The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-09-14
A DARK MARRIAGE
MORN.
A Romance of LoUe, Intrigue and
Crime.
By MRS. ALICE P. CARRISTON.
CHAPTER Y.

A light in the basement attracted her
attention.
After an instant's hesitation and hasty
glance about her she entered the gate and
knocked on the window.
The servant girl came forward, and
pressing her face against the glass, peered
out at her curiously.
The woman made an eager gesture, indi-
eating that she desired to speak with
her.
Grumblinsly the girl left the window,
and moment later opened the door.
The stranger stepped into the entry,
and quietly removed the shawl IN which
she had been mufied. The servant gazed
upon the face now fully revealed, with a
look of unqualified astonishment.
The strangers hand quickly sought her
pocket and then WAS extended toward the
guileless daughter of Erin.
Il am making you some little trouble,
she said; please oblige me by taking
this"
Bless ye for perfect lady, as !e air, >"
burst out Bridget. Sure, thin, can't
find it in me heart to take-well, we'll, if
you will have it so-ar' phat can 1 do for
ye now, darlint?"
DO you know the gentleman who left
this house only moment ago? Please
tell me that"
Know him, is it? I do, thin. an phats
more, it's no good av him know"
There is young lady here, whom he
calls to see, is there not?"
There is
Isis she very pretty?'
She's purity enough, sure" Then see
ing an indescribable look Of pain. or
annoyance on the others face, she has
tened to add, in soothing tone: But,
dsrlint, not half SO purity as yer own
swate self"
Has he been coming here often to see
her?" asked the stranger, hesitatingly.
often, is it? Sure, thin, it's wearin'
out the carpets, he is. wild his comin's an
his COINS. Why, till widin wake or so,
he's been comm almost livery night, to
say nothin' about Sundays.
But the lady's brother is his friend.
Might he not come to see him?"
Och! 7 say frind to ye. Phat was he
here tonight for, thin, wild niver soil.
tary soul in the house. barrin' the girl
herself ap there, an me down here? 1t
wasn't the brother he wanted to see, I'm
thinkin'."
And so she is all slone?"
"She is, an she's hardly been out OF
her rooms these three days, but has kept
by herself up there a-cryin' av her eyes
out, so she has. But sure, miss, it's sick
ye air. Och, hone, an phat's the matter?
God send the spalpeen av man ls noth-
in to ye."
NO, no., "gasped the poor creature, hes
nothing to me. He was my husband
for an hour, but-oh, God! that l might
die"
Yer husband! LUX at that now!" ex-
claimed Bridget, with an expression of
blank amaZement on her face. Then
feeling of pity seizing her, she quickly
added:
Sit down here, darlint, sit down,
saw. Here, take this glass of wather.
Phat in the wurruld can do for ye,
say?"
IF might trouble you to get me car
riage," poor Mildred murmured.
-Throuble, is it? III have a carriage
here for We in less than no time, and
snatching up cheap but gaudv shawl,
which she threw over her head, the girl
hurried from the house, conscience-smit-
ten not little, yet not we'll seeing how
she could retract any Of the absurd state
ments she had made.
She was nearly as good as her word in
the matter of time, however, for three
minutes had scarcely elapsed when a
carriage was in waiting before the door,
and, after refusing further offer from
poor Mildred, the contrite girl helped her
in. and saw it roll swiftly away.
LUX at that now, she muttered to her
self. What divilment there is in the
wurruld. Who cud behave that wild so swate
face she carried so sad heart? Sure, I
wish hadn't thold her all did; but the
name spalpeen nv man, he nlver gave
me ther worth av clint, on ! as good as
akin him, toc."
Thus quieting her conscience, Bridge!
returned to her kitchen, while the car
riage containing the brob en- hearted Mil
dred sped onward toward Forty-second
street.
Meanwhile, Eugene Cleveland had re-
turned to the Vernon house, and, after
letting himself in by the same way he had
made his exit. fastened upstairs, hoping
to gain his wife's room unobserved.
But he was not to be so fortunate. As
he was passing through the main hall,
Mrs. Vernon herself suddenly darted
from the back paIlor, and, seizing him
eagerly by the arm, exclaimed. in a voice
quite loud enough to attract the atten-
ton of all in the adjoining rooms:
Where in the world have you been for
the last half-hour or more, Mr.. Cleve-
land, and, In mercy's name, what has
taken your wife away?"
MY wife?"
Yes, indeed. 1t seems to me you both
left us very unceremoniously.
Mildred is not here then? You mean
to tell me that she ID gomez"
Certainly; that is exactly what say.
missed her suddenly, and, having some.
thing I wished very much to speak to her
about, I hunted for her high and low.
But it was all of no use; she was gone;
and Mt last I noticed that her hat and
shawl were gone. too.
A feeling of unutterable drend-of ter.
ror- entered the bridegroom's he 'rt, and
he looked around him almost help,lesslv.
At this moment one Of the gentlemen
who had helped to form the group that
had gathered about Eugene and his wife
at the momant the forged note had been
handed to him stepped forward. and said:
1T so happened, Mr.. Cleveland, that /
particularly no iced our wife after your
own somewhat abrupt withdrawal, and
sm able to tell you this much: She re-
NAMED with her guests for about twenty
minutes after you received the note which
called you away, appearing all the time
as though she we're i'll at ease. At length
she stepped into the hall, and seemed to
hesitate whether 10 60 upstairs or to re-
turn to the parlors. Just then the bell
rang. and another note was handed in.
1T was for her. She took it, and al
most Immediately retired to her owo
chamber. few moments later she has.
h hat