Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-12-23
SCENE II.

of Mexican cities, Vera Cruz.
Very beautiful indeed was the lady,
and her dress WAS both tasteful and
costly; but the look OF sorrowtui dlsap-
poinIment, Of weary languor, detracted
somewhat from the beauty Of her thor
uughly English face.
Totally o6livious OF the many admir-
ing chances directed st her by the pc
dtstTisns, she stood with a far-off look
In her dark eyes that showed plainly
enough her thoughts were far away
rom the scene before her.
The velvet curtains behind her were
moved rather impatiently.
Come, Nellie" said q masculine
voice; show much longer are you going
t. stand there?"
Nellie started nervOusly at the sound
of the voice aud stepped back into the
room where a tall, handsome but cynt-
cal looking man was striding impa-
tiently to and trO.
IL did not know you had returned,
Ma!cO!m,n she said almost APOLOGIZE
cally.
Malcolm st. Ange glanced up at her
tor a moment and fierce frown dark
turd his brow Us be noticed her sad,
wi>tful face.
"Pining againm he said savagely.
''Nou have everythinga woman could
wish for and you are always dissatisfied
always iretting. j can tell you am
heartily sick of it."
Nplhe's head dropped, and fright
tntd look crept into her eyes.
II am not dissatisfied, Malcolm" she
said softly; "but-but you know my one
yr. AT longing, my one great sorrow"
Akalf.muttered curse broke from the
mans lips; but he turned away to the
window to conceal the expression on
hps irCr.
Wien he turned again he spoke ID
,fi.rr,r Is. tone, aud he did not look At
EsF aS ic spoke.
al an, i'm a fearful fixI' he said, gnaw-
ing liz handsome mustache nervOuSly.
What is the matter" questioned
Nellie auXiOusly.
The matter is simply that | am
ru.u,d!" said Malcolm. "l've lost so
h,uvily Ills last week that--that !
tally CONF know how to weather the
st,In a. NIL
rs there no way out of it," asked
Nellie, turning paler.
We'll" he hesjtated; "theIe il one
way out of it, and only one; but am
yir. i'd" Ire went on, cycling her search
ing Y, that my plan will not meet the
~. rotation ofyUur lsdyship."
What 10 you mean%' inquired Mel
lie. surely you do not suppose that
should object to or hesitate at anything
that would hslpyOu out of difficulty"
Malcolm laughed uDeasily.
"Sull, | DO not think you will quite
relish The Advancement; and yet L fear
ERE is no remedy for IT."
Nellie locked still more bewildeTad.
What is this plan"" she said. Tell
me"
's,ing something in his mind, while
Nellie turned, ii possible, even whittier
imam br.Ore, with II strange, vague, sick
'uing srnSe OF apprehension.
What j. it that you purpose iOing?"
he said, hGar-ely.
Well" he answered, with an effort,
''as far as | can see, the only way out
ni tie trouble is to marry the rich wild.
uw. Mrs. FOItescue."
"N0rYy her." repeated Nellie, in a
helpless, bew ildered fashion.
Yes, Nellie; marry her," answered
Malcolm, resaming his cold effrontery
"Ol course she is not very young, nor
ICt WY handsome; but the money, my
that's the thing. With It We
could.
But don't understand" interrupt
"a Nellie. How esn you marry her:
What absurd farce is this? How can
suu, my husband, speak of saving
yuuIse by msrrying another woman"
Now, my dear NellIe,' said NAL
-uiuI, yiug to speak lightly, but ap-
sr. niiy i'll at ease, "Of course you know
I'm very fOud Of you, aud all that sort
f shiI &, and If things would only run
Iitlle more smoothly l should never
Team OF marry ing Mrs. Fortescue; but
.i,:i, n v dear child, of course you ouSh,
10 nOw-lhat l., you must be aware
ne Went On, 20 awkwardiy that Nellie
.oOl ed 81 him In utter astOnishment
YOU must be aware" he resumed,
that little ceremony We went through
IL Paris was only Just little form. 1t
wSs not bmding.n
Was not binding?" echoed Nellie,
with di,ated eyes and whltenei lips.
"Nuu must be mad, Malcolmm she
capped, slowly and painfully. "If this
q Jest, il is u most cruel onen
~ am not mad, neither am jesting,"
-sid Ma cOlm, almost angrily; land /
IOn't ZEE what you want To look al a
elbow like hat for. OF course l thought
You knew how much it Was worth all
Tie. TIME"
"I.iarm said Nellie, with blushing
eyes.
Malcolm receded step or two.
Malcolm ST. Ange," said Nellie,
-p,skn g calmly, though her breath
came III short, quick gasps, 81 cannot
telieve that you are the craven coward,
the tienGish scoundrel, that your word,
IMPLY! Answer me one question: Am
| or am | not your wife,"
NO." answered Malcolm, without
locking NJ her; "but, of course, p
Hush" interrupted Nellie, her dark
eyes cleaning with y strange, unnatural
light. "Do not speak to me yet-do
not, for the love OF Hesvenw
surely must be 6reamiDg9" she
mutIertd, vscartly, rs she sat down
and leaned her head on her hand.
An annoyed look passed over the
handsome face Of Malcolm ST. Ange.
"What is the the uSe'of making such
a fool of yourself" he said hoarsely.
What difference does it make except
that are both free to make q good
match if il suits us~
go away, Malcolm, for little
WHILE" said Nellie, in hollow voice,
IL can't think yet-go away and leave
me by myself"
With another heavy frown, Malcolm
left the room, and Nellie sat on in the
richly furnished chamber trying u
grasp ut what had just been disclosed to
her, while like panorama moved in
long vista the picture Of her life As it
had been since she left her home ten
Years ago.
Malcolm had promised her that "a
soon rs they were married he would
ttke her back to Euglsnd-fsr they had
tied to Paris-aad obtain her fsther's for
glvsntss.
But, alas! nothing was further from
his intention that performing such
promise. Tine ceremony of MARI age
Was performed in France, legally a.
poor Nellie thought, and after staying
IN the gay capital for mouth or two,
Molcolm bad taken her TO Italy and
Spain, despite her entreaIies TO be
bIoaght back to England.
But Nellie early discovered that
N.ln "a "A 81 u