The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1893-01-28

| IL was Raymond MARSHALL, DuJ MOI
the Raymond Marshall OF few days
previous. Hope, joy, excitement illu-
| minated his radiant face; horror, too
| appearing plotter. Then he drew int
the open space another form.
She meant murder. Oh, cruel, cru l.
| How can she be so hcartlcss? And
| loved her, trusted her as a sister.
| Courage, Edna, spoke Marshall.
The faithful Bruno led me here in
time, 1t seems, to rescue you. You be-
| lieve me nOw-that this woman de-
| ceived me into that marriage, farce
| that cannot dim our love, though it may
| part US In this world"
Oh, Raymond, let me leave this ter
rible pla e!
Yes, 1 will take you back to the
| farmhouse. Then to return and learn
| the meaning of this woman being here.
| Watt Some one else is coming.
| He had been led to the spot by the
| clever Bruno not ten minutes previous,
| had discovered Edna in the pit, had res
| cued her, and now both shrank into the
| shrubbery again as two forms crossed
| the garden.
The steward and the housekeeper, re-
| turned from the village, their words
| reaching the ears of the listening Ray
mond Marshall caused him to start vio-
| lently, for they were discussing Beatrice
| Mercer
Creeping nearer to them, within two
| minutes a hint, word revealed to Ray
mond MARSHALL 5 quick mind marvel
| Gus suggestion.
He guessed at the truth now This
| dark schemer, Beatrice, had assumed
Edna Danes name and place. Her
plots, her sudden wealth, her strang"
movements all verified the sUrmise.
For a few moments he reelected.
Then, as the two people entered the
| house, he took Edna's arm, and led her
towards its open front portals.
Through the windows Of a brightly
! lighted apartment he could see an old
man reclining in an invald's chair, and
near to him sat his pretended daughter,
Beatrice Mercer.
Without a word of explanation to the
shrinking Edna, fired with the zeal of a
| confident discovery, Raymond Marshall
entered the house.
A wild cry rang from Beatrice Mer-
GERS lips, and Mr.. Ralston stared won
deringly at the intruders as Marshall
and his trembling companion abruptly
| entered the room.
"Alice-Edna." exclaimed the invalid;
who are these people
Alice? Edna" repeated Marshall,
eagerly Is that the name she gives
herself: Pardon me, sir, but | have in
truded here because | deem it duty TO
unmask that woman yondcr."
That woman-my daughter" ex-
claimed Ralston, Indignantly.
She is not your daughter. Beatrice
Mercer, your plots are known. Silence!
| will tell my story.
White as marble Beatrice shrank
back "a in foreihIc. emphatic words
Raymond Marshall, sent, nee by SEN
tence, revealed his suspicious. He
forced her to assent to his surmises; he
compelled Edna to relate her story.
With a look of anger at the woman who
had deceived him, with a loving glance
at the timd Edna, when all had been
explained and made clear, Mr.. RalstOn
opened his arms to his real daughter.
Yes, yes. it is true.' he murmured.
She has her sainted mothers face.
Oh. how could | be so deceived? AS to
YOU"
Yes, as to me-" cried the baAled
Beatrice, scornfuIly. 4 am unmasked.
So be it; but | still have the power to
rule. | know your secret you, an
escaped convict You will be glad to
silence my lips with half your fortune,
or hetray al.
Ralston paled and shuddered. At that
moment the door opened, however. An
emaciated form crossed the room.
Rodney" cried Mr.. Ralston, amazed.
1t was the messenger he had sent for
Edna to the HOpedale seminary, the
man who had seemingly persisted at the
broken bridge.
Yes, it is l." replied Rodney. Mi
raculously escaped death; just recovered
from my Illness attending exposure and
injury, and in time to refute what that
impostor says, for l overheard her words
and your own. Ealston, light mas come
at last! The man for whose crimes you
suffered Imprisonment is dead; and,
dying, he has confessed al and cleared
your name from every faint Of guilt"
oh, thank heaven cried Ralston,
fervently. AT last at last, Alice
| Edna, my darling child, at last l can
offer you an hoIored name, a loving
home,"
May you be happy" sneered Bea-
| trice, inadvertently. Il am baf1led
beaten-at every point except one, it
seems. Raymond Marshall, remember
that the law gives me your name, You
are my husband. That is more to me
than the honor of being an eX-cOnvict's
daughter or q wealthy heiress,"
so be it." spoke Raymond Marshall
! solemniy. In name l am your hus-
! band, but Edna Deane or Alice Ealston
has my love till death. Fear not;
| shall not bring reproach on her fair
| name by remaining near her until the
law annuls a fraudulent marriage
! Edna, | must hasten to your friends,
| the Blakes, and tell them that you are
| safe. They are very anxious about you
| Tomorrow | will come to see that you
are safe and happy, and then [ leave
/ you to battle this woman for my rights.
/ He passed from the house as he
! spoke. His heart was happy, despite
( the complications that evil plotters hal
/ cast about his life.
! Il say, old fellow" uttered a maudlin
! tone, as he neared the roa outside the
/ mansion grounds.
! We'll, what is it?" demanded Mar
shall, regarding curiously the swayin-.
| shabby form Of a halfintoXicated man
/ near the wall.
Can you direct me? Looking for the
I way into this place, after "a friend
/ lady friend. You see"
Mercy! The minister"
With a start, Raymond Marshall sur
/ veyed the man before him. Could ii lie
! possible: Yes; despite the vivid con-
! trast between those two times. the
I ragged. intoxicated tramp before him
/ was certainly the well-dressed, sedate-
! looding clergyman who had performed
the marriage ceremony between himself
/ and Beatrice at the Hopedale hotel.
/ What did it mean; i wild thrill per
/ vaded his frame at the mans next
I words
You acquainted here? Well. In
looking for "a girl I've Traced here
Beatrice Mercer. Oh, I'm sharp, am
. A hundred dollars. Humph, man can't
afford to play minister for a measly
hundred dollars, She's rich. I've traced
her. Bet l get a thousand, 10 shut my
lips, or tell all know.
All he knew, Within half ar hour
Raymond Marshall was in possession OF
his secret, stupidity Llurted out in his