight pause, and I will agree to 1t. I quite understand that you do not wish John Shil to know. would suggest that we should be married in London"
 "Yes, London will do," she said; "and now you must swear to say nothing of what you saw yesterday afternoon in the Round Plantation. Here is Bible; know you are not religious man, but I think you will appreciate the solemnity of the oath
 He took the sacred Book from her hand, pressed his lips to it, and swore the oath, adding as rider the words, T swear to do this so long as you agree to live with me-"
 The girls white face flushed.
 q did not agree@to any such condi- tion." she said sharply.
 No" he replied. "but it is a neces- sary condition. You might leave me at the church door and refuse to live with me as my wife. That would be a poor reward for4my silence"
 "Very we'll" she exclaimed, let 1t be so. I will meet you in London in a few weeks time, if you fix an hour and a place.
 He arranged the hour and the place, and then. fumbling unsteadily in his pockets, he drew out four pound notes.
 You will want money" he said hrusnIteIv