The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-08-13

from her face, a sudden dizziness tnaI' n
almost blinded her coming over her' s.
ooh. Heavenly Father, it could not a
ber' she cried, rs the mad Thought Il
swept through her brain. il
The next moment she went over to a
window that opened on the balcony :
and glanced in. Vivian sat on the sola' S
and Beside her o man whose arm en- q
circled her waist, on whose shoulder
her Golden head rested. All, heaven! 8
she had not been mistaken; the man
was Gerald Franklin.
The next moment she stood before
them, and Vivian sprang to ner sac
with low cry, frightened by the awlul
wilderness of her face. :.
Justine clasped her in her arms as IL
to shield her from some menacing
DANCER and glancing over her golden
head, at the naughty self-possessed
man. whose handsome face was per-
fectlv unmoved. ~, H.
.NNhy have you come hereE She
cried; ''what do you wantP"
"Why have l come here?n ne salai
..because Vivian is here. WHAT 40 !
want? Your sanction to our marriage
| She has already promised to become
my wife. " ~ INV
| 'NO-nO-nO. IL CdulOb OC' ii' ~ |
God, am going mad? 81
| The next moment she had talIen
| scnseless at their feet.
The door was suddenly opened, ana
| William Fortescue entered the room
The first glance he took showed MN
his wife, lying senseless at the 1eet OF
Vivian and Gerald Franklin her olu-
| time lover. -.
The demon of jealousy had SUM per
cd lone in his bosom, and now 1t awoke |
to full life as he saw way to torture
his wife, to make her suffer as ne leI'
she was capable of suffering.
In his own selfish way he loved JUS
tine passionately, but since she did not
love bir-since the very sight OF his
rival caused her to fall senseless, as II
the very life had been stricken from
her he would make her suffer for 1t.
How the next aoonizing week passed
To Jnstine. only herself and God could
| tell. and then one day her husband
came to her and told her that Gerald
and Vivian were going to be privately
married two days later
He watched her face while he told
her. and gloated in its anguish.
ssIt cannot be! It shall not beF' she
cried. ooh, God! the heavens would
fall I will prevent it at any cost!
Her husband laughed.
sYou ought to try, he said.
al will not try. but succeed, she
said. ,..
Three DAYS later Gerald franklin
stood beside the altar, slender glrllsh
form. with golden curls escaping from
nnder q heavy veil, by his side.
"Will YOU take this woman to DC
your welded wffe?"
The next instant, white and breath
less. Justine stood before them.
Through Justine's memory rang the
words Of Gerald Franklin that never
to-be-forgotten day.
s.You viii yet claim me for your nus
= band-claim me in bitter Illumination.
i PERHAPS then I will refuse to acknowi-
edge the marriage.
Z 2h. God! that day had come; she
must not only claim him to save mel
sister. but stand before the world dis
=" honored herself.
Without moments hesitation sh'
Is snrano to Gerald's side and looked u
in the minister's face.
.He cannot marry her, she cried
=, s.for am his wife. He is my hus
n band" !,
William Fortescue had entered u
- church at the same moment as Justlne
70 and a CRY of rage left his lips, that die
;;,ni away, however, as Gerald faced MN
Al faced him for q moment, before D
turned to Justine.
sYou claim me as your husband,
=, he said, you acknowledge yourself %
Nv wife?"
n5 Eyes, yesi Oh, Vivian, have save
YOU, but at what . cost!p
The next moment the woman beslt
Gerald threw her veil aside. and
beautiful face looked straight at ther
-, 1t was not Vivian Latimer.
AZ William Forteseue's face grew ps
~ lid; then Gerald Franklin continue
IL still addressing Justine:
~. II said perhaps would then del
ats the marriage and refuse to acknoN
ING edce it: but no. You are my wife =
aAnd claim you as my husban
lo- William Forteseue," said the strange
"a al have all the proofs in my possesslt
go at last"
ssThe game is ups he cried. lookil
s sI at her with q sneer; but l had
an strong hand, if only had known nc
nei to play them right
-, mot only that games said Gera
=. Franklin, ssbut every other; Tor 1 c,
u prove that the viii purporting to
~ the last will of James Latimer IS
10. clever forgery. have q lawyer her
=, however, and If you make full co
- -. fession YOU win get two days to ma
l.. rood your escape; if not, you must q
l.s the full consequence Of your cfln
- - Make your choice quickly
81 viii confess.
Ten minutes later, leaving bis sign
- confession behind him. William Fort
lnlo cue left the church, without a CLAN
Of COMPASSION even from the girl "
IL had proclaimed herself his wife.
Then Gerald turned away, but u
LIZ tine sprang e bis side.
~ Gerald, what ever else Jon thin
. ~ 4 vou must know / believed you de
: -. - when I became his wife. 2
go go. 81 know fhat Vivian was u :
he'd MOT 10 expose him. for told Der ~
one BE said.
soos ne turned away again. but z
80, 80 .elaened his arm and raised her VIII
was face to his.
= lyon must listen nov and hear al
"a she cried. If had only been ora
-. ~ for YOU and me four years ago. "
,..f5 misery would have been saTeds y
, -, ~ "a. he could have branded your tat.
Ger IS 5 f0rger, and the note was e
ss-s possession. and he swone he Wos
~, zen publish it If / did not give you Up
ever. i Won tie paper from nlt2s
.,n9ss SAVED your honor.
/ an Gerald smiled.
-. - .sSof nv iather. lie said. sbul
man Of the same name. bat not ere
- sss,i sss1r sacrifice vas Ill Tor nothf
sc fhenf she cried
The next nononl be bad caueaz
hand, and looked qaeslionin8lF !
her eyes
lse ssfinel Justine did ron love
ne fhenf Oh 1r isVe. did fo1 eeeE.
r6ff OWE lore and mine E1E t14tt 8
|ossi- z.of= cur lore be said s. be- read
tore fsrEk IA her eyes .sbNl tour
Is e ssf fspoISsa
lst lain &. En6| the Iats HeN tet< g
be '.66l Via made
+ |ss@ lions s. la1 t
S2Ift
N z. 81 t
s tt