The Ordway new era., 1908-07-24

'Foolishly--oh. foolishly'
.Tbe mask. please aad quickly
"oh snare me, II was all
"Tbe mask. | am growing mofN
desperate with each moment of delay
Protestingly, the young lady's haau
went 10 her mask, and she ii''cu II
| from her face. Then HarTyWo''
gasped The revealed face was 'h'
same that had been haunting his mem'
orv-the face OF the d!ning'car.
Amazement, rapurous delight and sat
IsfactIon mingled In his breast; but
his pistol hand remained steady haf'
rymore realized that his opportunity
| had come. and he exclaimed;
There is something miraculous IN
this, And, believing that this meet
ing has been brought about In answer
10 the earnest prayer which has been
In my heart since first saw you three
months ago. am determined ! SHAH
not lose YOU again. Back here Is
country parson. Ride little In al
vance Of me and move In that that d.
rection.'
barrymore indicated by a motion of
his head.
why. what do you mcan?'
Il mean that you are going TO
marry me. am now going 10 put
away this weapon; but remember that
! have It handy; and fail in one single
instant to obey my commands during
the next hour. and you will have only
yourself to blame for the awful trag'
eds which will follow"
Surely you cannot mean what you
say" The young lady's bosom rose
and fell tumultuously.
Did | not tell you that | am des'
perate MANI
Only the deepest earnestncss ap.
peared In Barrymore's face. as the
eyes Of his captive searched his coun-
tcnancc.
The two riders now moved forward.
and in a little while they came in sight
Of a small cottage painted red. On a
front veranda sat little plous.looking
man, reading. Barrymore leaned for
ward and whispered into his com.
panion's ear:
Remember. even TO hesitate will be
TO invite n tragedy"
The girl nodded and sighed. Dis.
mounting at the parsons gate, Barry.
more assisted the young lady to alight:
and. side by side they entered the
house. For years this small cottage
had been noted as a sort Of Gretna
Green: and the clergyman who resided
there had learned to ask few questions
and to proceed to business when
young couple entered the house.
And on this occasion, when Barry
more and his companion had entered
the ceremony was on and over in such
an Incredibly shor, time. that the
coerced party to the contract could
hardly realize that she had become
Mrs. Barrymore
Once more on the road and out of
sight of the cottage. barrymore rode
close beside the horse of his bride.
who, beyond her subdued responses
TO the minister. had remained silent.
Your lips to mine Just one moment,
sweetheart"
Barrymore's tone now was very ten
der; and his companion yielded to the
passion of his caress with apparently
more willingness than the situation
might warrant. But, sighing a mo.
ment later. she mused half aloud:
MY husband will understand. of
course. that | did It all TO save my
life"
What is that" Barrymores heart
suddenly sank within him.
Il said that my husband"
Then you are the wife of another?
The girls lips parted In a sudden
and merry peal of laughter. Are YOU
not my husband, goosey?"
barrymore looked into her eyes,
then his heart thumped for Joy.
Then you are not an unwilling
bride?" His arm had started abou,
her waist.
why should be. when this termi.
nation OF our meeting had been
planned by your sister, with my acaui.
escence?"
What? You do not mean Louise p,
F, She and were classmates, YOU
know. But, of course. you didn',
know; and you didn't know that was
to be her guest out here"
They you are Ethel Morrow"
You mean, was Ethel Morrow .
Barrymore's arms went round her
and he crushed her lips with a kiss
And what about the hold-up?"
well. really, that was not n mar,
OF the plan. was doing that. as
told you to win wager. Louise con
TENDED that woman could never hav.
the nerve to do thing like that: ant
we decided that I should try 1t or
you"
And you tried It, with results alto
gether unexpected"
Unexpected. but not"
Unsatisfactory?