Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-09-28

low me to explain. am the Marquis G
/ Cadoxton."
gave vent TO an ejaculation OF sur
prise, for the Marquis was a well-knowi
I figure in the world OF politics.
a. have a daughter who, alasi is dy
/ ing" ne continued. The physician
say hers is hopeless case, and l desir
that her last moments shall be mad
happy"
" All, you want me to minister word
of consolation. l am sorry l cannot
Il"
"No,n he snarled, "she's religious
enough. Besides my daughter is insane
You remember what / said a minute
ago." he added.
I" No, what did you say?'
"That marriage is only a question o.
money to any man."
"What do you want of mel" ] asked
puzzled.
/" A trifiing service. A couple OF years
ago l was i'll, and compelled to take 9
voyage to Australia. During my absence
my daughter met young fellow-a Gu
rate, ! believe-for whom she conceived
q violent fancy. Since | returned to Eng
land and called her home, she has done
nothing but NOPE and mourn for him,
with the result that her intellect is inn
paired"
"But will he not marry herr"
"He disappeared mysteriously, and
though we have tried to trace him he
cannot be found. OF course, she would
marry him in a moment, but her mental
power is so weak that she would marry
any one else and believe it to be him. But
here's the point"
He felt in his pocket, and, producing q
wallet, took from it a roll OF crisp bank
notes. He counted ten OF them, each for
a hundred pounds, and held them toward
me.
"These are yours" he said slowly, A." II
you will be my daughters husbandl"
The proposal staggered me. A thou
sand poundsl Did ever temptation stand
in a poor mans path in more Turing
guse? With the money might do many
things; might find May and provide
home for us both. II was struggle be-
tween the DIR. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde OF
my inner self-if ! may so put it.
- give you my word that none know
of her insanity besides myself, and that
she is upon her dying bed" said my
tempter.
paused. was thinking of May.
Come, decide. See, / add five hum
dred more. VIII you accept it9 have
clergyman ready, and am determined
that some one shall make my darling's
last moments happy"
Summoning courage, ! drew a long
breath, and stretching forth my hand
took the notes, which / thrust hastily
into my pocket.
My purchaser opened the door and ut
tered some words in a low tone.
al am here" said a clergyman who
entered. "You are the affianced husband
of his lordship's daug liter, are your" he
asked, addressing me.
Ireplied in the Affirmative.
Come said the old man impatiently, |
as he led the way upstairs to large bed
room on the first floor.
"Take her hand, /" commanded the man |
to whom | had sold myself, eve have a |
spec al license"
grasped the thin wasted fingers that |
lay upon the coverlet, but the face was
turned from me.
The clergyman droned off the service /
by heart with the characteristic nasal /
twang, and in the responses the voice of 1
my bride never hesitated.
The ceremony concluded, we were pro-
nounced man and wife. was the hus-
band OF agirl who was insane, and whose
face had never looked uponi Was ever
there stranger marriage?
We then repaired to the library down.
stairs, where the special license-which
had been obtained in readiness was
filed up, the register signed, and the GER
tificate handed me with a murmur OF
A bottle of champagne
was produced, and we each drank glass
lfter which was allowed to return to
he room alone to make the acquaintance
If my wife.
entered il on tiptoe, almost breath
essly, and paused for a moment beside
he bed, trying 10 SPEAK. But what could
say9 was anxious TO see the face OF
he woman to whom had bound myself,
o reached and turned up the gas, after
ward bending down to look upon her.
Her face was cut and swollen as IL by
avage blows, discolored and dishgured;
face in which were the unmistakable
igns of insanity.
When her eyes met mine she started
Up, scrutinized me closely and fiinging
er arms wildly about my neck uttered
brill scream, scream OF joy.
Is was May Beresfordi
She kissed me fondly, and was about
o explain the strange circumstances OF
ur marriage when the fearful light OF
insanity in her eyes caused me to hesi-
ate. Whit use was it to speak to her2
he did not understand.
l was holding her hand in sad silence,
hen the footman entered hurriedly and
that my presence was required
4 the library at once. The man dashed
own stairs, and followed. Onentering
be room a sight met my gaze which |
hall never forget, for lying stretched
pom the couch was his lordship in the
orrible agonies of death from poisoning.
small bottle standing upon the table,
nd broken champagne glass, had but
ne tale to tell. He had taken his life.
The clergyman was kneeiing by his
de, uttering words OF consolation, but
a few moments the old man gave final
asp and passed to the land which lies
syond human ken.