The Wahpeton times., 1891-06-11
| THE FALSE HEIR.
WHY DID HE MARRY HER?

WHY DID HE MARRY HER?
CHAPTER XXVIII-Co CONTINUED.
Mr.. Euston began to think himself
much better than he had hitherto
imagined, and wondered that the
world should 80 long havedepreciated
his true value. OF course he hourly
became more deeply infatuated with
the artful woman who had made this
remarkable discovery, and implicitly
yielded to her slightest wish.
The plan to entrap Clara into their
power was fully discussed, it's details
arranged, and the deceived guardian
finally parted from his betrothal with
the conviction that his niece concealed
her preference for Lumley because she
knew it would displease her mother;
that Clara's true wishes, as well as her
interests, would be best served by a
union with him, either with or without
Mrs. Customs consent.
At the urgent solicitations of her
ardent lover, Mrs. Pierre promised to
make arrangements for immediate de-
parture, as the steamship she had re-
terred to would start on her first trip
in three days from that time. After
a most sentimental adieu, the elated
lover departed, but the satisfied smile
would have died from his lips, could
he have seen the expression Of, utter
WEAKNESS and disgust with which his
fiancee threw herself upon the sofa
and scornfully muttered-
II have triumphed over the old fogy,
and can turn him around my finger.
Oh! what verdant antiquity it is, to
believe that creature so full of life
and passion as l am, can be enamoured
OF well kept mummy like him! 1 al
most wish / had never meddled with
this affair, for am paying too dearly
for it's success. His wife! laugh! his
angel, ha! ha! Many men have called
me that before his turn to be cozened
came. wonder how many of them
think me one now? Only the last fish
that come to thenet estupid enough
to share that delusion, l fancy.
"Well, it is amusing enough where
ones only object is to flirt, but when
marriage is the question, it assumes a
more serious aspect. Retirement with;
love in q cottage, or rather the lodge
in some vast wilderness of which he
absurdly raves! A Awigwam, I suppose,
at any rate, it would be as unbearable
to me as the meanest Indian hut, if we
were to become its joint tenants; yet
have promised to marry this man.
Fortune has come to q desperate
strait when such marriage is impos-
ed as q necessity upon me.
"Heigh no! Mr.. Euston can assure
me the enjoyment without which l
cannot live. He can screen me from
the whispers of malevolence, and give
security to the position my own clever
ness has gained for me. Alfred tyran-
nizes over mel must have q protec-
tor, and suppose the Honorable
Henry Euston is as suitable one
as my waning beauty can hope to
win"
A Aquickrapupon the door interrupt
ed her reverie, and she indolently
raised her head, as she said-"Come
in, Albert; know it is you by your
imperious knock"
Lumley entered, closed the door
carefully, and sat down in front of
her. The gas-light fell full upon his
face, and she saw there the flush of
wine and the reckless expression he al
ways wore when successful. She dis
dainfully said
"1n spite of all my warnings, you
have been drinking again. Where have
you been, and how have you been oc-
cupied since you left me this after
noon?"
"And you," he retorted, "have re-
covered from the spasms into which
you threatened to fall when I went
away. We have been congenially en-
ployed; for have been frightening O.
coward into making my foutune, and
you have been deluding fool into Sc
curing yours"
II do not understand you," she
frigidly replied.
"Ha! ha! you are duller of compre-
hension than usual, my brilliant Lon
ore. Did | not meet your dupe as
came hither, wearing the smile of q
happy lover? How many falsehoods
did it take to wheedle him into the be-
lief that he is demi-god, who is only
appreciated at his just value by your
adorable self"
Pooh! don't make yourself dis
agreeable. Mr.. Euston is q good
parti; out you know that have en-
deavored to fascinate him mainly to
advance your interests"
"Oh-yes-I comprehend. One eye
to my affairs, both wide open to your
own; but don't complain; and things
are now in such fix that it becomes
doubly necessary to secure the fair
Clara. What have you done toward
that?nn
"Eyerything-the plan is settled in
all its details. Mr.. Euston goes with
me to Cuba in the next ship-Clara
accompanies us. When we are safe
.en the plantation, you can join us:
by that time Mr.. Euston will have no
will but mine, and that will give his
niece to you as your WIFE"
s'Bravo! magnificent! 1 honor the
scheming brain that can carry it's
plans into effect. Mou really deserve
entire confidence, madam, and 1 am
going to tell You something that will
pleaseyou. 1haNe'discovered Albert's
retreat"
Mrs. Pierre started up, full of eager.
ness and animation.