Evening star., 1923-05-10


As voyage along through life:
lis the will of the soul that decides its goal
And not the calm or the strife.
- EAZED TO the pitch OF frenzy,
The old lapidiary crept into
The Divers Rest and made
his way up the stairs. He
knew which was Jacks room-he was
slightly puzzled that the door was ajar.
Feering through the aperture he saw
them~-Jack and his little girl. Jil-Bett
livery nerve III his body quivcred; the
blood leaped like mad through his veins:
IS he watched with bated breath q
mighty rag" possessing HIM he saw
Jack bend suddenly down aud kiss the
girl. his bands clasping hers.
With an imprecation SO terrible that
those upon whose startled ears il fell
never forgot it. the old man flung open
the door, advancing like an enraged
lion, the weapon he carried covering
Jacks heart
Grandfather" gaspcd Jil-Bett cling
IHs In terror TO her companion. She had
seen her grandfather in many RACES,
but never. oh. never. in a fury so ter
rlbie to behold as this.
deavored to thrust the girl behind him.
out OF harms way. but. instead. she
lung herself desperately before him. to
shield him, even though her own young
life should pay for it.
The old mans weapon had not been
lowered for n single instant. and he
stood between them and the door
Jack knew il would mean death 70
one. perhaps both of them. il he made
the Sllshtcsf outcry or moved single
step forward.
Thief: Despoiler Of a young girls
heart. You have come to the end of
YOUR rope" s.rieked Baunock. i
shouldn't give YOU a chance. but I know
what it means when ] see her clinsirs
- YOU so. Ha. the honor Of my little
.Jil-Bett is al stake.
You're going to marry her Do
her. Promise me you will make her
Your wife within the hour. or she
does not leave this room alive. De-
fire.
As they looked into the mailman s
eyes, fr"thinE lips and twitchins
muscles. and heard the voice. which
sounded like nothing human. both
realized full we'll that nothing but
Jacks promise. and given quickly.
would save the life OF poor little Jill
"
action. =
Jack revered her highly. but neither
he thought of love nor marriage in
connection with her had ever occur
red to him. The decision had been
thrust upon him without an instant's
warming He realized il he refused
n""r il-Bett. who had come there to
ave him. would fail az his feet a vic
I'm 10 tho maniac's mad fury.
You have heWitched the girl he
-
Int" loving YOU, but last. and more
terrible than all. made her your ac-
""mplice in robbing her poor old
grandfather"
Tho awful accusation cut through
the hapless girls heart like Il sword
thrust. She was powerlesS to utter
z word If her very life depended on
II. Her tongue Glove TO the roof of
her mouth.
She realized her GRANDPA ther's con-
dition: the drug had done its work
at last. but too we'll; it had driven
him I" madness horrible to behold.
The sight Of the gun in his hand
nearly caused her to drop into dead
faint at Jacks feet
By Sunerhuman effort she gath
cred herself together How he knew
where she was she could not fathom.
hut he had aSsuredly followed her.
Looking into the ger-distorted
face. Jack realized the old Iapidary
would show neither Of them the
slightest mercy. 1t was equally use
lrSS to attempt 20 explain the stu
att"n. Words would he lost upon him.
He could feel the slender form of
the girl trembling like an aspen leaf
as he held her close. He felt that in
the next moment of time both would
lie hurled into eternity.
one. two. three. four
Il will marry your granddaughter"
aunounccd Jack.
That was the last Jil-Eett knew
Her strained nerves could bear no
more. She slipped down in a heap
between the man she loved and her
furious. duDe-na ddened Graudfather.
You do well to decide thus" cried
the old man. lowering his weapon
but never for an instant taking his
eyes off the young mans face.
That's the first thing 7 want done ::
then there1l be something else YOU
shall answer to me for.
Assemble all the people in the
house to witness the marriage. Send
for priest or Clergyman. whichever
you like. telling him to reach here in
all haste.
Mechanically Jack followed these
III the house took charge of Jil-Bett.
Fastening to restore her to conscious
ness. While this was being accom-
plished they gossiped in whispers, as
women will. as to what had brought
.iil-Bett and her grandfather to young
Mr.. Jacks apartment at that hour
and the haste for the ceremony.
Daniel Bannock asked. too. that the
Mudges be sent for in all haste
When the messenger reached their
home il was Mrs. Nudge who answer
ed the imperative rap at the door.
We're wanted ut the Divers Inn
End in the middle of the night, But
what for. | wonder? Did any British
.fiicers come in on tonight's ship. and
is it they who are summoning us?'
Whats tn matter. Nary" called
Nudge from the inner room. Who's
at the door and what does he want?"
He wouldn't tell. but said we were
to come quickly and see she cried.
throwing herself on her husbands s
ucck with convulsivc sobs. The
sword which has been suspended over
our heads by single hair-a-long.--
tinrc-is about to fall-and end u.s..
:: he added Historically.
Il think it is your relatives who
have traced us. after all these years.
md want to take you from me.
Mary" he declared. adding: Your
I,-oud family will never forgive you
for marrying their butler: but YOU
haven't been so unhappy with me.
even II L am only poor butler
diver now-have you. Mary"
You knew what I'm worrying