The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-09-29

! dudlIS dft getting 50 COlnDlEC3bSl Ii3t. utf-
less do something and quickly, shall be
beggar. But come, it's only for a little
| while; when things are put straight, as /
| hope they viii be soon, we viii go abroad
and be constantly together. Now, dry your
| eyes, darling. and see what / have brought
you"
He produced a little packet opened it and
! showed her a gold bracelet
Isn't it pretty?7 he asked
| Yes; it is pretty, but"
well, my pete"
! There is something l would rather have
| than all the bracelets in the world"
what is that, Annie?"
The sight of my home, and Of my dear
father and mother. Oh, George why can
not write to them and tell them that am
your wife?'
You are foolish, and don't know what
you are saying. A little while ago, when
you first came here. you said if yOu could let
them know that you were well and happy it
would content you. | allowed YOU to write.
yet you are unhappy and complaining to me
again. l have told you repeatedly that /
have most important reasons for wishing to
keep our union secret.
Yes, know, but it seems SO strange, so
unkind."
'Annie, can you not be patient for a little
while? If you loved me as you say, YOU
would obey and trust me-"
Il do trust YOU" she returned. with all
my heart and SOUL For your ieve | have
forsaken everything kindred, friends
but when we came away together you
promised that III little time | should return
with you to those who are dear to me. L
have waited very patiently; but to live on
here alone in London. TO feel that they think
I.Nfr
oh! 1 cannot bear it; it breaks my heartv
They know that you are alive and we'll
Surely that is enough"
''Ah. il you knew how dear am to theml
Since / was child, until the day l came
away with you, / had never left my home
1t seems 50 dreaTy in London after my hap
py home! Often when you are gone | sit al
the window there and look out on the great
city; and when ] hear the murmuT of the
folk it seems like the sound o the sea-
MY darling, this is mere sentiment, which
you viii forget. Surely London, with all
its life gayety, is merrier than that dreary
place where l first found you like flower in
q desert unworthy of such beauty? Come,
kiss me, and try TO confde in me little
while yet. 1 wish to make you happy
love you truly, anddearly; but have much
upon my mind of which / cannot as yet
speak freely. Try to be contented here a
little longer; then, perhaps, the mystery will
end. You loiU try, won't youy'
Yes, George; Will tryr'
So the discussion ended, and for a time
things went on as they had done before. His
absences became more frequent and more
prolonged; but Ami since that last talk
with him, had learned to look with different
eyes upon her lot. and bore all without a
murmur. She could not blame him, she loved
him too well Tor that; and after all, she
thought, she could not nationally blame him
for anything. He had done all that he could
do He had made her his wife, he had given
her home fit for the greatest lady, he had
even allowed her to write to her friends say
ing that she was happy. He could do no
more.
But this blissful state of things was not
destined to last. Redruth came to her one
day and told her that the house in which she
lived had become too expensive for his
means; that he had taken rooms for her, and
that she must remove to them with all possi-
BILE speed. Annie was quite content to do as
he wished. She had never had much taste
for splendid surroundings, and the house,
without her husband, was dreary enough.
Accordingly. she was removed to the apart
mentS in which afterward found her living
In the Strand.
VERY little happened to me worth tell
ing" said Annie. continuing her narrative
until that day when ! met you, Hugh. Ahi
l shall never forget that day. After you had
left me, being dragged away by those men
who accused you of murder, l remained in
that room stunned and stupefed, utterly IN
capable of realizing what had happened.
Then it all came back to me. | seemed TO
! see again your rcproachful look-to hear
orait, the .Irnad fui words Won uttafai xvhpn
you left me.
'.'When the time comes you said may you
be as well able to answer for your deeds as L
shall answer for mine. The trouble began
with you. If murder has been done. it is
your doing aiso-remember thatp
''Those were the words. Hugh. Night and
day they have never left me, and think
they never will until l die. Ahi if l had
only died then, But it is just that 1 should
live OMIT is part of my punishment to live
on and see those that l love best in all the
world droop and suffer day by day for the
wrongs that have done.
| 'sWell, Hugh. was stunned, as tell you;
then suddenly recovered myself, and rush.
ed, screaming, to the door with some wild
| idea of saving you, and bringing you back.
when was met at the door by my husband.
| Whether or not he knew anything of what
| had taken place, l don't know. l was too
| much agitated myself to think of him. But
/ in wild fit of excitement and terror, L clung
| to him and told him all When I had FIN
| ished my tale, he looked at me with such
calm. cold gaze. it nearly drove me mad.
".It's very bad job he said; but really
| l don't see what can do?'
"sThen will tell you, | answered You
| can take me back to st. Gurlottis, and help
me to prove that my cousin is innocent-as
| he is. God knowsr
Take you back to St GurIott'sg he said.
in what capacity; as Annie Pendragon, or
as my wife,
las your wite,' replied.
''0h, Hugh, / shall never forget the look
that came into his eyes. lie smiled as he re-
| piled;
~ cannot do that, because you are not my
wner
Not your wifer I repeated, scarcely be-
| lieving that heard Alright. but having once
begun it seemed easy for him to continue.
No. he replied, YOU are not my wife.
| If you hadn't been little fool you would
have known it long ago
@.But we were married. persisted.
1--WE went through marriage ceremony,
he replied. because ] wanted 10 guard
against long faces and repfoaehful looks
After the ceremony you were perfectly con-
tented, but knew that we were no more
man and wife then than We had been before.
The ceremony was a mock one. the registrar
| was an 1mpostor. whose services L had
bought; If he hadn't been he would never
have performed the ceremony in the ever
ing; IL You hadn't been a fool you would
| have known that a marriage is no marriage
If performed after twelve o'clock in the day
Again looked at him in petrifed amaze
menf; then, realizing what all this meant to
me. / fell sobbing at his feet
George cried, tell me you are not In
earnest-say it is not truer but all his love
for me seemed to have died away; without
look he turned from me-
TT is true he said
".Ah don't say so. l cried, ciinging help
Iessfy to him. Say that am your wife, it
is the only comfort / have had left to me
during all these weary months that have
passed away since left my homel DO not
take that from mel In Heavens name, have
pity. All. you would have me think Ill Of
you; but I win not You would never be so
base as to deceive me sol You, whom Loved
and trusted SO much. would never wreck my
life and break my heart III not believe but
ron are ny husband still