The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-04-27

out, and make her feel my power. the
cursed snake! Can it be linked with
those letters over which 1 discovered
her crying so bitterly only a few days
ago, and which she thrust hastily
into that Cd black trunk when I
entered her room? Oh, my fine lady,
I'll soon see you fail; and even though
I steep myself to the very lips in crime,
I swear. I'll yet be Ross DesmOnd's
Wife'-with fierce-wrung heart-cry.
4 Now, my first move is to secure and
read those letters
And the next day, while hapless little
Claudia was in the MUSHROOM, Lora
Howard seized her opportunity to carry
out her scheme, and slipped into our
herOine's room.
In a corner was Claudia's trunk, and
in eager haste she tried the cover. 1t
was unlocked, and a glad cry left her
lips . -
"Ah, now for the precious letters!''
she Kissed, under her breath; and al
most the first object that greeted her
was the package of missives, tied with
a narrow red ribbon.
Unscrupulous and daring she opened
the first letter, and with q look of
fiendish triumph she read:
(. Claudia, My Dear Little Wife-The
hour of confession to my mother Of our
secret marriage has come. [ must
speak before | go abroad. She will
surely revelve you'll pray to God that
she W1ll-though / married you against
her wishes. Before night darkens down
again she will know all. Be brave and
patient and when the sweet syringas
are in bloom, shall come back to you,
and we will be happy once more; for,
my darling, you remember it was in the
halcyon, sunshiny days, when those
lovely, fragrant flowers We're unfolding
their waxen petals, that you became
my bride True, faithful love- farewell
for the present c.. D."
The letter was Wrinkled as though it
had been clutched by a trembling. ago
niZed hand, and stained by wumans
bitter tears.
Eagerly Lorl Howard read the other
letters, which revealed the true. selfish
nature of the writer, one Curtis Dyne;
his cold, imaginary love for his trusting.
faithful wife; how his cowardicp had
sealed his lips against the confession 10
his mother, who had, by some stran"'
fatality, heard of her sons ill-starred
marriage to 4 beautiful little working
girl of New York
She had threatened to disinherit him,
and he, preferring the loss of his wife
to the loss Of his princely, tempting in
heritance, had cruelty deserted our he
rome, with a heartless demand upon
her to drop the name her wedding ring
had given her.
At last | have found her out in he.
true colors!" Lora Howard Kissed be-
tween her clinched teeth. "A married
Woman-a deserted wife! Now to have
my revenge upon the brazen impostor,
whose beauty has come between me
and the man love! Oh, God. how L
hate her! 1 will tear her life's mask
from her. and expose her before the
whole world!''
She flashed about. only to stand root
ed to the spot, face to face with Claudia
Verne and an old. White-haired lady
in a trailing robe of rich black satin
Miss Howard, what does this mean?'
Claudia asked in low, tense voice
But Lora Howard's courage came
quickly back to her.
ut means that you are in my power
at last!' she cried, with tragic vehem-
ence; that the dark secret Of your
life is mine, and now I shall denounce
you! I have torn aside your mask,
you serpent! you impostor! Hear me,
dear Mrs. Creighton. That woman
there"-waving her jeweled hand to-
ward the paid, terrified little govern
ess-'is sailing under false colors and
deceiving us I'LL; she is an adventures,
and the deserted wife of Curtis Deyne!"
Mrs. Creighton recoiled with sud-
den, startled cry, CHASTITY, painting, her
hand pressed over her heart.
Curtis Deyne!'' she repeated trem-
blingly. My God, Claudia! is this
true? That you are the girl he mar
ried-he, Curtis Deyne Creighton, my
only son? Oh, how I have sought for
you and longed to breathe his words
| of repentance to you, whom he so
| cruelty deserted, so bitterly wronged!
Poor, hapless child! you have indeed
suffered. To the very last he pitifully
begged for your forgiveness"
'"Then he is-dead?" Claudia asked in
| bewildered tones.
EYES," the old lady answered grave
| ly; land he left you to me as a last
sacred CHARGE; but could find no trace
of you; I did not know your name be-
fore marriage, by which I might have
found you long ere this. All! poor
| girl! the love, and even the name, he
gave you were as empty as your we'd
ding ring, for he had a lawful wife
living when he dragged you through
that miserable mockery of a sacred
| CEREMONY
'I know it; I discovered it was all
too late" Claudia said, a piteous light
in her dark eyes; land I tried to hide
it from the world. He confessed it to
me in letter, and prayed night and
day to God to let me die. Alas! was
not his wife! But I must explain.
believey his name to be merely Curtis
Deyne; and he made me vow never
to marry until release from his lawful
wife came to him, and IL kept the
cruel VOW; for, oh! Mrs. Creighton, ]
did love him still then in spite OF all!
1 meant to be true and wait, and he
soon won me over to silence. 1t was
all for love and the world well lost
with me in those days. %.s
II was only poor, inexperienced
orphan, struggling young working
girl. with no one to advise me. Heaven
alone knows how I struggled through
that fearful ordeal, that wretched, mad
dening past Then suddenly starvation