Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1896-05-13

| Dill ana went Gown 10 ma OUT. she was
] sitting at table in the patio, with cup
/ of tea in front Of her, She was good
looking woman, and as judged might
/ be something under 30 years old.
II made my bow. and she asked me to
/! be seated After little talk. says she,
i hear you have been inquiring after Mr..
Valentine giving his full name, you
understand. told her that / had. Did
| you find himY asked She i did, said |.
She seemed bit excited or anxious, and
began to have my own ideas; but
wasn't prepared for what she said next.
i wish you to know that am his wife,
she said, and whatever is his business is
mine also i am bound to inform you,
madam, said at last that his family
has no knowledge of his marriage; they.
believe him to be bachelor. i am
aware of that, said she, but fortunately
am in q position to prove what say,
and with that she took her marriage GER
tifcate out of her pocket and showed it
to me; it was as regular as the multiple
cation table; she WIS, married to him
three or four years ago, in New Zealand.
hadn't word to say / understand he
has come into his property said she.
well, as to that, madam, said |, so he
has: but he has refused point blank to
have anything to do'with it. She turned
white and looked at me very sharp.
What do you mean? she cried out just
what tell you, said |, and then went
on and gave her the story of my visit to
him.
"Well, that seemed to floor her, at
first; she kept making EXPLANATIONS, and
saying things half to herself, and biting
her lips: it was plain she didn't know
what to make of it any more than did
I must see him! she cried out at last,
jumping up from the table; / must see
him, and Speak of an angel. madam,
says /; here he isl and sure enough, by
the funniest chance in the world, in
walked Mr.. Valentine into the patio at
that moment. don't think he was over
pleased at the meeting; but it was too
late to get out of it, so he came up; and
I noticed he only glanced at the lady, as
if she was some one he had never seen
before; then he gave me good day. and
took my hand. 1t was bit awkward,
said, i suppose you will wish to con-
verse with your wife alone, sir; | will
leave you. My wife! says he; / was
not aware there was such a personi Is
not this lady your wifey cried |. He
stared at her like man astonished, and
then at me. L never saw her till this
moment, said he. Come sir. said l, i
have just seen the certificate of her mar
rage with you oh, it's all mistake,
put in the lady. 1 was never married
to this gentleman; l never saw him;
am the wife of Mr.. Valentine. We'll.
and this gentleman is Mr.. Valentine,
said l. He may have the same name,
but he is another person altogether said
she. AS to that, said l, you must settle
it between you; Mr. Valentines papers
are all correct, and there is only one
estate in England with the name that his
bears. But have proved, cried the
lady. that am the wife of the heir OF
that estate, and if this gentleman says
he is the heir, denounce him as an i'm
poster!
AT that, looked at Mr.. Valentine
He had kept his eyes on the lady all the
while, with sort of perplexed express
sion: but now he smiled very quietly
and said he. ! think have heard of this
lady before, wish to say nothing
against her. She seems to be in dilem-
ma from which there is no way of extri-
eating her If she wishes to lay claim
to the estates, she can do so only by ac-
knowledging me as her husband. But
you have just heard us both declare that
we have never seen each other before.
But she also declares me an impostor,
Suppose am: she must find the real man
before she can profit by the inheritance.
If am not he, where is he? Grant, on
eother hand, that am he. and this lady
is my wife: still decline to touch
penny of the hundred and fifty thousand
pounds; and what will not accept she
cannot share That is logic and law
both, ! believer
Upon my word, Henry Clifton, ejac-
ulated Mr.. Bob Stapleton at this junct-
ure, this is about as peculiar yarn as
ever listened to It's as good as play
and better too. When you get to New
York, do you go straight to manager
and offer to sell it to him; and if he |
don't give you a good price for it I'm a
Dutchmanr
Good or bad" returned Mr. Clifton, |
lit happened just as tell it you When
Mr. Valentine said that the lady seemed
staggered for moment; and then all at
once she called outs / see how it is! You
two have arranged this thing between
you! You are in conspiracy to cheat
me! You have plotted to get hold of
this property and share it between you.
and keep me out! But will have
my rights in spite of you'll will
denounce both of you to the au-
thorities. For all know, you may have
murdered my husband and taken his
papers But you will not succeed; l will
expose Won and yon shall he nrInfshedT
TO BE CONTINUED.
Children Cry for