The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-22


Wait" cried Olive. SO sternly TINT
he backed away a pace or two. II
will nlso tell you what perhaps you
do not expect. What Is your name?'
Il am the Rev. Charles Dustl-Dustl
I-Dustletop." he replied. stumbling over
the name so that 1t was scarcely intel
ligible.
You are so intoxicated that you
cannot even pronounce your own name
hut not perhaps too much so to under
stand me. have powerful and iNflu-
entail friends who know that Il would
never consent to marry this man.
am being forced by him into this, and
ii you dare to lend yourself to he an
accomplice in this villainy YOU will
have to, answer for your crime to the
| law"
The color left his lflabby cheeks at
this. and his watery eyes were full OF
fear as he turned them on Merridew.
Here, say he began, when Mer-
ridew cut him short
you can choose, Dustleton.' he said,
sterrly, fixing his eyes on, him.
Here. look here said the man.
drawing his, employer into corner,
where they spoke together in low
tones. Olive heard something to the
effect that nothing could be done II
she did not consent, but In the end the
Merridew has explained that this is all
pretence on your part. understand,
and with besotted slynpss he winked
at her. !,
HE has lied to you. sir. ] am IN
terrible earnest, And l warn you again
that IL you persevere you will have TO
answer for your offense.
He winked again as If understanding
her, and nodded indulgently.
5avy rat Mrs. TISley, ana,
taking out a prayer-book. the drunken
cleric began to humble the words or
the marriage service.
When he came to the questions to
Merridew and Olive. the former replied
Yes" in loud, firm voice. but owe
cried in righteous Indignation
NO. No, No! Not While l haSe
breath 10 refuse"
BIT he took no notice and mumbied
on to the end in his thick. besotted'
rambling accents.
Meanwhile Merrdew had seized
Olives hand and forced :. ring on Naer
| finger. but ths instant lie released her
she tore it off and flung 1t from her.
AS sooc as the ceremonyswas conctuded
tile NAN shambled out of the room. iol.
lowed bv Mrs. Tisley, with Merride"
Behind them.
About an hour afterward Merridew
came up aicae bringing a paper
| We laid 1t on the table and held
ne.. toward Olive. You Will sign
| this" he said sternly.
She had mastered the furious passion
| which lad possessed her at the crosse
| OF the marriage ceremony.
what is it?' she asked calmly.
..The register of our marriage The
LEGAL evidence that we are man and
| wife"
II mean to. Your life depends upon
your signing that paper. Listen TO
| me carefully. for I mean every wore
/ say. If You sign this you can gD
| free. If you refuse, the paper VIII SUI
! be signed, and Iii writing that ND
IN. viii he aole TO distinguish from
| YOURS. The only person able 70 ois-
mite the signature Will be yourself
and you-will not live to object"
4arhen I will die" said Olive at once,
! III a Zone of implaca5ie firmnsss.
~ Will give you one hour In which
| 10 change your mind
! He went out of the room. Inen
/ Olive fell on her knees and pre3sd with
soulful earnestness and fervor Tor
strength. Not for fraction OF secon q
| did she waver, and 1t Was not strength
| for that she sought. but to endure
| what might be done 10 her.
she knew Merridew well enough to
\ understand that he was in deadly
| earnest In the threat he had uttered
! and knew also that he was villain
\ enough to carry it into execution. she
| understood tho reasons wnich now ac-
/ tuated him. If this shameful burlesque
/ of marriage could not be upset hs
| had gained all that he needed, and
| her life was no longer of any use to
| him. Her death would serve him bet
ter and she believed that. with her
/ signature forced to the certificate. he
! could gain the end for which alone ne
/ had wished her to be his wife.
She was still ION her knees when ne
/ returned She rose hastily as he en-
TERED.
II have come for your answer" i'e
! said shortly.
YOU nave had it already. | have nc
other" she replied as shortly
i you know l shall keep my word
You are absolutely In my nnwe - z3s
mo am in Gods hands-no'
yours
I'VE shall sec." he answered with
I a sheer. You had better make haste
and pray to Him. for few hours VII
see whether you'll get help. snal
keeo my word. That I swear. Nothing
shall turn me from 1t now
And with that he left her and shot
home the bolts on her door
A 1t was her sentence of death.
CHAPTER INV.
Sentenced to DIE.
1 When Gilbert Merridew left the
4 room olive remained few seconds
4 gazing after him, as still as II sht
had been rooted to the spot
Then, with n deep sigh, she turned
4 away and sat down on the bed. She
was very close to despair in thosespo
4 ments. ii seemed almost as if HEAVIER
had deserted her and that this maj
| was to have his way.
4 But the next instant she was agar
on her feet, fun of self-reproach fo
4 her passing weakness. Her courage re
! yived and her faith was once more a;
strong as ever The way OF escape from
4 the peril would stil be found, ant
II she must brace herself to be ready TO
4 1t.
Il With a rare self-command she Sc
herself to go through the exercise
A which were her nightly task befor
going to bed and she was even more
;. earnest In their performance thar
usual.
4 Then she threw herself on her knee
for her prayers. These were longerNan'
more strenuous than on the precedins
-. H.. n