CHAPTER XI. MARY WRITIS TO JAMES POLLARD AND UNKNOW

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 271, 9 June 1888, Page 6

CHAPTER XI. MARY WRITIS TO JAMES POLLARD AND UNKNOW

M \u\ Klma luid but ten (in)-- loft,. Delay beyond (.hat, point of Mine w.b nnpo-Mblc and hat she did must be done at once, lfiu first moscment was. a lotto to .lamc^ Pollard. She told him the sitiuil ion >he wa^ in — the ciuel alternative that had been presented her. SJio told him of the complain ing.s of hei father, of the uttci hopelessness of hei life— how much of the happine-s of hei family depended upon hei making this fe.ieriiiee, and ending the letter with the wad, ' What shall 1 do?' The answer came piotnptly ' t;i\e him an altcinathc. Make him, as the pi ice of your saenhee, deed to you, in fee simple, Elsey Farm with all its appurtenances Make him give you a quittance for all you have had from io. See that the document,-, ate made legal, and that the conveyances are propcily stamped and loeoidcd before your man iage. Then many him. llase Hopkins, the othu lawyer at Btownhclm, diaw up the papei.-", conduct the business He is an honest man, and will see that it is done properly But let me know the day and hour that the wedding takes place. I will be thoie myself. Follow uhat [ have smcl in\|)licitly, and make no mistakes' ' Now, John Ca?sidy,' said I'ollnrd to himself, as ho mailed this letter, ' we .shall sec who will tiimnph. Theie h oneway out of this, and I love you just enough to take that way.' The ten days elapsed tho day after Mary Ehcy got Pollaid's letter. Without knowing his pm pose or suspecting it, she had that faith m him that prompted her to follow Ins directions implicitly. She believed that Pollaid would, in some way, lift her out, ot her trouble, for he hud said lie would. So when .lohn Ca>&idy came, .she met, him with conlidcncc in herself, with no sinking of the heart, and no foreboding* as to her future. ' I am here, Mary,' said Cassidy, ' for tho last time. Your answer to-day must bo final, fs it yes or no f There was a calmness in her face and manner that troubled him. ' JVly answer is ' ye?,' with conditions.' ' What conditions are you in position to doma;-d V he answered. 'It seems to me that 1 am the one to dictate, not you.' ' Nevertheless, 1 have conditions to insist upon.' , 'Name them.' ' I will marry you on condition, and only on condition, ihat. you deed to me Elsey Faim wit.h all its belongings ; t,hat you give to my father a receipt in full for all that he has udcd of its product.* — this to bo done immediately.' ' "Why, what do you mean ? If you marry me, Elsey Faun becomes practically yours. As my wile, you have your rights in it as well as in everything else J possess. Why this lormal transfer before marriage, if you intend in good faith to marry me ?' ' 1 will marry you, John Cassidy, not be-cau,-e 1 love you — 1 doubt whether you love ( me in the sense that J. understand love. I propose, if I make this sacrifice of myself, to have the price securely in my own hand. 1 propose that should you die, or should I die, there shall be no question as to the propiietoiship of the land for which I sell myself. Ido it for the benefit of others— they must be secure in its possession or I will not do ibaball'

Cassidy waß nonplussed. The condition she attached was a very singular one. What did it mean ? Should he do it, and Bhe I should die, the property would go to her J family. Should he die, it would leave her j in unquestioned possession. Was there a > trick in it ? Men like Cassidy always make this inquiry. Was it not her purpose tD geb this deed, and then refuse to carry out the ! bargain ? He determined he would not do it, but as ho looked up and saw her as she stood there, radiant in her beauty, his passion got the better of his judgment, and his prudence left him. ' Will you give me your word that if I do what you ask in this matter, you will become my wife V • I will. Do this— convey to me Elsey farm, and within one month I shall marry you.' ' Mary Elsey, I am doing a rash and foolish thing, but 1 will do it. I will execute the papers at once.' ' No, you shall not oxecute them, I dare not trust you.' 4 What ! Dare not trust me 1 Why ! not t i 'The method by which you got Elsey ! Farm is a sufficient answer. 1 dare speak plainly to you now. 1 may be compelled, hereafter, to biidlo my tongue. You shall not draw the papers. J will go mysell to Mr Hopkins and instruct him (o do what I desire. When he has finished the papers you will sign them, and Mr Hopkins will hand them to me. Then one month after I will marry you. Do you desire me with those conditions attached ? ' Another look at the wondrously beautiful woman brought the answer to his lips : ' Yes, I know not what you have in view. I cannot fathom your motive or purposes, but bo they what they may, I answer yea. (ki and have the papeih prepared. 1 will execute them this afternoon, and just one month from to-day you will become my wife.' ' 1 have said it. Leave me now. 1 (To he Continued.)