The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-08-14

AosO hOpb my phOuiSO, ouo Suiu,
ignoring his greeting completely. II
have parted for ever from Gerald
Franklin. Redeem your promise to me.
"You have parted for ever from Ger
aid Franklin, you say; but you have
not given me the other promise spoken
of.
'Ihat will marry your Oh no, noy'
mot that" he said slowly. II am
content that you shall promise to we'd
no other man but me-"
A strange light came into her eyes.
II promise" she said, ..that / will
marry no other man. if that satisfies
you"
This is yours, then" he said. 81
and he handed her q paper as he
spoke.
She glanced at it, her face. if possi-
Bile, growing still paler; then she tore
it in many pieces and scattered it to
the wind.
Il have saved his honor, at least"
she said, ''if have wounded his heart
in the DOING" then she turned to the
man at her side: Leave me now,"
sl,e said; ito look at you is more than
l can bear at present
WITHOUT word, " illiafn Fortescne
turned and left her, but his face was
dark with suppressed rage.
Four years have passed, and again it
is summer time-again a day rs fair as
the one on which Justine Franklin had
parted from her husband-the day she
put happiness from her for ever-the
day she had promised to wed no man
but William Fortescue; and to-day she
is William Fortescue's wife.
Ali that had come to her in the four
years that had passed since that day
came to her now, standing there in the
garden looking up at the stately man
sion that was her home.
Her months of passionate pain and
longing for the love she had sent from
her-the love that could never be hers.
Then the story of Gerald Franklin 3
death, the day that, with aching heart,
she knew she was free-free from the
marriage that lay secret in her soul.
The old Clergyman was dead, the
certificate destroyed; no one would ever
know she had been Gerald Franklin s
wife.
Then the finding of the new will Of
the eccentric old man, who had left
her and her sister Vivian all his vast
wealth-a will that left not only her
penniless, but her idolized young sister
as we'll, if she, Justine. did not become
William Fortescue's wife.
All. women are proverbially weak,
and beautiful Justine. though she had
once proved herself strong, married
William Fortescue.
Standing this day, thinking of all,
she thinks rs we'll of Vivian's lover,
wondering will she like him when she
meets wondering is he worthy of
her bright young sister.
Vivian had been away on visit, and
it was then she had met her lover; but
when Justine had asked his name, she
had blushed shyly, and said she had
promised not to toll for while-not
till he came to Justine himself.
Justine had been out for some time,
but she knew that Vivian's lover had
como an hour before. if he had come
by the train by which he was expected.
She went up the balcony. wondering
had be come, and filled with a strange
/ futieiffy she could not account for, to
sec this lover whom Vivian seemed to
worship.
Suddenly she stood still, all the blood
leaving her heart, all the color fading
from her face, q sudden dizziness that
almost blinded her coming over her.
"Oh, Heavenly Father, it could not
be!'' she cried, as the mad thought
swept through her brain.
The next moment she went over to q
window that opened ON the balcony
and glanced in. Vivian sat on the sofa,
and beside her man whose arm en-
circled her waist. ON whose shoulder
her golden head rested. All, Heaven!
she had not been mistaken; the man
| was Gerald Franklin.
The next moment she stood before
them, and Vivian sprang to her side
with low cry, frightened by the awful
whiteness of her face.
Justine clasped her in her arms as il
to shield her from some menacing
danger, and glancing over her golden
head, at the naughty self-possessed
man, whose handsome face was per-
fectly unmoved.
! why have you come hereP" she
cried; ''what do you Want?"
''Why have l come hereP" h said;
"because Vivian is here. What do
want? Your sanction to our marriage.
She has already promised to become
my wife
.'No-no-no! it cannot be. Oh, my
God, am | going madP'
| The next moment she had fallen
senseless at their feet.
The door was suddenly opened, anC
William Fortescue entered the room.
The first glance he took showed hin
his wife, lying senseless ut the feet o
Vivian and Gerald Franklin. her old
time lover.
The demon of jealousy had slum ber
ed long in his bosom, and now it awokt
to full life as he saw way to torture
his wife, to make her suffer as he fel
she was capable of suffering.
In his own selfish way he loved Jus
tine passionately, but since she did no
love him-since the very sight of hi
rival caused her to fall scnseless, rs i
the very life had been stricken from
her, he would make her suffer for it.
How the next agonizing week passed
to Justine, only herself and God coulC
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 tolC
her, and gloated in its anguish.
'.It cannot be! 1t shall not 'ber' sht
cried. "On. God! the heavens woulc
fall. will prevent it at any cost"
Her husband laughed.
You ought to try" he said.
II will not try. but succeed" she
said.
Three days later Gerald Franklin
stood beside the altar, q slender girlisi
form. with golden curls escaping from
. under a heavy veil, by his side.
''Will you take this woman to b.
your welded wifeP"
The next instant. white and breath
less, Justine stood before them.
Through Justine's memory rang tn,
words of Gerald Franklin that never
to-be-forgotten day.
"You will yet claim me for your hus
band-claim me in bitter humiliation
/ Perhaps then will refuse to acknowl
edge the marriage"
All, God! that day had come; sh
must not only claim him to save he
sister, but stand before the world dis
honored herself.
| IV;tLout Al D,ornant,a haoita tinu oh