They came in, Standish and the justice of the peace he had bribed to accompany him--a villain, if ever a man's face spoke truly, who would stop at nothing if tempted by gold. The actor whispered to Jane Crabtree, nervously: "Has she consented?" "No--although I've half-killed her tryin' to break her will." Curses, low and deep, breathed over his lips; then he said: "Well, we won't go up stairs to see her yet. We're half-frozen with this beastly cold, anyway, so we'll thaw out over the fire and a bottle of wine." CHAPTER LIX. WEDDED TO HER CHOICE. "'Oh, darling', she said, and the whispered words In a dreamy cadence fall, 'Can I help but choose thee who art the best And the noblest among them all * * * And since in thine eyes I shyly read That thy thoughts hold a place for me-- I bring thee a love, and a heart, and a life, And consecrate all to thee!'" They drew up their chairs to the glowing kitchen fire, smoked, drank, and even played a game of cards, for now that the final moment had arrived, the villain's nerve began to fail him, and he began to realize his crime in all its enormity. And while he lingered there, dreading the consummation of the crowning act of his villainy, along the road he had traveled another sleigh was speeding toward the farm--a double sleigh--and in it were seated Harry Hawthorne, Detective Norris, and two stalwart policemen detailed on special duty for this occasion. Fast flew the gallant horses under the gently urging hand of the driver, until they were in sight, then Norris exclaimed: "There's the old house now. And, see!--a sleigh at the gate! Perhaps Standish is there now, the villain! We will be extremely lucky if we catch him on the spot!" At the same moment, Standish tossed off a bumper of wine, exclaiming: "Here's to the bride, the beautiful heiress! Come, let's get the ceremony over!" The three conspirators filed up stairs and into the room where Geraldine, more dead than alive, crouched in her chair in terror of their coming. Standish, whose spirits were much elated by generous potations of wine, crossed over to her, crying, gayly: "Give us a kiss, pretty one! I've come to marry you at last! Here's the preacher--justice, I mean. He can tie the knot just as well. Hello, Jane! if you're the bridesmaid, get her up on her feet by my side, will you?" The justice planted himself in readiness to perform the ceremony, but Geraldine would not permit any one to drag her up from her seat. She fought off their hands with a wonderful strength, born of desperation, and shriek after shriek, loud, agonized, ear-piercing, burst from her pale lips. Perhaps it was the sound of those defiant shrieks that drowned the sound of bells as the second sleigh dashed up to the gate, and the men tumbled out pell-mell into the lane.