Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-08-09

riage from his breast, and held it |
before their eyes. Then, as both
fell back, baffied and speechless, he
smiled coldly, and turning to Mia,
said:
"Shall | take you from here?"
In silence she laid her hand on
his arm, and they passed from the
church, followed by the curious gaze
of on-lookers. AS they entered the
waiting carriage, Mia gave quick
order to the groom, which Frank
did not catch, but when they had
left the church far behind, she look
ed at him, and for an instant laid
her hand on his.
"Thank YOU" she said. you did
we'll"
"Still, | don't understand" he re-
piled. what is the meaning of
this farce?"
1T means revenge" she answer
ed, with little laugh. 81 owe you
an explanation, and you shall have
it,"
Then she went on to tell him
how, when years ago, her beautiful
Spanish mother died, and she had
been left lonely, sorrowful child,
to the care Of her dead fathers sis
ter, that lady's ambition had induc-
ed her to make sure of the girls
vast wealth, by betrothing her early
to her only son, Vincent Maxwell.
Kept closely imprisoned during her
girlhood, Mia had grown up entire
ly ignorant of the world, and COM
pletely under the influence of de-
signing woman and cold-hearted,
despotic man. Even her marriage
with Vincent was looked upon as a
matter of course, and much as she
disliked him, she dare not revolt
against her fate.
"And | should never have
thought of denying him had he not
by his own savage temper reused
me from the state of semi-apathy
into which | fallen" she added,
and an indignant light flashed into
her eyes. "One day | had refused
to do his bidding-carry him some
thing that he had commanded in
his usual imperative way-and in a
momentary fit of passion he struck
me-"
1.-THE cowardr' Frank exclaimed,
and unconsciously twined his arm
round her trembling form.
81 never forgot, nor forgave,"
Mia continued. 81 simply bidded
my time. To have revenge was the
one aim Of my life, and that is why
| asked you to marry me. The de-
nouncement | planned in my head
succeeded beautifully, and | have
to thank you again for the charm
ing way you did your part. | felt
that l could rely on YOU"
Frank gazed at her a moment in
silence; then he said:
"Will you tell me now why you
chose me, above all other men, to
be the instrument of your ven-
geance?"
Because | knew no one else.
met you once two years ago; you
have probably forgotten the Incl
dent. When coming up from
Yorkshire you rendered some slight
assistance to aunt Mary, and upon
leaving the train, by design or ac-
cident, left your card on the seat;
some impulse made me keep the
bit of pasteboard, and when | had
determined to free myself from the
net aunt Mary had drawn so skill
fully round me, | remembered you,
and-and-you know the rest"
He had no time to answer; the
carriage stopped in front of a
small hotel, and before Frank could
recover from his bewilderment, he
found himself alone in warm,
comfortably-furnished sitting-room,
with Nita's parting words ringing
in his ears.
"Wait for me here, please, Mr..
Tremayne, | shall not be long, and
then to business"
Ten minutes later she again stood
in his presence, her bridal robes
changed for an elegant garnet vel
vet dress, which set off to advantage
her slender form, dusky complexion,
and silky black hair. As she came
/