The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-10-30
whe had SO wronged me, while to this
ms3A Skwhom l knew nothing actually
wac, t seemed the fitting term.

. ma 8f whom knew nothing actually
wH9AF. B seemed the fitting term.
@S0fheAcw l spoke my thoughts aloud,
and voice behind me repeated my
words
81 will take back my promise" l
said; anything is better than an un-
willing wife. He loves me, and he will
have mercy"
''Ha, ha, ha! He loves you, and will
have mercy, Ha, ha! If he does, Mrs.
Nobody, will not.
turned, and was face to face with
the housekeeper, whose vulgar face was
almost purple, and appalling with tho
hideous expression that rested upon it,
"You foolr' she said; Il know all the
story OF Guy Ashton's marriages; and
even if Vance were fool eIough to let
yo" slip, would publish it. Great
Heavens, girl, if you knew how l hate
you!''
At this instant a light football was
heard, and We both turned round and
stood face to face with the beautiful
stranger of the cottage.
Mrs. Cassin' : face paled slightly. and
without word she turned and left us.
IL only came in" the stranger said,
"because heard your cry of terror
then she took my hand. "Child," she
said-''for you seem a cEild to me-will
you tell me Your trouble?'
l burst into tears and told her all,
then looked up in her face.
''Th.re is the man | have promised
to marry" | said, as Vance came up
the pathway.
will never forget the look that came
into her eyes as she rose to her feet.
lido not wish to meet him. she
said. ''Oh. God, that could save yOui
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 l saw him and Mrs
Cassin. the hOusekeeper, 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 l understood.
My baby and | would go, not only
friendless, but nameless. into the world.
Despair seemed to seize me, but |
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
in any way, would not have been so
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 could bear and live
My marriage morning dawned, and
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, | called him
still, despite the terrible story L had
he;s'd.
The ceremony was over, and white as
my bridal-rObes stood. and it seemed
to me my 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:
Il can speak now!h she cried. MY
unhappy brother is dead, free from your
power, Vance Eldridge, whom 1 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 at the time went into his keep
ing"
Vance never spoke a word, but a
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 why? Be
cause her brother, led into gambling by
this same man, forged his name for a
check, and the villain, who purposely
lured the boy into the commission OF
the crime, held the proofs OF it in his
possession; but the unhappy youth is
dead, and am here TO tell the truth. ="
ut is rather late" Vance said, ''for
this lady is already my wife; for, ac-
knowledging the whole story true, my
first wife, your sister, whom | married
years ago, is dead almost a year. My
marriage with this lady is perfectly le-
gal; the story l told her-well, all is
fair in love or war, and Violet. Vio-
let. my wife, you will pardon me for the
love bear YOU"
shrank back, white and shuddering.
was his wife, yet triumphant through
it all rang the thought, Guy had not
wronged or deceived me. Guy had
been my husband"
In the midst of it all thanked God
for that. My child. my Leoline, bore
hsiress of the Grange.
The next instant there rang through
the building the clear musical laugh of
the stranger, and at the sound of that
laugh, Vance started and looked at
her.
.'She is not your wife, my dear hus-
band, for am Inez Vanessa. instead of
Assunta. Oh. man! could your eyes
deceive YOU thus-could such simple
disguise make you fool? Has six years
SO changed the girl you professed to
love, that such tiimsy thing rs a crown
of raven hair, a dash of olive paint,
could miSlead you? See!"
lie next iuOInenl tnc Dldch ndn lsiN
on the ground, and a sponge had wiped
the liquid off her face. and she stood
before us, like, yet unlike, the beautiful
dark woman she had been.
"YOu know me now-I am lneZ, your
wife, and the ceremony between you
and that child there is neither more nor
less than idle words, for | can prove my
identity. 1t was Assunta that died a
year ago-not !. When | came here
learned your plans. and in this disguise
watched you, but | dared not speak
till to-day, but to-day have thwarted
you"
Curse your he cried, as he drew Il
pistol from his pocket and fired straight
at her heart.
l know not what impelled me, but l
sprang between them.
felt sharp pain in my side, and
then | knew no more.
When l woke to life again-oh, the
Joy of that awakening! for Guy, my
own, my husband, was bending over
me.
Was il OnlU NV sanSpS that deceived