Nevada County picayune., 1891-12-03
---------- GOOD FOR EVIL.

Be my wife, Norma; do not let us wait on and on, with no hope of your aunt's consent. She has no legal right to control you, anyway, as you are twenty-one. Let us go over to the next town and be quietly mar ried For my uncle has sent for me to come to him ;,and as he all is alone in the world l can not refuse to re- main with him for the last few months it may be even less-lhat he will be spared. But l shrink from going away, Norma, and leav- ing you alone to the tender mercies of Mrs. Kayanaugh. She is your dead fathers only sister, but she treats you as she would not dare to treat bond-slave, Marry me, Nor ma, and come what may, at least your bondage will be ended"
 Richard Travers stopped and kiss ed the pale cheek of the fair, blue eyed girl at his side. She tried to smile, but the sweet lips would not be forced into such exhibition, and instead she broke down and sobbed upon his breast.
 "Oh, Rich Rich How can l let you go?' she cried flor you are all the sunshine in my life. Aunt Kava- naugh is a real tyrant over me, and Lena is worse. And, Rich, l am afraid-I suspect that Lena likes you little"
 His handsome face flushed, but he laughed lightly. An, Richard Tray CTS knew more than he chose to tell. For Lena Kavanaugh had acknowl- edged her affection for him only the night before, and he had told her gently but firmly that he did not care for her; that there was but one woman in this world for whom he cared, and that was her cousin, Nor ma Andrews. And Richard had not forgotten the baleful look in Lena's big black eyes as he made this im- prudent confession. Perhaps this was secretly the real reason why he urged Norma to marry him before he went away, though they must keep the marriage secret until he should return to claim her. It was not a difficult task to convince Norma, and at last she gave him her promise Tue next day he obtained permission tu take Norma out fer drive, and they drove to neighboring town where a clergyman resided who knew their story and was willing to per form the ceremony. And so, when Richard Trayors drove back to the old KaI anaugh house, It was his wife who sat al his side in the buggy his own little wife. He kisssd the sweet, red lips as he lifted her from the vehicle,
 "God bless my wife," he whis- pered softly.
 Nobody suspected what had taken place.
 Richard left the following day for neighborng city to remain with his dying relative, q rich old bache- tor. Hardly q week had elapsed when Mrs. KavanauGh pompously announced that old Travers had ex- pressed a desire to see Lena once more before he died.
 II shall send her over at once, said Lenas mother, "tf course there will be no impropricty in it, although Rich is staying there, for Mrs. Allen, an old lady, is in charge of Travers's house, and Lena may be of some assistance"
 So Lena went, and the days drift ed by and grew into weeks still she did not return.
 "Old Travers Is getting better since Lena's arrival" Mrs, kaya- naugh exclaimed,
 But one thing troubled poor Nor ma sorely. Letters from Richard Travers-her husband-had ceased to arrive. and. although she wrote regularly, her letters failed to elicit