, 1871-04-27

VINO VIII make US man dnu WUG WITHOUT
subjecting us to unnecessary questionings.
swore that nothing shonld prevent your
being mine. not even the opposition Of
your own will, and have the special Ii
cense and everything prepared for the
marriage ceremony. Tell me that you
will not Object that you will be mine of
your own sweet accord :"
{" II shall be as you will" she breathed
softly, and the remainder Of her journey
was passed in silence more expressive than
the most ardent protestStions would have
been.
The carriage stopped, and Rain was
lifted tenderly out and conducted into q
dimly lighted parlOr, where q few persons
were evidently expecting them. They
stood with clasped bands, and the clergy
man Immediately began the marriage cere>
mony. In clear, distinct tones she heard
said II, Aubrey Hendricks, take this
woman to be my lawfully welded wife, to
have and TO hold until death do Us part"
She made her responses in 4 trrmulous
voice, not knowing or understanding what
she said: And the clergyman pronounced
solemnly Before God and man, declare
this twain to be one flesh" -
Tnen Aubrey took her in his arms and
stopped to press his first kiss upon her
lips, but started back With an exclama-
ton of fsurPrise.
"Rain Lamorez -
She stood bewildered by bis sudden
change Of manner. A moment ago he
had been all love and tenderness now he
regarded her with an expression of dis
trust and aversion. What could it mean.
Aubrey turned to the astonished clergy
man. There is some mistake. This is
not the lady wished to marry. / know
not by what means my credulity has been
so imposed upon. But appeal 10 you,
if under the circumstances, the ceremony
just performed is not null aud void ?"
"You are legally married to this woman
whoever she may be-" was the re-
ply.
She saw it all then. She had been mis-,
taken for her cousin Claudia Erne.
GAS God is my witness, believed that
you knew 1t was l, she declared. with an
earnestnesS that permitted no disbelief Of
her words.
And Aubrey Hendricks, who detested
scenes, gave his arm to his newly made
wife and led her to the carriage.
=
A richly furnished apartment at the
Metropolitan hotel. ard two men pulling
al fragrant Havanas, now aud then ex-
changing broken scraps Of conversation,
and anon apparently absorbed in the COM
temptation Of the blue smoke curling spi-
rally toward the ceiling. A servant en-
tered, bearing perinmed and monogramed
envelope.
"Cards for Mrs. Colonel St. Orme's re-
ception. Will You gof"
ITO be iOnized because of my ten
years voluntary banishment from my ma
tive land suppose so; though its an
intolerable bore to meet over and over
again the same crowd of society, masked
faces, to repeat to Miss Browne the same
fattsring nothings 1 rehearsed to Miss
Smythe last evening, and to play the
agreeable to all the old doWagers, who,
with an eye to my hundred thousand,
strive to monopolize me with the charms
of their darling daughters"
What a cynic you have grown, Hen
bricks By the way, was not madame our
hostess one of your old flames ;"
Aubrey frowned little at the unpleas-
ant associations connected with the old
remembrance.
Eyes; but in the portly Mrs. st Orme
| can trace no resemblance to my Queeu
Claudia of old would not have believed
that time could make any changes had 1
not the evidences here at home; )" and he
ran his hand through the waves of his
bronze hair, turning up here and there a
silver thread.
He had not gone scathless through the
ten years intervening since We saw him,
and his handsome face bore upOn it the un-
mistakable stamp of restless spirit.
They smoked awhile in silence; and
then he said casually: She-Claudia-
had cousin-a Miss Lamorez. Do you
know what has become Of her"
Rain, they used to cal her, didn't
theyi She disappeared mysteriously onS
night, short time previous to Claudia's
marriage. The popular impression Of the
lower class country people has always
been that she was spirited away by the
Witch of the Mountains. She.was very
queer sort of girl, fond of wandering
about alone; and myjdea is that she fell
in with some Of the gypsy tramps who
used to infest the country, and determined