The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-10-31


The cottage was exquisitely furnish
ed and the owner willing enough to let
it, but found it hard to get tenant il
would suit in size, considering the
rent.
One day, however, was passing, and
at one of the windows l saw a dark
beautiful face, whose rare loneliness al
most startled me.
As her eyes met mine she drew back,
but not before / saw strange interest
strange at least for one who l be-
ieved had never seen me before-dawn-
ing in her eyes, while L looked up, at
tracted by her manner.
A few days later happened to be in
one of the rooms of the Grange quite
alone, for Leoline was sleeping, and
with deep pain at my heart l looked
over the broad lands that | had believed
my child's inheritance.
Standing there, L realised with full
force the misery of the life that lay be-
fore me, as the wife of man actually
shrank from-a man who | felt was a
villain.
All, women's hearts are strange; that
word / shrank from applying to Guy,
who had SO wronged me, while to this
man. of whom / knew nothing actually
wrong, it seemed the fitting term.
Somehow spoke my thoughts aloud,
and voice behind me repeated my
words.
said ''anything is better than an I'M
willing wife. He loves me, and he will
have mercy"
"Ha, ha, ha! He loves you, and will
have mercy. Ha, ha! II he does, Mrs.
Nobody, / will not"
turned, and was face to face with
the housekeeper, whose vulgar face was
almost purple, and appalling with the
hideous expression that rested upon it.
"You fool!o she said; II know all tho
story of Guy Ashton's marriage; and
even if Vance were fool enough to let
you slip. would publish it. Great
Heavens, girl, il yon knew how 1 hate
your
At this instant light football was
heard, and we both turned round and
stood face to face with the beautiful
stranger of the cottage.
Mrs. Cassin's face paled slightly, and
without word she turned and left us.
81 only came in" the stranger said,
because 1 heard your cry of terror"
then she took my hand. Child" she
said-''for you seem q child to me-will
you tell me your troublep'
l burst into tears and told her al,
then looked up in her face.
There is the man 1 have promised
to marry" / said, as Vance came up
the pathway.
L will never forget the look that came
into her eyes as she rose to her feet
II do not wish to meet him." she
said "Oh, God, that could save you!
4. But | am powerless-my hands are
| tied"
Without waiting for an answer, she
slipped through the window that open
ed on the veranda, and was gone be-
fore Vance entered the room.
Late that evening saw him and Mrs.
Cassin, the housekeepcr, talking earn
estly together, and my heart sank with
in me.
An hour after that Vance came to me
and told me that the next morn must
see me his bride, Or
He said no more, but | understood.
My baby and l would go, not only
friendless, but nameless, into the world.
Despair seemed to seize me, but l
gasped out my assent, then fled to my
own room, and, clasping Leoline in my
arms, cried in passionate anguish:
''For your sake, my baby, and for
your fathers; but, oh, my darling, if
we could only die together!'
Perhaps, had death seemed near me
To- II 4
willing to go; but, despite my fragile
appearance, l was young and healthy,
and there was little danger just then of
my wild wish being granted; but God
knows meant it at the time, for my
anguish was more, it seemed to me,
than I could bear and live.
My marriage morning dawned, and l
knelt beside the altar; the words were
spoken that made me Vance Eldridge's
wife, and all the time there rose before
my eyes the stately vessel that had gone
down with Guy-my Guy, l called him
still, despite the terrible story had
heard.
The ceremony was over, and white as
my bridal-robes / stood, and it seemed
to me nay senses were leaving me, and
then in the midst of us stood the dark
eyed stranger of the cottage.
Haughty-looking as an empress she
stood, and Vance's face paled, as clear
and triumphant her voice rang out:
II can speak now!' she cried. "My
unhappy brother is dead, free from your
power, Vance Eldridge, whom I knew
as Guy Ashton. Child" turning to me,
''you were Guy Ashton's wife, for he
never put ring on woman's finger be-
fore he welded you; but that man."
pointing to Vance, "took his name, and
under it married child in years-a
proud, passionate, loving child, whose
very soul ut the time went into his keep
ing"
Vance never spoke word, but q
sneering smile crossed his face as the
woman continued:
''He tired of her, however, and de-
serted her, and she dared not push her
claims nor follow him, and whyP Be-
cause her brother, led into gambling by
this same man, forged his name for q
Al