Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-11-10

marry me. have made up my mind
to that"
"Impossible!" Angry now and con-
temptuous.
"rll make you! There is no re-
source l win not use. I'll bankrupt
your family. I'll wipe it of the EARTH
Calls nails were pressing in her
palms. She felt that her lips were
cold. Her eyes were widening, as the
horror OF him began to grow on her.
He was glaring at her now, and there
was no attempt to conceal the savage
cruelty on his face.
'T'll compromise you" he went on.
''In connect your name with mine in
such way that marriage with me will
be your only resource. I'll be an in
fluence you can't escape. There will
not be a step you can take in which
you viii not feel that l am the mas
ter of 1t. Marry you? I'll have you
II 1t takes ten years! I'll have no
other end in life. I'll put into that one
purpose all the strength and all the
will that l have put into the accom-
plishment of everything which have
done; and the longer you delay me
the sooner I'll break you when l do
get you"
Out of her very weakness had ""me
strength; out Of her overwhelmi ~
initiation had come pride. and though
the blood had left her face waxen and
cold. something within her discovered
win which was as strong in resist
ance as his was in attack. She knew
| it, and trembled in the knowledge
of 1t.
you can't make me marry YOU" she
said. with infinite scorn and contempt.
He clenched his fists and gritted his
! teeth. Into his eyes there sprang a
| blaze which she had never before seen,
/ but dimly, in the eyes of any man;
but she needed no experience to tell
her its despicable meaning. His lips.
which had been snarling. suddenly
took a downward witch. and we're half
parted. His nostrils were distended,
and his blood. flooding into his face,
empurpled it.
Then I'll nave you anyhow" he
hoarsely told her, and. his arms tensed
and his head slightly lowered forward
he made as If to advance toward her
He saw in her frightened eyes that she
would scream, but he did not know
that at that moment she could not
Her heart seemed to have lost its &C
ton. and she stood, trembling. faint
In the midst OF her streNn music, with
the sensation that the room was turn
ing dark.
The house was very quiet. Mrs. Sar
gent and Mrs. Davies were upstairs
The servants we're all in the rear Of
the house, or below. or in the upper
rooms, at their morning work. HG
turned swiftly aud closed the door Of
the music room. then he whirled again
towards her. with ferocity In his eyes
He came slowly, every movement Of
him alive with ponderous strength. Id
was a maniac. He was insane. H6
was frenzied by one mad thought
which had swept out of his universe
every other CONF Iteration, and the glu
to kill was no more fearful than tbs
purpose which possessed him now.
Gail. standing slight, fragile. hei
brown eyes staring, her brown hail
disheveled about her white brow, fell
every atom of strength leaving her, de
youred in the overwhelming might o
this monstrous creature. The shee
of music, which she had been holding
all this time, dropped from Ter nerve
less fingers and fluttered to the floor
That noise. slight as 1t was. served
to arrest the progress of the man To-
lust an instant. He was in no fran,
to reason. but some instinct urged hin
10 speed. He crouched slightly, as {
wild least might. But the fiutter O
that sheet of music had done more
for Gail than it had for him. It haC
loosed the paralysis which had helC
her. had broken the fascination of hor
ror with which she had been spell
bound Just behind her was a low
French window which led to a small
side balcony. With one bound sh'
burst this open. she did not know how
and leaped over the light balloon!
rail, and ran across the lawn TO the
rectory gate. up the steps and into th'
side door. and into the study, where
Rev. Smith Boyd sat toiling over I
, sermon.
ITO RE CONTINIrED)