The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-10-14
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CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XVI
MISSING!
When Edna Deane glanced into the
room at the Hopedale Hotel where the
marriage ceremony between the man
she loved and the woman who had
80 cruelty deceived her was taking
place, one member only Of the coterle
there had caught sight of her White
stricken face.
Lured on by the deft manipulation OF
DR.. Simms and Beatrice Mercer, Ray
mond Marshall had agreed to solace
the dying moments Of the girl VINO had
saved his father from financial ruin and
disgrace by wedding her.
The bridegroom of few brief hours,
destined to benefit by her fortune
whether he so elected or not, too
crushed over his grief to care what be-
came of him, he went through the form
OF mere mockery OF marriage, and
spoke the words that signalized the cul-
mination of the scheming sirens deft
plot.
It was Just at the commencement OF
che ceremony that he chanced to glance
at the haif-open door connecting with
the adjoining apartment.
The others did not see, the others did
not mark, the vivid start, the quick pal
1or. the gasping breath, as he stared be-
fore him as if he had seen wrath.
.Edna" he panted; and then, feeling
that it was a delusion OF the senses,
Teproachful, haunting visitation from the
woman the memory Of whose love eouid
never sanctify even a marriage OF ne
cessity and pity, he tottered through the
doorway into the next room.
Edna"
His voice rang out less vaguely now.
It was no wraith-no trick OF the senses.
She was at the threshold of that hall
door now. Her face flashed plainly. un-
mistakably, across his vision.
1T is she-alive!" he gasped. oh,
can it be true2'
Madly he rushed for the corridor. The
shock Of the perfect recognition, how
ever, had blinded, confused him. She
had disappeared, and in his excitement
he ran the wroA & way, got lost IN 1nes'
tricable side paSsaScc 81 t.le5 ii0ce1t;~ End
reached it's street exit two minutes be-
hind the flying fugitive.
A lounger at the door told an excitable
story Of the feeting form, and indicated
the direction in which 1t had disap-
peared.
Not stopping to analyze his vivid
emotions nor the strange situation in
which his acQuiescence to the pleadings
of Beatrice had placed him, Raymond
Marshall thought only Of the dead come
back to life with q great, feverish Joy
and wonder.
Vainly, however, he secured the vi
cinity. Edna Deane had come like a
phantom and had disappeared like
fash.
Jaded, perplexed, an hour later Ray
mond Marshall started back for the
hotel.
His brow was black with suspicion,
his keenest sensibilities aroused to the
fever pitch of augury and suspense.
Edna was alive-he was satisfied on
that point. AS he looked back over the
events OF the past hour, and realized
how he hal allowed his despair and
sympathy to lead him into O net, he
realized, too, that it might all be part of
q plot. The newspaper item was
falsehood! The siren had again deluded
him, and now-he was chained to her.
Be her illness stimulation or reality, she
was his legally welded wife. The
thought that Edna knew and understood
all this drove him frantic. Hot with
hate and excitement, he regained the
room at the hotel. He would have an
understanding with Beatrice! She
should, at least, tell him the truth about
Edna, and the mystery Of her absence
and temperance.
He paused as he reached the parlor
of the suite. A glance into the next
apartment rooted him to the spot. His
father, the false nurse, the strange min
lister had departed, but there yet linger-
cd Doctor Simms, and there, too, no
longer the incumbent, white-faced dy-
ing bride, but in all her usual regal
boldness Of beauty, sat Beatrice, con-
versing animatedly with her tool and
colleague in plotting, her cousin, the
doctor.
Marshall has probably gone home,"
the latter was saying, but I cannot
account for his strange abrupt departure.
We will not think Of that, however,
Beatrice. Your scheme has succeeded;
you are his wife"
Yes" cried Beatrice, triumphantly,
my fondest hopes have succeeded"
I'VE had better, therefore, hasten our
other arrangements at once. AS un-
derstand it, you are to be removed to
my homer"
Still posing as the dying invalid,
yes assented the crafty Beatrice.
However little Raymond Marshall may
care for me, he will call daily to inquire
for me. His sympathy will cause him
to do that. He will zee me gradually
recover. When he finds he has married
well woman instead of dying one he
will accept the situation. and my love
will win him to forget Edna, and he will
never know the plot we have played
against him"
He knows it now!"
The two schemers started back in
dismay. A towering monument OF
wrath, their victim suddenly sprang
into view.
In wild, nsrce denunclatlon he thrust
the ahashed doctor aside. In righteous
Indignation he told the appalled, Be-
atrice that she was unmasked, the full
measure Of her iniquity known.
He almost cursed her in the bitter
ness Of his rage. He told her that if he
fed to the uttermost parts Of the world,
her claim upon him as husband should
be the merest mockery Of formality, and
then unheeding her frantic appeals Of
love he dashed from the room, not even
deigning to reveal to her that he had
seen EdIa Deane, that he knew her to
be alive, realizing that any appeal to
her to tell him truly what she knew Of
the poor, persecuted child Of destiny
would not bring truthful response
from her false lips.
That night, baflled. distracted, crushed,
Beatrice sought vainly for the man she