Middletown transcript., 1916-02-05

Il shall not again ask you TO love
me" he harshly stated; but you must
marry me. l have made up my mind
to that"
"lmpossible!" Angry now and con-
tenn otuous.
''I'l make you! There is no re-
source will not use. I'll bankrupt
your family. I'll wipe 1t off 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.
"I'll compromise you," he went on
''I'll connect your name with mine in
such a 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 will not feel that l am the mas
ter Of it. Marry you? I'll have you
If it 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 have put into the accom-
plishment of everything which | have
done; and the longer you delay me
the sooner Ill break you when ! do
get you"
Out Of her very weakness had come
1E~ rrfl Nf hnv al fv,nr h,,
initiation had come pride. and though
the blood had left her face waxen and
cold, something within her discovered
a will which was as strong in resist
ance as his was in attack. She knew
1t, 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 twitch, and were half
parted. His nostrils were distended,
and his blood, flooding into his face.
empurpled it.
Then I'll have 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
Her heart seemed to have lost it's ac-
ton, and she stood. trembling, faint.
in the midst of her strewn 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 were all in the rear of |
the house, or below. or In the upper
rooms, at their morning work. He |
turned swiftly and 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. He
was maniac. He was insane. He
was frenzied by one mad thought
which had swept out of his universe
every other consideration, and the glut
to kill was no more fearful than the
purpose which possessed him now.
Cell GGaill, standing slight fra gile. her
brown eyes staring, her brown hair
1isheveled about her white brow. telt
every atom of strength leaving her, de-
7oured in the overwhelming might OF
his monstrous creature. The sheet
of music, which she had been holding
al this time, dropped from her nerve
ess fingers and fluttered to the floor!
That noise, slight as it was, served
% arrest the progress of the man for
ust an instant. He was in no frame
% reason, but some instinct urged him
o speed. He crouched slightly, as a
Wild beast might But the f1utter of
hat sheet of music had done more
or Gail than it had for him. 1t had
oosed the paralysis which had helG
Ter. had broken the fascination of hor
or with which she had been spell
pound Just behind her was a low
french window which led to small
ide balcony. With one bound she
'urst this open. she did not know how.
md leaped over the light balcony
all. and ran across the lawn to the
ectory gate. up the steps and into the
ide door, and into the study, where
rev. Smith Boyd sat toiling over q
ermon.
CrO BE CONTINUEDO