Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1909-11-11

darkness. II was some distance be,
HAD, and the horses seemed much
spent. We continued OH our way tt
the house Of a blacksmith at Gretna
Green, who, SO our %postboys told us,
usually united runaway couples. We
dashed up to his %cottage-a humble
place, surrounded by a 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"
I 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 I had done this innocent girl
suddenly swept over me. And in her
eyes, too, I 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! I
felt an uncomfortable sense of guilt
and shame.
1t was only momentary. The more
depressed she, the more should I sup.
port, and therefore I called out cheer
fully: Il take this woman to be my
welded wife," and such other words
as I recalled of the marriage service
and I 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 1t all. We were two
rash and foolish young p%eople--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 s%acredness 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 | saw,
| can never forget.
Arabella's face was quite pale, but
"a v SyVo VNiC ulhbilS. lhCic Wcio
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. d%isdaining the assistance
Giles offered her. His face, too. was
very pale. and he looked and moved
like u man in a nightmare. The black.
smith grinned broadly; he thought
his gains were to be increased--for
had not forgotten to pay him hand
somely.
Giles seized her hand. "Arabella,"
he cried, desperately. surely you dc
not now mean to throw me over?"
For answer, she gave him q glance
OF ineffable hatred.
"This man." she said. turning to me
you friend. your intimate--I blush
for you--has dragged me hore. Rather
would I die than marry him. Look!'
She held up 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 al
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 az miner" And he was near 90
ing down on his knees to her, In the
mud-but l held him up. I confess
that the most painful thing OF all this
painful business was Giles Vernon'l
complete surrender OF his manhood
under the influence OF his wild pas
sion. He. an officer In his majesty's
sea service, a man who had smell
powder and knew what 1t was to look
Death In the eye and advance upon
him, who would have answered with
his life for his courage. was ready &c
grovel In the earth like q mailman
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 |, n brother Of
ficer. witnessed his degradation. He
seemed to have parted with the lAst
semblance Of self.respect.
ITO BE CONTINUED.)