Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-11-02
though her lover were saint or fend

though her lover were saint or neno
and she knew not which.
Then the old aunt, who had been
aroused from her slumbers by the un-
usual tumult. came, and Charles.
placing Mary in her care, kissed the
pale cheek of the still frightened girl
and bidding her goodnight went out
into the darkness, where he met, as
he knew he would, both the woman In
black and Silas Grounding.
For moment neither spoke.
Charles broke the silence by de-
handing of Grounding the paper he
had forced Mary Nordrum to sign.
Grounding did not possess the power
to resist the demand, but plead the
privilege of burning the paper.
Manning consented.
The document wos produced, Charles
examined the signature, saw it was
in the trembling hand of Mary Nor
drum, then lighting match, set the
paper on fire and watched it burn
until only little spot of black ashes
and Silas Groundwigs black heart
knew the papers conte hts.
''Silas Groundwig" The name was
barely whispered-Charles Manning
whispered it-but it was one of those
y
art to utter.
"You are in my power; you know it
better than [ do. | propose now to have
little plain talk with you. You sent
me a drift when [ was a mere lad, be-
cause | was from out of wedlock. This
is the first time for many years that |
have met you and that woman to-
gether.
e. I'll 30 cf II
is dead. Your husband the lying Hick-
man, who periured his soul in the will
case, has fed from Justice and will
never return, and besides, your mar
riage with him was illegal because he
had another wife at the time you mar
ried him.
you to join hands. Don't hesitate.
Don't protest. There is no legal i'm
pediment in the way of your marriage.
[ see you understand me.
$50, joining hands, by virtue of the
authority vested in me by the laws of this
State | pronounce you man and wife.
This act removes from me all faint of
illegitimacy. I can now hold up my
head and say to the world, | am a man.
''Do not go, Silas Grounding, | have
more business with you. You have
heard the story of my meeting Louis
Patterson Don't start. You need
not be afraid of him yet. You have
also learned that | became madly. pas
sionately, insanely in love with Mary
NOrdrum.
Louis Patterson has only himself to
blame for it. He told'to me the story
of his love, not only once, but a hun
drcd times, and. as he dwelt upon her
charms, her loneliness of person, her
beauty of character, it was my fate to
love. [ could not resist that fate.
swore to marry her.
''That | might do so | have sacrificed
my honor and w hatever good name
may have ever had, and all the hope |
ever possessed of life beyond the
grave. But my love is sincere and
pure as mortal ever had for woman. I
cannot make myself believe otherwise
Il have told you before that Louis
Patterson was dead, and you have re-
jojced over it because your life was in
his hands, should he return.
'Now, Silas Grounding, let me tell
you that Louis Patterson lives, and,
we'll don't interrupt me, and pray don't
faint, fainting is woman's priv.
ilege when shocked. not that of a
strong man; hear me through-he will
land in New York in less than week,
and will be here in three days after
ward. This vast continent is not big
enough for both you and he to live on
together. He will hunt you down as
the son hunts the assassin of his
mother. You and l both have like in.
terest in preventing him from leaving
New York.
"Ah, see you comprehend the drift
of my remarks. 1t is we'll. l see you
are willing to undertake the job and
your fruitful mind already has plan
for it's accomplishment. But there
must be no tragedy unless the drama
will not satisfy the audience.
"You understand me?
"You are to proceed at once to New
York and detain Louis Patterson there
until after the marriage. The time
fixed for that is only ten days distant.
Mary and have the sale of our prop
erty nearly completed. Immediately
upon our marriage we shall make a
foreign tour, and in some great city be
lost forever, as far as Louis Patterson
will ever know.
Il will be in charge of the graph,
and you can send your message to me,
and | will risk all publicity.
ITO BE Continued
ROhemia's Rig Garnet Industry.