Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-11-14
LOVE WINS.

"Lena, darling, | must speak to
you. | have not long to remain
here, as you know"
Lena Rivers went to the bedside,
and bent her head over the invalid.
"Mr. Graham, can | do nothing
for you?" she asked, her lips trem-
bling with emotion.
He looked into her fair face, a
sad yearning in his honest, gray
eyes.
"Lena, my darling, you know l
have had you with me since the day
your father died. Have been good
'More than good, guardy," she
replied, lump rising in her throat
as if it would choak her, while the
tears welled up to her eyes. "Who
could have been better?"
He extended his thin, wasted
hand. and grasped hers with a
tenacious grip.
"Lena, | must tell you this, al
though it wrings my heart to do so.
As you know, / have had trouble
all my life. My son turned out a
wretched theft in his youth, and to
screen him | have spent every
farthing | could get; and so, al
though | am reputed a wealthy
man, and live on this great estate,
| am almost beggar. This estate
Is entailed, as you know; and had
my poor son lived, it would have
been his, but now it goes to my half
cousin. There is only one thing /
can do for you, darling, and if you
do not agree to it, | must leave you
penniless. According to the entail
of Carsdale, the widow of the
manor receives thousand pounds
a year during the whole of her life.
You must marry me, darling"
She turned very pale and trem-
bled violently. She loved John
Graham, it is true, but not with the
love wife has for her husband.
Months ago she had given her
self up to Maurice Burnard, though
at times she doubted if she was
wise in doing so. Maurice was as
handsome as an Apollo, with all
the graces and accomplishments of
modern man about town. He
had seen some service in the six
tenth Lancers, and had gained
more than one decoration. Yet
} with all this distinction he had
left the service under a cloud. Yet
still she loved the pale aristocratic
face, with it's sweeping tawny
moustache, and glittering brown
eyes, in which there was an ever
shifting light. But Maurice was
poor, and well she knew he had
been relying upon her being the
heiress of John Graham. Now all
this was ended as far as this was
concerned, and she realized the fact
that if she did not marry the man
she looked upon as father, she
would never be able to marry
Maurice.
Graham was looking at her with
a hungered look in his eyes. ''For
heavens sake, Lena, speak," he
cried; "you know Doctor Burton said
had not twenty-four hours to
livew
"Guardy," she cried, "who was
ever so good and kind as you? /
can never love you as wife
should"
He shook his head slowly, and
his breath came in short, fitful
. gasps, as he replied:
Darling, | do not expect it; but
let me tell you ere / die that you
adore. From childhood | have
loved you, and it has borne me up
during the terrible trial have un-
dergone. Lena, my darling, my
angel, | love you devotedly."
His earnestness frightened
her, and she strove to relieve her.
self from his feverish clutch. Then
a strange, unaccountable passion
swept oyer her, and with stihed
cry she fell upon his breast.
"And now you are my own darl-
ing wife, my poor widowed bridew
"Can it be true?" she murmured.
"What will Maurice sayp"
Darling" he murmured, "you
know it is for few hours only.
You will soon be free to join
Maurice Burnand."
A strange feeling took hold of
her as he spoke, and she sobbed
convulsively. With feeling Of
gentleness she left the room.
That evening she met the ex-
captain Of Lancers in the shubbery.
He attempted to clasp her to his
breast, but she shrank back.
"Don'tw she cried, hoarsely; II
am a married womanw
"Marriedp"
"Yes. l was married to Mr..
Graham this morning"
1.-THE deuce you were! Married
to a doddering idiot, whose foot is
in the graveP"
Maurice" she said with dignity,
''you speak of my husbandw
II beg your pardon, ] am sure,''
with sarcastic smile, "but how
about your humble servant?"
Then. hotween Lo- cohs she told