Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-09-02
A Risky Expedient.
[Original.l

! stationed at intervals to keep them in
line and extricate them when blocked
! One afternoon as it was growing dark
q gentleman threaded his way to a
stalled carriage and mounted to the
box beside the liveried coachman. AS
F. constituent kept the latter silent for
a moment; then when he was about
=, to speak the gentleman stopped him.
] James," he said in a low voice.
you know me?"
Certainly, Mr. Townsend"
you also know that l am a friend
of your mistress. Now, l wish you to
relinquish the reins to me. Get Off
the box and disappear in the throng.
Come to my Office tomorrow and you
will receive five years wages"
| There was little hesitancy in accept
ing such a tempting offer. He had
often seen the gentleman at his mis-
tress' house. Doubtless he meditated
some harmless prank. Turning over
the reins. James descended from the
box and was lost in the crowd.
! Now. there had been for some time
a desperate love game between Mr..
) Townsend and Miss Annette Van De-
veer. the occupant Of the carriage.
The lady would encourage her lover
for a brief season. when she would
suddenly treat him with the most
studied Indifference This blowing hot
and cold on the heart alternately sets
the blood coursing wildly and makes
man do very reckless things. But
Frank Townsend was as much Of a
genius at the game Of love as Paul
Morphy was at the game of chess. He
made up his mind to campaign
which If unsuccessful would mark him
for a fool, but, IL he knew Miss Van
Deveer correctly, would win her.
The lady wondered why she was so
long in reaching her home. When, the
carriage stopped it was under porte
cochere. The man on the box gave
call, which was answered by maid,
who came out of the house and receiv-
ed whispered instructions from the
coachman. She opened the coach door.
The lady stepped out, looking about her
in surprise. but before she could collect
her senses was hurried into the house.
She became alarmed and turned to go
back through the door by which she
had come 1t was locked.
| what does this mean?" she cried,
both indignant and terrified.
"That you are a prisoner"
"a prisoner"
| Eyes, but don't distress yourself. You
will come to no harm. You will be
treated with every respect"
| Beyond this Miss Van Deveer could
get no satisfaction. She at last con-
sented to go. TO her room, where she
was locked in.
| She had not been there long before
the door was opened and a note was
thrown in. 1t read:
! Your treatment of ne has made me
desperate. | have kidnapped you and
shall hold you till you have promised to
be my wife. If you wish to see me. ring,
and ] will send for you.
i F. TOWNSEND.
| 1t was but a few minutes before a
ring was heard downstairs. Then a
maid threw open the door and conduct
ed Miss Van Deveer to the drawing
room, where Mr. Townsend awaited
! her
what crazy freak is this?' she de-
manded haughtily.
"If I am crazy l have been made so
by love for you"
ST demand to be sent home immedi-
ately They will be frightened at my
absence. 1t is not proper that I should
be here in your house"
"As to the first care nothing. AS to
the second. you shall be treated as be-
comes the lady you are"
"Do you realize that when my being
here is known, as it will be If / do not
leave Immediately, shall be severely
criticised?"
Cali the more reason for you to COM
ply with the terms of ransom and go
at once"
The lady was talking excitedly, the
gentleman as coolly as if he were an
Italian bandit ready to cut off her ear
and send it to her relatives.
''I supposed, Frank Townsend, that
you were reckless. but I never took
you for fool'
"a fool will pull the house down
over his head and the woman he
loves"
do you mean to say that you will
permit this act to be known among
your friends and be cut by every one
of them? As soon as they hear all
! they will exonerate me-"
eff / can't win you am ready to be
cut by the whole world"
There was no promise of relenting.
Miss Van Deveer stood looking at her
captor with a curious expression.
| Through all her blowing hot and cold
she had intended to marry him. In
deed, she was desperately in love with
him. If she allowed this unheard of
affair to proceed it meant ruin to all
concerned. There was no alternative
except capitulation.
"Order the carriage" she said.
/ asIh e Of tho door and mn nnachHnar