Iuka reporter., 1890-04-17
A MAD MARRIAGE:
OR.
The Heiress of Law.
renee Park.
4 STORY Of ABSORBING INTEREST.
BIT MRS. z. n. CoLLrNl
CHAPTER XIV.

he closed the door behind them, and
faced her, white and stern. She had
never seen him so angry before in her
life; and her heart sunk with pre-
monition of coming trouble.
The time has come he began.
slowly. his black eyes burning into hers
IKE t1ames, when a certain question
must be settled for all time. Adele
st. Cyr, are you going to become my
wife! No more evasion; no more post.
ponement. The answer must be given
me-now!'
lie laid his hand upon her shrinking
shoulder with a grasp OF iron rs he
spoke.
She started, shivering violently, and
her eyes were averted from his face.
IL cannot noww she faltered,
brokenly. "Oh, Mark, Mark, don't be
20 cruel! cannot answer you to-day /!
And do not wish to marry yet!
have already promised to give you my
answer soon. Mark" with sudden
assumption of courage) you must
waltz
He frowned darkly, his eyes blazing
with lurid light, his hands c1enched
savagely.
Waltz" he painted angrily. THAT
is the only answer can ever look for,
l suppose? Adele, have been your
humble slave for years. Has it never
occurred to you that the slave might
tire of his bondage and burst his
shaokles and assert his rights?
"Yon are mine; you shall be mine
my wife; have sworn it To that
end I have waited-toiled- -sinned !
Think you, then, that ] will relinqu;sh
you without struggle? You must be
mad! Never
"You shall be my wife or l will
crush You as / would crush serpent
in my PATH You shall disappear
from the gilded society into which
you have launched yourself through
the might of your ill-gotten wealth!
You shall vanish from it all, and the
world shall laugh your memory to
scorn
For / have it in my power, Adele
ST. Cyr-I have it in my power to ruin
your game--yours and your mother'si
must have my answer-I will have il
nOw-yes or no?
"Mark!"
Big, tearful, olack velvety eye. up
lifted to his face, perilously near,
while red lips quiver, and bit of a
white hand steals into his own.
Dear Mark" lin a tender, appeal.
ing Whisper Il want you to give me
little more time for ref1ectionl just
little morc--even three days!s
For moment he holds tho whits
hand in his clasp, showering kisses
upon it: then he gazes down into the
tender, beseeching eyes.
II will give you three days, then.
you little witch!" he made answer.
Three days of grace / grant yo,,--ns
morel
"AGele, do you caro- for that med
ding fool, Arthur Wynne, 80 much?
de, whose whole heart, whose every
thought belongs to Ruby Lawrence?
He loved her living, and he will mourn
her dead!
"Ah your face betrays you, and tells |
the secret Now, Adele st. Cyr, listen
to me. am a desperate man, and I |
mean what say! You will never mar
ry Arthur Wynne-never-s help me
heavenl
Should he be beguiled by yo,
(which ! doubt into an offer Of mar.
riage, and should you accept said offe,
(which goes without saying), as live.
It will be your r,,in-yours, and |
Gabrielle st. Cyr's!
Il know more than you think, more
than you know yourself, of this dark
game that you are playing my friend! |
1t is wheel within a wheel.
"Alt did you hut DRAW, al xLa4y
know concerning this matter. Won
would fly from here this very night,
Adele, to-day is Tuesday; j rive
you three whole days in which to make
up your mind On Friday 1 shall
come for my answer-my final, irrev.
ocabie answer, no more evasion, no
more tricks or putting off, hope vou
understand me, Adele?"
He had spoken rapidly, his eyes
burning with a fevered light, his form
quivering with excitement. Adele lift.
Ell her eyes to his face, and shiver OF
lear passed over her slight frame. She
bowed her head.
You are cruel, Mark she said once
more. You are cruel, and harsh and
relentless; but promise you will gitd
you my answer my final answer-on
Friday"
And low under her breath she was
saying: II will give you my answer
something, anything so that it will
keep him quiet for the present, until ,
Arthur Wynne has proposed. He shall /
ask me to marry him, and, once his be-
trothed wife, need not fea- what Mark
Alleyne can do.
As these unspoken thoughts passed
through her mind, he was gazing int
her face with eager, devonring eyes.
He stopped and pressed his lips upon
her small hand.
my life will be void utterly with
ont hope until Friday" he murmured.
passionately. "Oh, Adele! Adele! j |
viii make you happy! swear will |
make you happy wife. my darling!"
And as he left the room, and the
house, the passion deepened in his
eyes, and he set his teeth together saw.
agely, as he hissed between them
Il will put that troublesome detect
i've out of the way at once, and be done
with it ] have plan in my mind /
which shall sweep Arthur Wynne from
my path And with him out Of the
Wey the rAgk wiIl ba Aarv I'LL 49,,