Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-13

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He uas in yfarof pew and almost the
only spectator.
ceremony. Doubtless, when Viola and l
left the church, man and wife, Eustace
Grant walked into the vestry. AMI, as he
had expressed his intention OF doing, saw
with his own eyes that hal married Viola
in my true name.
We drove straight from the church to the
railway station. When alone in the car
riage almost the first words my wife said
were: Julian, Eustace was in church.
Did you see him"
"Yss, l saw him."
'Why did he not come and wish ma good
byel 1t was not like him. l must have
offended him. l will write and ask him
how"
hated the idea of Eustace Grant being,
in such moment as this, uppermost in my
wife's thoughts. ''Never mini. dearest" l
said; what is Eustace Grant to us!'
"Oh, much, very much to me, Julian! He
was my mothers friend, he has been my
one friend ever since can remember"
Il do not like him." said.
But you will like him; you must like
him. He is so good, SO noble so clever
Promise me, Julian, you will like him for
my sake"
Although l would not credit him with the
two first qualifications and no
biity-I was willing to believe that Eustace
Grant was clever-perhaps too clever. The
dlsadvan tage at which he had held me upon
that night when l was for the time, in his
ewes, an imposter, ranked in nv mind
But TODAY l could afford to be generous. /
drew Viola close to me-
Dearest" l said, Il will try and get rid
Of my prejudice will try and forget that
this man loved you, and would have made
you his wife. l will try to cease from
wondering WHY, when he is so good, noble
and clever, you should have chosen me-"
Viola laid her soft cheek against mine
Julian, my husband" she whispered.
'are you not all that Eustace Grant is-and
more love you"
With her words all my doubt, all nv fear
of Eustace Grant fed-never, | hoped. to
return. With Viola's arms round me. her
kisses on my lips, I could afford to pity my
unsucce sful rival. When we were in
stalled in the compartment of the train
which was, by venal arrangement of the
guards, reserved to ourselves, l fell to
considering how 1 should best make
known to Viola that the name by which
l was beginning, or fanciel l was begin
ming, to know something of my wifes true
nature; and told myself that the task be-
fore me was not so easv as / had ono, i'm
aeine1 it would be. NV confession was
hurried on by a question she herself
asked me:
Julian, what name was it you signed in
the book at church,'
had hoped that in the agita ton natural
to a bride who signs her maiden nams for
the last time she had not notice my auto
graph. But she must have done so. al
though she had said nothing about il until
now.
SO made the plunge and told her all.
Told her my true name; told her of the
beautiful house in the west which would be
ours told her of the life. free from care and
anxiety as to the future which stretched
before us. Then | besought her forgiveness
for keeping her in ignorance of these things.
] had, be it said. given her to understand
that | was a man with an income lust
enough to live upon in comfort.
Grant was right. He knew Viola when
he told me that, by revealing my deception.
he might DESTROY the fabric of nv hanpi.
nes'. She sa ID little, but her look told me
she was hurt and wounded | verify ba
leve her first thoughts We're that she would
rather / had been what | represented
myself to BE-, than to have the power of
sharing such a home and so much wealth
with her How little mon understand
womenl Perhaps because no two women
are alike.
But Viola forgave me. A woman always
forgives the man she loves, but | knew that
she was SGD at the thought that | couli
| have dreamed that riches might have flu
enced her Nevertheless, it was DAYS before
| could get her to join me unrestraine ily
in the schemes which l wove of our future
, life
We went down to a quiet watering place
! on the south coast. Here we stat for a
/ fortnight Oh, those sweet summer daysi
| Shall | ever forget thema For the time
there seemed no cloud which could possibly
shade our joy. All the cynical, suspicious.
misaEtbropcal elements seemed swept out
! of my nature | told myself that the con-
/ slant society o. the wife l loved was max
ing better as well as happier man of me.
| AT the end Of our stay by the sea it was
our intention to return to London for a
couple of DAYS, and then start for Switzer
/ land. Here, or IN what country we chose
we were to spend months. In fact, | had
as Yet no homo to offer my wife. The tenant
of Herstal Abbey would not turn out with
out SIX months notice: so, for the time we
| must be wanderers
Eustace Grant, had by now almost for
! gotten him-wrote once to my wife She
seemed overjoyed as she saw lis hand
writing. hut vexed at the ceremonious wav
in which his letter began. 1t hes before
me now. ] copv it:
My DEAR Mrs. Lorraine: You will re-
member that next Tuesday is your twenty
! first birthday
''As | am going abroad very shortly, I
am anxious to submit the accounts of the
trust to you and, of course, Mr. Lorraine.
| lhear that YOU will be in town on Tuesday
| Can call upon you anywhere, or would it
| be more convenient for US to meet at nv
solicitor's-Mr. Monk, SO Lncoln's Inn
Fieldsf Please let me know Yours sin
cerely. "EUSTACE GRAyro
He might have sent word of congrat-
ulation," said Viola, in a vexed tone
How shall answer this, Julianr
Say we will meet him at Mr.. Monks If
10 o'clock on Tuesday
To which effect Viola wrote. | did not
read the letter, out | wondered At tSs
length Of it.
CHAPTER v
THAT IT SHOULD CONE TO THIS"
We reached town on the Monday nieht
1 apf at hot