The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-08-04
|RoDR|GyESs ! o71oLEN,duI; !,
COPYRIGHT. 1897 BY o.e purna,4hs SONS.

1897 BY c. pUTkahS SONS.
honor to himself and to his country.
He will leave for Paris this week. 1t
may not be amiss to mention the rumor
that the gallant officer will take bride
with him.
II was much troubled at this and
scarcely knew what to say, for I could
not guess how it would affect my sister.
However, she spoke first.
"'John, my brother, will you take
me to him?' To say that I was amazed
at this request would but mildly express
it.
"'Take you to him, said I, after all
that has happened!'
He is Virgie's father. John! You
forget thatl'
Evidently he does also.'
"He does not even know that he has q
child. John, have thought Of this con-
stantly, and it is not right that should
keep him in ignorance, as have done
all these years.
"Why, Matte, what are you saying?
What claim can be have on you after
the cowardly manner in which he abau-
doned you?'
"'Hush! You must not think and
speak thus Of my husband If l have
suffered. do you not think he has also?
He did not abandon me. He saw what
was my plain duty and had the courage
to show it to me. ], in my selfshness,
would have left my father for him, but
he knew that it was my duty to remain
at home, and therefore he went. That
is tho simple truth I was almost
speechless. SO great was my surprise at
her defense Of him, but made one moro
effort.
"'But has he not forgotten you, is
no not about to marry again?'
"'stop, John. You do not know
what you are saying. Do you think
that l believe for moment what a
newspaper says when know my hus-
band as do. should have little faith
indeed. John, must SEQ him before he
goes away. II you will not accompany
me, must 90 alone.
II was amazed, but what could I do?
She was determined, aud I could not
allow her to go alone. So she easily
induced me to promise to 60 with her.
Plcpnrstions were rapidly arranged for
tho journey to New York, but all CT
our plans at the last minute were upset
by the sudden illness Of the little girl.
Believing, rs do, in fate, looked up
on this as sign that We should aban-
don the idea Of seeking out the father.
could not, however. make my sister
see it 60, and though the steamer had
sailed long before Virgie was we'll
enough to travel sho insisted on join
ing her husband, even though it entail
ed the necessity Of crossing the ocean.
She anticipated happy reunion with
her husband and q future life of hap
piness and love. As saw her looking
brighter and brighter, day by day, even
in the anticipation, much as detested
the man, I could not find 1t in my heart
to thwart her. She was 60 sure Of the
joyous welcome with which she would
be received that she had the ohild's
portrait painted and placed in locket
In fact she had two made one for her.
self and one which she intended to send
to her husband on her arrival in Paris
This last was tho counterpart Of the
other, save that she had his name or
rather his initials engraved on the gold
case.
"To shorten my narrative as much
as possible. that I may surely finish it
before / am discovered here in my re-
treat, will at onCo come to Our arrival
in Paris 1t was with little difficulty
thar learned of Marvel's whereabouts,
for his official duties mado him man
Of some note. My sister wrote most
aifectioIato letter, tclliug him all that
had passed since he had left her and Of
the birth Of the child. With it she il
closed the locket and portrait, This was
forwarded, and she waited impationtly
for him to hasten to her side.
''But the days passed and no word
came. She made every excuse for him,
urging that his new duties must detain
him and making other similar pleas in
his behalf Meanwhile | instincJively
knew that be was but heartless vii
lain, and I never expected him to be.
havo toward his wife "a Il man should.
At length even Matilda commenced to
doubt, until the thought entered her
brain that perhaps hV letter had never
reached him. Then she determined to
seek him in person. endeavCred to dis
suade her from this project, but it was
impossible TO datain her, and so went
with her to his hotel. We asked to see
him and were shown into a private par
lor connected with his suit There we
were allowed to wait but few mo-
ments and then were Joined by "a tall,
handsome woman, who inquired why
wo had called We said we wished TO
see Marvel in person, to which she re.
piled:
" Ho is engaged at present, but am
his wife,
"Whatp exclaimed my sister His
wifei Woman, you are mad! am His
wife.
liz Ullllf NiI HUt sU iIuEL as start,
but coolly replied
"'Oh, see! You must be that little
rebel that he met down in Richmond. I
have heard all about that affair Ho
told it to nc before VIC were married.
(Herc Mr. Barnes uttered particularly
loud gruut Of satisfaotion.) SO ycu
have come to claim him, now that no is
somebody Of consequence. Quite ro-
mantle, declare, but it won't do, you
klow. He never will acknowledge yop.'
"'You forget yourself, madam, said
!, by your own words you have admit
ted my sisters claim as this man wife
and therefore must see that you are not
his wife at all.
"'Oh ildeodl How pleasant Of you
to come and tell me But / tell you it
will not do He will not he bound by
such marriage as your sister tricked
him into when he was prisoner,
II thought it best to take my sister
away, but she would not stir.
"'I will not go, said she, until I
have seen himi'
"lhi Nery we'll if Won insiati