The Ordway new era., 1909-06-25

| get into trouble. She afterward tolt
me II was because she feared we
might be stopped. We did not forget
| the precaution, In our brief halts, &c
pay the hostlers well to do some harm
| TO any pursuing vehicles which migh'
be after us; and our plan seemed &c
| be prospering famously.
So all night we ratified furiousN
/ along, and at daybreak we crossed the
border, notified by the huzzaing OF the
postboys. II was a dank. dismal morn
/ ing. the weather having changed dur
ing the night, and we saw that we
had passed the other chaise in the
darkness II was some distance be-
hind. and the horses seemed much
spent. We continued on our way to
| the house OF blacksmith at Gretnh
Green. who. so our postboys told us,
usually united runaway couples. We
dashed up to his cottage-a humble
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 chaise,
and then. as We stood on the damp
ground. in those sQualid surroundings,
looking at each other, the possible
wrong | had done this innocent girl
suddenly swept over me. And in her
eyes. too. | read the first conscious
ness OF having committed an impro'
priety. This dirty. unkempt black
smith. the coarse. laughing postboys-
this. a way to make the most solemn
and spiritual OF all engagements.
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 said 1t so heartily and prom
ised so devoutly. removing my hat
when | made my VOWS, that II heart
ened up Daphne-and her response,
so full OF faith and love. gave a Kind
OF holiness to It all. We were 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. az
least. We realized the sacredness OF our
vows.
Scarcely was the brief ceremony
oyer-fOr ceremony We made it-Ehsn
the chaise containing Arabella and
Giles drew up. And the sight I saw.
can never forget.
Arabella's face was quite pale. but
her eyes were blazing. There were
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 out
willingly. disdaining the assistance
Giles offered her His face. too. vas
very pale. and he looked and moved
like q man in a nightmare. The black.
smith grinned broadly. he thought
his gains were to be increased-f0r !
had not forgotten TO pay him hand.
sOmely.
Giles seized her hand "ArabelIa. d"
he cried. desperately. surely you do
not now mean TO throw NE over"
For answer. she gave him a glance
Of IneEable hatred
This man. she said. turning TO ne.
you friend. your intimate blush
for you-has dragged ne here. Rather
would I die than marry him Look
She held up her wrists. aad they
showed marks Of violence.
Twas to keep her from Jumping
out OF the chalse" said Giles. wsdly
she would have had ne leave her a,
midnight on the hlEhWav-a.oae and
unprotected Dearest Arabella." be
cried. turning 10 her. and trying 10
clasp her. will you no, listen to ny
prayer How can you sco-n such
love as mine" And he vas near 20
ing down on his knees TO her. in the
mud-bUt held him up I confess
that the most painful thing Of all this
painful business vas Giles Vernon :
complete surrender OF his manhood
under the influence OF his Wild pas
sion. He. an officer in his majesty
sea service. q man who had smel,
powder and knew what Il vas to look
Death in the eye and advance upon
him. who would have answered with
his life for his courage. was ready tc
groyel in the earth like a madman
for the favor OF a 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 /. brother Of
ficer. witnessed his degradation. He
seemed to have parted with the las'
semblance Of self-respect.
CTO BE CONTINUED