Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-10-28

do you wish to marry me; but do you
trust me more than you do Anse Cow
an? Listen! it will be form only
am not conceited enough to believe you
desire me for your husband. But you
know who l am; you have confidence
in my honor He cannot marry you
If you are already my wife"
"He-he could kill you"
Eyes, there are enough of them;
but that might happen anyway. No
doubt it would, for otherwise l should
fight to the end. | do not think being
your husband will add in the least to
my danger-and it will possibly. le-
gally, protect you"
"But how can L? Will it be legal?
"Noreen, don't stop to argue, or
doubt" 1 urged, grasping her hand in
eagerness. 1--WE haven't time. Listen
to those voices in the hall! Of course
it will be legal-Nichols is an ordained
minister, and no license is required. l
shall never attempt to hold you,
Noreen, and any court will set you
free the moment you tell the story.
The one, the only thing, for you to con-
slider now, is escape from Anse Cow
an"
"You do this TOTO save me?'
"To keep you from falling helpless
ly into the clutches of a beast-tell me
yes! My God, girl. there they are now
trying the door! Answer-will you?"
With one leap past her I had Mich
OILS by the collar, the muzZle of my re-
volver at his head. A heavy foot
crashed against the locked door, and
voice without gave utterance to an
oath.
Marry me to this girl command
ed sternly. Come now, not word;
don't wait to ask question. Noreen,
take my hand"
open up in there or we'll break
down the door," came hoarsely from
the hallway.
My eyes never left Nichols face.
What he read of threat | know not,
but his lips began to stumble through
the form, though | could scarcely dis
tinguish a word. His face was gray
with terror, and dared not look aside
at the silent girl-only | vaguely
realized that the hand held in mine
trembled and once, when she had to
speak, the two words uttered were al
most sob.
Never surely was there a stranger
marriage in all the world. The dying
embers of the stable fire shot red
CLEANS of fame over us through the
unshaded windows, giving Nichols
CHASTITY look, and glowing on the steel
barrel of the revolver l held poised at
his head. His voice faltered and broke,
and clotted blood rendered hideous one
side of his face while his hands shook
as if with palsy All the sneak1ng
coward in him was manifest. Outside
a dozen voices roared, one rising gruft
above the others shouting orders. Once
a single shot crashed through the up
per panel of the door and broke the
glass of a window opposite. The girl,
startled reeled against me, and the
preacher stopped, gasping for breath.
"No firing, you fool" roared deep
voice angrily 1--WE don't want any dead
ones-beat down the door,
go on" l ordered grimly, and
thrust the black muzzle hard against
his cheek The preacher choked, but
the usual words of the ritual-sound-
ing almost like mockery- dropped me-
chanically from his tongue.
"And now | pronounce you man and
wife, and whom God hath joined to-
gether, let not man put asunder.
Amen"
She gave vent to a little sobbing
cry, half stifed in her throat, and
shrank away from me. l knew that
her face was buried in her hands, yet
had no time to look that way, or utter
a word. Rifle butts were crashing in
the panels of the door; l could per-
ceive already dim figures revealed
through the jagged openings made in
the light wood, a vista of faces,
CLEAN Of weapons.
/ "Hit lower down." yelled the same
| gruff voice of command. "There is a
bolt that holds fast-reach in, Saun-
ders!"
Get oack-beyond the bed" l
called, pushing her behind me, and
bracing myself for the first shock
The door gave, sagging aside on its
hinges, and half falling inward and
/ through the opening men tumbled for
! ward, carbines gripped in their hands.
The red light cleaned CHASTITY across
/ their faces and revealed-the blue uni
form Of Federal cavalry.