The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-12
A STRANGE MARRIAGE,
BY LILLIAN MAY LESLIE.


AZ Max Rutherford glanced ar5Snd a sense
of disgust filled him.
Will it be like this always?" he siehed
"Will l ever reach the goal? Here / am
over head and heels in debt-wish some good
fellow would advance me a lew pounds nm
Ill l finish this tref. If | could onlv win
this case believe could see my way clear.
However. I'll hope for the best" And he
lit cigar and prepared to enjoy it,
Max rutherford was alone in this world
as far as near relatives were concerned
although he could count his friends nv tho
| score.
He was educated for the bar, bnt before
that education was completed his father
died, bequeathing his little fortune. n few
thousands, to Max. As Max was an uncom-
monty generous fellow, as his friends were
| fond oil saying. and being somewhat extrav-
agant in his tastes and mode of living. he
did not find 1t at all difficult to spend those
few thousands in very short time. And
so, at the age of %. We find him handsome
honest, good and bravely striving
to reach the pedestal of his ambition. but
| poor.
Nov for the club-roOm. don't want TO
stay here longer than necessary and he
picked up his hat.
"a lady to see you, sir. She is in the par
lor."
"A lady? All right; will 60 down I'M
medately."
at the parlOr door, which was wide OMEN
he suddenly stopped. There. sitting beside
table. back to him, was The slight. black.
robed form of a woman. Her head was
bowed low and her hands were tightly
casped. She locked the very picture OF
| grief and despair
| As he crossed the threshold she arose and
with a quick, girlish grace moved toward
him. Then Max saw that she was heavily
yelled, and she made no movement to throw
"Y"u are Max Rutherford, are you not P~
| on his ear.
- beg That you will pardon me for this
| intrusion, but truly" and the vocs prew
more earnest, Al felt obliged to come. NV
| trouble is so great. Nay, l was driven to il,
but no one but yourself can aid me. viii
| you listen to my story?"
Certainly. Pray be seated"
l am Helen Castletun, and an orphan,
and, doubtless, a stranger to you"
You are. have never had the pleasure
| OF meeting you before" he answered
For ten years | have lived with INV
| uncle, my fathers brother. He ia I'M
mensely wealthy. | am supposed to be his
heiress. But my life for the past three
unhappy, | Df
age, and shall not be for year to come. and
my uncle is determined to persuade me To
| marry man old enough to be nv father
| He, too, is worth his millions, and for that
| reason my uncle bids me marry him. This
| man follows me wherever | 90, professing
to love me, but these profess ons fill NV
soul with disgust and fear. hate him!
| III die before | consent 10 wed hiInv' and
| her voice trembled so that Max longed to
snatch away that vel and gaze on the pos
SCISSOR OF that pleading, fearful voice
Il ran away from home two years ago"
she continued, but my uncle and the one
who claims to be my lover found and brought
me home. Home all heaven what a homel
All the home nave had since | was child:
yet il is little better than prison. | have
never had any girl acquaintance. He would
not allow me 10 see any one excepting his
own friends, and they were old money
seeking men. disIiked them ALL
"Io-morrow morning my uncle says l
must marry this Iuan-that shall be forced
TO do it. l cannotl oh, | cannot! Heaven
let me die tiTstw And with piteous move
ment she held her hands out to Max
He clasped them in his, and as he did so
plying, yearning tenderness filled his
heart Tor this yelled stranger.
Tell me how / can help you" he muir
INJURED.
You can help me, and you onlyp
"How?"
Max Rutherford, will yOu-marry me ?'
u
bin, clasping her hand over her eyes.
As for Max, If bomb-sheIl had exploded
at his feet he could not have felt more as
tonished or bewlldered, but before lie could
artculate word she turned to linn again.
Listen, please 1 have seen you day
after day, as you pa ssed my uncle's house.
Y Ou looked so honest ana kind that some
how ielt that you could and would help
me. Am right or wrong? You are only
a struggling lawyer"
10 a rat
Il have many thousands in my own right
MY father willed it TO me. They cannot
touch that. | have drawn it all. Here it
is" and she laid roll of bank bills on the
table beside him. 81 ask you to accept It,
1t may help you. You wonder why do not
take it and flee. l do not because my uncle
and that man would follow me, even to the
end of the world; so it would be utterly use
less | have turned to the only refuge left
me. / have crushed my pride and begged
you 10 marry me. was spurred on by my
uncle'S last threat | realize what | have
done only too well-Tealize that | have
abased my womanhood By coming to you.
total stranger, out oh, be pitful - and then.
completely exhausted, she turned to the
table and bowed her head on it, and sobs.
deep and bitter, convulsed her form.
Max hcsitated, but for only moment.
| then laid his hand on her head.
81 will do as you ask but | cannot accent
| your money. No, keep it. But why do Won
| not allow me TO see your face?"
She lifted her head and eagerly ciasped
his hand.
"You must accept the money! she said
| land l 90 not remove my veil, because IT is
| best for you never to see my face. | was
! unwomanly, unkind enough to ask Won tn
marry Inc, put cannot and | will not ask
you TO link your life with mine, except in
| name. No, we Will part at the church door:
| then il we should meet in the far fnlura
you will not recognize the face of yonr
wife" ''1'
II shall never forget your voIcelp he ex-
| claimed, half passionately.
Life will not be very much changed IN
| you. unless-you love another Tell me. in
you? 1t is not too late. Better-far better
that should wed the other rather than tear
You from your love"
mo have no love-" and his quick. frank
answer treasured her. 81 am perfectly free
and my own master therefore l am yours
| because you wish it.
THANK you" she said, simply but earn
estly: Then fellow me now, Tor tomorrow
will be too Late
lie did as she babe him.
| Thero was closed carriage at the door
and as Max stepped inside he heard bar,
order the driver TO proceed to ST. Gsorge,s
| parsonage.
"If you are willing" she said to NAV in .,
humble tone, I'VE will have Rev. Jannas
marry us. You Will ask him to follow ms to
the church." "s "
Then, as if it had suddenly dawped on
/ "Oi ."Ne o'iV W 10 hohiHS JilS man To piVn nm
much for her sake, she ciasped her ~, up
appealingly. ' h"Hus
on, how you must hate mel" she cried
Truly, am frightened now at the stan
have taken! Shall we turn back~shaII
| marry the otherf' H"'i L
"NeVerl You shall marry me. You witch
IL, and-yes-I wish it also.'' "i'n
| into her eyes. '' h'Sheu
Ihey soon reached the parsonage. and y
few minutes later were on their wav 10 tha q
church, accompanied by the pastor kim, MD
benevolent looking gentleman. who gazed
twas over at last. Max took his ,,o,h.,
yedding, ring off his own finger and placed
1t on Helens. aid thus the bondsp , u.osa
sealed. Helen Casteton and Max Ruther
ford were husband aud wife. nei-
AT the altar, as they were turning -
down the aisle, Max bent low, and. Wbi 81 ~