The Glenwood post., 1909-06-26

get into trouble. She afterward tolt
me It was because she feared We
might be stopped. We did not forget
the precaution. in our brief halts, to
pay the hostlers well to do some harm
to any pursuing vehicles which might
be after us; and our plan see 4 to
be prospering famously.
So all night we ratified furiously
along, and at daybreak we crossed the
postboys. 1t was 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. 1t was some distance be.
hind and the horses seemed much
spent. We continued on our way to
the house of blacksmith at Gretna
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"
l 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 l had done this innocent girl
suddenly swept over me. And in her
eyes, too, l read the first conscious.
ness of having committed an impro-
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 l called out cheer
fully: Il take this woman to be my
as l recalled of the marriage service
and 1 said it so heartily and prom
ised SO devoutly, removing my hat
when l made my vows, that 1t heart
ened up Daphne-and her response,
so full of faith and love, gave kind
of holiness to it all. We were rwo
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
| 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 out
willingly, disdaining the assistance
Giles offered her. His face, too, was
very pale, and he looked and moved
like man in nightmare. The black
smith grinned broadly; he thought
his gains were to be increased-for l
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 glance
of ineffable hatred.
This man." she said, turning to me,
you friend, your intimate-I blush
for you-has dragged me here. Rather
would l 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 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 GO
ing down on his knees to her, in the
mud-but l held him up. l 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 officer in his majesty's
sea service, a man who had smelt
powder and knew what it was to look
Death in the eye and advance upon
him, who would have answered with
his life for his courage, was ready to
grovel in the earth like a 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 l, a brother Of
ficer. witnessed his degradation. He
seemed to have parted with the last
semblance OF self-respect.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER.
Fate Of Unhappy Man Who Aroused