The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-10-16
is hard to win," he replies, drawing

SOA0A W. E-a @
There is some disturbance in the
front hall-a sound of strange voices
and footsteps. Radly, completely
carried away by the girls beauty and
Indifference, hears nothing. His arm
is about her waist, and his bearded
lips brush her cheek. She ear
with terror and struggles to free her
self, when the door is thrown open
and a man and woman step over the
threshold, followed closely by Madame
Vidart. -s. ..
"Great heaven !" calculates Felix
Radly, glazing at the woman who adj
vances upon him.
But Rae sobs out wildly
"Ned, oh, Ned-take me home !"
For the man is her old-time lover,
Ned Garnett, and he sweeps her into
his arms as if she were a baby. The
petty quarrel is forgotten in a moment.
allow came you here, Rae mavour-
Father and mother are dead.
Madame Vidart is my godmother, and
she sent for me to come and live with
her. But I want to 60 home to Ire
land, Ned +" 81. T..
"You shall, my pretty. Just wait
one moment. l came here with this
young woman, who shipped with me
as stewardess at Liverpool. She says
that Felix Radly-and that's the man,
[ take its her husband"
ait is false |" screams Madame vi
dart, shaking her white head vehe-'
mently. ""He is my nephew he has
no wife" IT, 4 ~
al am has wife, am l not, Felix 2"
says the strange woman, placing her
hand on Radly's arm and looking con
fdently into his face.
She is handsome in a coarse, snowy
way; and is evidently sure of her
claim. Radly, it seems, dares not
deny her, or does not car to, for he
eyes, Aunt Vidart, this lady is my
wife" ~S~
"LadyP sneers the old Madame,
beside herself with rage. "And why
time p
Ito satisfy you and to crafty my
SELF" he replies, with an insolent smile.
"And now, Mrs. Radly, since you
have escaped from an English jail,
where you were incarcerated for theft,
and have tracked me, I suppose l
must place myself at your commands;
though l must say, you have a mighty
unsatisfactory way Of breaking in
upon me at the most important mo-
ment."
He is suave as usual, but there is a
devil in his glittering eyes. His wife
laughs ne~rvously, but slips her hand
into his arm and leads him away
run away now, little sweetheart,
and get your bonnet and shawl" says
honest Ned Garrett. We will be off
at once"
He kisses Rae's pale face and puts
her gently out of his arms.
"What-what's all that 2" demands
Madame, staying her excited progress
around the room. Rae cannot leave
me-"
"She can, and SHALL" returns Ned, !
with a determined nod of his curly |
head. "She is to be my wife inside
of an hour; for I have a parson aboard
my ship who will tie the knot for us
in good shape, and l must be off at
once. l came out of my course to &C
commodate the wife of your fine
nephew, whose, head 1 would like to
rap with a Delaying pin"
"Send for your parson to come to
this house. Rae must be married be-
fore she leaves me-" said Madame,
who has been watching him sharply.
Accordingly he is furnished with
writing materials, and a note is writ
ten, and dispatched by one of the
house servants.
In due time the man returns accom-
panied by a ministerial-looking gentle
man, who, at Ned's request, performs
a brief ceremony which transforms
little Rae into a wife. The queer old
Madame sheds tears over her when
she says good-by.
81 am a cross old woman, my dear,
and I suppose | have made you un-
comfortle. But | had no real evil in
my heart as Felix had-he has broken
my heart. Good-by, my child-try to
forgive me-"
She puts a small casket into the
girls hand, and waving her a last fare
we'll goes YEARLY up the broad stairs,
while a stately man servant attends
the bridal party to Madame's own car
rage, which awaits them at the gate