The herald., 1893-05-04


looked upon as a matter of course, and
much as she disliked him She dared not
revolt against her fate.
"And ! should never have thought of
defying him had he not by his own saw
age temper reused me from thestate of
semiapathy into which had fallen" she
added, and an indignant light flashed
into her eyes. Zone day had refused
to do his bidding him something
that he had commanded in his usual i'm
perative way--and in a momentary fit of
passion he struck me-"
1.-THE cowardr' Frank exclaimed and
unconsciously twined bis arm round her
trembling form.
II never forgot nor forgave," Nita
continued. II simply acquiesced in all
they proposed and bided my time. To
have revenge was tho one aim of my
life, and that is why asked you to
marry me. The denouement I planned
in my head succeeded beautifully, and
have to thank you again for the charm
ing way you did your part. felt that,I
could rely upon you."
Frank gazed at her amoment in ST.
lence; then he said;
evil you tell me now why you chose
me, above all other men, to be the in
strument of your vengeancef'
'Because I knew no ono else. / met
you once, two years ago. You have
probably forge Ten the incident. When
coming up from Y Yorkshire, You rendered
some slight assistance to Aunt Mary,
and upon quitting the train, by design
or accident, 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 slrillfully around mo re-
membered you, and-and you know the
rest"
He had no time to answer. The car
riage stopped in front of small hotel.
and before Frank could recover from his
bewilderment he found himself alone in
q warm, comfortably furnished sitting
room, with Nita's parting words ringing
In his ears.
"Wait for me here, please, Mr.. Ire
mayne. 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 velvet dress, which
set off to advantage her slender form,
duslry complexion and silky black hair.
AS she came, half shyly, toward him,
Frank glanced ct her with a new light
in his eyes, and stretching out both
hands he clasped hers.
"Well, what next?"
'I wrote my solicitors to meet me
here, but they have not yet arrived.
When they do, they win arrange with
you about the money, and then-then we
will say goodby."
Frank released her hands suddenly,
and folding his arms across his breast
gazed at her for awhile with strange
expression in his eyes.
mo-" he said at last in deep, moved
voice. eve will not say goodby, Nita,
or if we do will accept nothing from
you"
"You mean you will not take the
money" she whispered.
eyes, unless-unless, Nita, I take my
wife with it,
A dead silence followed his words, dur
ing which he remained steadfastly re-
garding her, while she, with downcast
eyes and heaEing breast, hesitated.
Presently, with sweet, tremulous
light on her face, she moved nearer to
him and laid both hands upon his breast
"You viii take the money, Frank?'
with you?"
eyes" 5000 s
He put his arms very gently round
her, and bending his head pressed his
lips to hers.
In the eloquent pause which followed
that caress they looked into each others
eyes with sort of timid wonder, and a
low, tremulous ecstasy awakened in
both their hearts.
At lest Frank whispered:
."Nita, my wife, you will never leave
me nowp"
And Nita softly answeredi
"Neverls-New York Dispatch.