Charlevoix county herald., 1913-11-01

Promise or no PROMISE said
Miss Lawrence sharply. "Miss
Armstrong goes nowhere with you
tonight, and my advice to you is
to get away from here as quickly
as possible"
Seeing there was nothing 10 be
gained by staying the man with
many threats and imprecations,
climbed into the carriage and
drove away.
Sydney now gave all her atten-
ton to quoting the unhappy girl
who chung to her crying.
"Oh. Sydney, you have saved
me! You have saved mep
At last she was able to lead her
back to the house which they were
lucky enough to enter without "a
rousing anyone. Once safely in
their own room she asked for an
explanation. But this was refused
Sydney" she said solemnly,
"you have tonight saved me from
fate worse than death, but / can
tell you nothing more than you al
ready know, for l am sworn to Sc
crecy."
Dear" said Sydney tenderly
taking her friends hand in hers,
secret is no secret to me. /, too,
wear the Yellow Garter"
You, SydneyW cried Julia al
most faint with horror. "Oh,
surely not your
Yes" smiling a little-"even |
But do not fear; it will bring me
to no HARM"
II sincerely hope not; but you
- II, I,a,,,,Lt 10
eyes, and now if you feel able,
tell me about it,"
Thus urged, Julia told her story.
1t was briefly this:
About a year previous she had
made the acquaintance of the
woman styled Madam, through
carefully worded advertisement.
Feeling within her the capabilities
of a grand passion and longing
for a kindred spirit upon whom
she might lavish the wealth of
her affection, she placed herself
in Madam's hands.
Dureing the year following she
had gone with her to various sum-
mer and winter resorts and had
beside met some of Madam's
friends in town of whose social
prominence she had boasted,
though Julia was convinced that
the most of them were adyentur-
ers. But among them all could
not be found lover for her. AS
time went on and Madam realized
this fact she became more than
ever determined not to be thwart-
ed in her plans.
Some three weeks ago William,
the groom, who until then had
been the most respectful of SER
wants, became very familiar in his
manner to her and continued SO
in spite of her reproofs, until
finding her alone in the garden !
one night he began making the
most violent love to her and end
ed by asking her to marry him.
On her Indignantly refusing, his !
convinced her that Madam was the |
instigator of the affront.
The next day she saw the woman
and accused her, but though she |
denied all knowledge of it she de-
manded, since by Julia's confess
sion she had received 40 offer OF |
marriage, that she keep her oath.
In vain the girl plead and pro-
tested, with bitter tears and
frantic promises, the woman was
immovable; she had sworn and
must abide by the consequences.
Worn out by the struggle and
seeing nothing before her but
hopeless misery, the girl at last
gave in, leaving all the arrange
ments in Maddm's hands. That |
worthy planned an eiopement as
being best suited to the romantic
nature of the bride, and the posi- |
ton of the groom. She was to
meet the happy (N couple in town
and be the only witness of the |
marriage.
AS a last resort the well-nigh |
disraught girl had sent for her
friend, Sydney Lawrence to come
to her, hoping she knew not what
from her clever practicability, and |
the end had fully justified her
faith.
al owe all to you,' she kept say
ing, "all to YOU"
The next morning Miss Lawrence
took an early train for the city and
arriving there proceeded at once
to the apartment house patronized
by Madam. Receiving no answer
to her ring, she called up the jan
itor to find out from that worthy
when Madam was likely to return
and anything else he might have
to offer in regard to her.
He proved to be most commune
cative.
Madam had been out last night
and did not return until very late
he had heard the carriage when ii
came. Quite early this morning
she had brought him her keys tell-
ing him that she had received
news which would take her abroad