The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1909-06-25

eet isto trouble. aAs aftsevara told
NJ II vss bseanao she feared va
might be stopped We did not forget
the prscaution. ia our bsise halts. ro
pay the hostlers veil to DO some harm
to any pursuing vehicles which nigh.
be after Us: and our plan seemed &c
be prospeFing famously.
90 all night We ratified furious ly
along. and 1t daybreak ve crossed the
border. notified by the huxxaing Of the
postboys. II vas q dank. dismal morn.
ing. the weather having changed dur.
ing the night. and We saw that we
had passed the other chaise in ths
darkness. II vas some distance be.
hind, and the horses seemed much
spent. We continued on our way 70
the house Of blacksmith At Gretna
Green. Who. 20 our postboys told us.
usually united runaway couples. We
dashed up to his cottase-a hum ble
place, surrounded by . willow hedge-
and he. warned by approaching wheels,
came out. half dressed. in the murky
morning.
Come to be marrit?" he cried.
Step out. then"
assisted Daphne out Of the chase.
and then, as We stood ON the damp
ground. in those squalid surroundings.
looking At each other. the poss! bile
wrong I had done this innocent girl
suddenly swept over me. And in he,
eyes. too. l read the nrst conscious.
ness of having committed an inpro-
priety. This dirty. unkempt black.
smith. the coarse. laughing postboys-
this. = way to make the most solemn
and spiritual OF all engagements l
felt an uncomfortable sense of guilt
and shame
1t was only momentary The more
depressed she. the more should l sup
port, and therefore called out cheer
fully: Il take this woman to be my
welded wife" and such other words
as recalled Of the marriage service
and l said 1t SO heartily and prom
ised 80 devoutly. removing my hat
when l made my vows. that it heart
ened up Daphne-and her response.
20 full of faith and love. gave 4 kind
Of holiness to It all. We we're Two
rash and foolish young people-but We
loved each other truly, and We made
our VOWS solemnly, determined to keep
them. Perhaps that counts for more,
in the eyes Of God. than all else: at
least. We realized the sacredness of our
VOWS.
Scarcely was the brief ceremony
over-for ceremony We made it-when
the chaise containing Arabella and
Giles drew up. And the sight I saw.
l can never forget.
Arabella's face was quite pale. but
her eyes were blazing. There we're
some drops Of blood upon her cheek
they came from her wrists. which
Giles held firmly. The door Of the
chaise being opened. she stepped ont
willingly. disdaining the assistance
Giles offered her. His face. too. vas
very pale. and he looked and moved
like . man in . nightmare. The black
smith grinned broadly. he thought
his gains we're to be increased-tor I
had not forgotten to pay him hand;
somely.
Giles seized her hand 'Arabella." !"
he cried. desperately, surely you do
not now mean to throw me over."
For answer. she gave him a glance
Of ine6able hatred.
This man." she said. turning to me.
fp{AnA - l,,ok -
for you-has dragged me here Rather
would die than marry him. Look!'
She held mp her wrists. and they
showed marks of violence
Twas to keep her from jumping
out Of the chaise." said Giles. wildly.
She would have had me leave her At
midnight. on the highway-alone and
unprotected. Dearest Arabella," he
cried. turning to her. and trying to
clasp her, will you not listen to my
prayer? How can you scorn such
love as mine?" And he was near 60
ing down on his knees to her. in the
mud-but l held him up. confess
that the most painful thing Of all this
painful business was Giles vernon's
complete surrender Of his manhood,
under the influence Of his wild pas
sion. He, an of,cer in his majesty's
sea service. = man who had smelt
powder and knew what it vas to look
Death in the eye and advance upon
him. who would have answered with
his life for his courage. was ready to
gro rel in the earth like a madman
for the favor Of woman. Nothing
was it to him that low-born creatures
like the postboys and the blacksmith
beheld him with contempt and dis
gust; nothing to him that a woman
like Daphne. and that l. brother Of
ncer. Witnessed his degradation. He
seemed to have parted with the last
semblance Of self.respect.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER.