Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-05-28

| foti, OI your nasty marriage ana 1ntenQ- nd trip to Europe, when all his plans were frustrated on the eve of your departure. Gan it be possible, after all this, that you till deny the marriage which it may yet be necessary for you to swear to in order 10 save his life? An, refiect Remem- Der that although he is under a cloud, it will not be always so, and he will yet be able to show that he is worthy of you."
 would not deny our marriage if it had taken place." said Edith "Mr Car son Is laboring under false impression, and his delusion is strengthened by cer- hhcate of our supposed marriage signed by Judge Ransom, who stoutly declares that he performed the ceremony. But strange as it may seem to you to hear me say so, never took part in such a cere- mony, and it makes miserable to think that must be haunted forever by this mystery. am poor girl, Miss Carson, but would not wed your cousin were he ten times millionaire, because I posi- lively dislike him.
 "This is q strange puzzle" said Zelda, who was sadly perplexed. 'Clarence claims you as his wife, and holds a cer- tlfiate to that effect. Judge Ransom, who performed the ceremony, corroborates his claim, and yet you deny it all. The facts are all against you, and yet if you consented at any time to such marriage you ought to remember it. Can it be pos sible that you were married in a trance? Do you remember all that took place while you were at Dawson's2"
 II cannot remember a great deal that occurred there. was unconscious when | time, I suppose. do recollect distinctly. however, that met your cousin; that he followed me along the corridor, calling out that I was his wife, and I succeeded in evading him because I thought he must be drunk or insane. My next re- collection was that was placed in a car 1age by force, and was about to be car lied away somewhere, when my father happened upon the scene and saved me-"
 Zelda, who had been listening to Edith's story in astonishment, said.
 Yours is indeed wild and peculiar | experience. It amaZes me the more I learn about it, and am at loss what to think. Is it not possible that there may be some villainy lat the bottom of the entire affair, of which neither you nor my cousin can have any cognizance2 It seems so to me, and am more than half convinced that you are both the vic- tlmS of conspiracy that is engineered by some desperate people. Is it not pos sible that those who entrapped you into this alliance with my cousin, of which you seem to know nothing, are the same persons that robbed and assaulted my fa- ther? Can you not recall some of the 1 faces and the incidents at Dawson's What kind of people did you see there Do you know anything of my cousins connection with them?"
 II can tell nothing Ebecause I know nothing said Edith. My experience ill that place is like some horrd night mare-unpleasant to recall-and one that I would gladly forget"
 "Alas!" said Zelda, in despair, "I had hoped that you could help mo throw some light on this mystery, but I fear Death upon my heart, and thinking you, as his wife, might be interested in the case of my fugative cousin. Clarence, thought I would come and tell you of our great trouble--of our affiiction and our disgrace"
 There were tears in Zeldas eyes, and Edith was touched to the heart by her great sorrow.
 II wish-indeed, I wish that I could comfort and console you," said Edith in a tone of voice that trembled with emo- tion. 1T feel keenly for your great grief"
 Zelda extended both hands. For a few seconds she could not speak. At last she said:
 "Let this interview be as though it never had been held, but if you ever need assistance come to me-"
 "1t shall be us you say" and Edith clasped the proffered hands of the Steel Kings daughter in her own.
 In that moment both women felt that, although separated widely by wealth and social station, there was bond of sympa- thy that brought them very close to- gether as they mingled their tears.
 Zelda Carson could remain no longer, so with choking "good-by," she drew her wrap about her, and hastened out and away in the direction of her now desolate home.
 She was about to turn into the maiu thoroughfare of Grimsby, when a thrill ing crash, as if thousand thunder-storms were thrown into one, shook the side- walks and shattered the glass in the great show windows of the stores
 Zelda thought of an earthquake.
 The strange wild commotion and startl- ing storm of sound filled her with terror and for few minutes she wns appalled, by the awe-inspiring incident. Present ly a new element of fear was added to the bewildering sensation. The gas went out, leaving the streets in sudden and complete darkness. Zelda feared to go ahead, and as soon as she could control her reasoning powers she decided to go back to the little dwelling which she had just left.
 She found Edith Edwards ill darkness, consoling the younger children, who were clinging about her in terror. The little lamp that occupied place on the shaky center-table in the parlor had been smashed into fragments by the great shock. Zelda Carson paused at the door, fear ing lest some disaster had occurred with