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

III II.
AS she stood moment hesitating
whether still to risk flight, the woman
rushed UP from behind seized her. and
dragged her back into the passage.
Pushing her off again, Olive accepted
defeat. and returned to her own room.
If Merridcw had not seen her, 1t would
clearly be more prudent that he should
not Know Of tie attempts. She had
satisfied herself that no ollc was In
the house except the woman; and IL
he knew she had so nearly got away,
he would be certain to have her more
closely guarded in the future.
Mrs Tlsley followed her UP the
stGirs. swearing freely and vowing
vengeance, and as she was locking the
door. Olive warned Nher not to tell
Merridew.
But he had not failed to notice what
had occurred, and the moment he en-
tered the house Olive heard him rating
the woman in stern. angry tones on ac-
count of It, Then Olive was brought
down: and his first words showed her.
that the attempt was likely to cost her
dear.
so / arrived Just in time. it seems"
he said, without any preface of as
sumed politeness You very nearly
succeeded in making your escape.
thanks to this laundering fools drunk
enness. Well. this has got TO cease;
and you had better know II at once.
I am taking no more risks of that
sort"
And that means-what?" asked
Olive, meeting his angry look firmly.
II came down 10 ask YOU to let our
marriage take place. But after this
tell YOU that it must. Must Under
stand that" %
several times. / shall give no other
II dare say you'd rather stop on here
on the chance Of repeating more sue
ccssfully the attempt that has just
| failed But you've opened my eyes
in time. 1 meant TO get the marriage
told YOU before. Now / take that back.
| j have obtained the needed license
and the permission ~ have. the cer.-
mony take place here in this house. and
take place ii shall. ! shall remain
here until it Is done
Olive made no attempt 10 reply.
You've got the best of this old fool,
and won't trust a man In the place.
for fear you'd wheedle round him.
shall stay here. therefore, and shall
send at once for the clergyman who
will marry us. He will be here to-
morrow Now YOU can go back to your
room and make up your mind TO do it.
| I'll have no more of this sort of fool
| ing. And mind. II you still refuse, the
thing will be done all the same. but
| the results to you Will not be pleas
ant"
without word Olive returned to her
room and Merridew himself followed
and locked and bolted the door upon
! her.
Not for an instant did Olive waeer
| in her set resolve to refuse. She was
not altogether sorry indeed. that the
| crisis had come. She had entirely re
| covered her strength and lad main
tained her health and spirits despite
the confinement in the one small room.
The trouble would certainly have TO
be faced some time. and she would as
soon face it at once as later. In that
mood she set about her usual evening
tasks. her mind fully made UP and her
| resolve as strong as ever.
The next day found her iust the
same. Mrs. Tisley brought her meals
as usual, but there was an obvious
change In the uomans manner. She
was now talkatiye and abusive She
declared Olive had ruined her. and that
she would have her revenge in some
way. This was at breakfast time, and
| when she brought up the dinner ii was
clear she had been brooding over her
| grievances as well as seeking comfort
again in the bottle
| Olive told her at last to leave the
| room: and. angered by this, the woman
| darted forward and tried to strike her.
| There was struggle between them.
/ In which Olive found that she was
| much the stronger of the Two. and she
| had all but overpo wered her when
| Merridew entered. attracted by the
noise
/ He sent the woman downstairs ana
I when Olive a
| CURED. he sneered and told her II
served her right for having made an
| enenly of the other, and that the time
I might soon come when she would have
/ tittcr cause to repent what she had
/ done.
Thai evening. as Arerridew had said.
! the Clergyman arrived and was brought
/ up to her room. Olive had nourishsd
The secret hope that he would prove a
lrle"G and would take her side. But
1 The moment she saw him the hone died.
He was one of those degraded
sa@rndrels some few of whom are to
/ BE- found in the ranks OF the clergy,
! WHO disgrace not only the cloth they
| wear. hut 'the very name OF manhood
/ IL drunken. diSsipat.t, worthless sras-
real. who 'sas seemingly in Aierridew-s
! power. and who cringed to him and
fawned on him with subservience
lhat was as dlSgus tiR to witness as
Il was likely to Iyove dangerous to
1 Give.
\ He Lad been properly coached as 10
4 what tc believe and how TO act in re-
i eatc TO Olive; and he smirked and
| sinWered vacuously as he fixed his
q bieaIN, drink-watery eyes on her. rub
bine his hands over and over while he
numbled out some fatuous and insane
1. congratulations.
What do you mean sir?" asked
A Olive, Indignantly and in disgust,
i OF course-this--this little aus.
u rieious-occasion," he mumbled thick
u, dropping his eyes before her steady
gaze.
lie WAS more than half intoxicated
his breath came heavily and reeked OF
arlnk; and he stumbled in his speech.
:. "Aio YOU minister Of the Gospel,
sirE she asked, SO sharply at that he
stared
What cher mean? whatsh She meal.
Aicrrlde's Am | a clergyman? Course
am, Whom the Church blndeth--'
silence, sir. ! marvel that you arc
not ashamed to speak Of the Church
You disgrace so shamefully"
y iie started again glanced at Merit.
dew, and mumbed something ahnut