The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-02-08

Il did not know but you might be
thinking of the murder which was done
in that room" said Agnes; 'but never
fear poor Marina. The dead never come
back
Don't they? 1 tell you, Agnes Tren-
holme, they dor There was something
| she spoke, but the next moment she
said in her own clear tones, cat least
some people think SO"
A year had elapsed since the murder
of Marina, when Mrs. Trenholme venc
tured to speak to her son of what lay
so near her heart Ralph had been very
tender to her that day, more like his
old self than he had been since the
tragedy. She put her hand on his and
spoke little timidly.
Ralph, you once intended to marry
to please yourself; wish you would
really marry to please mer'
He smiled a little sadly and touched
her hair caressingly.
so you have not quite given up the
old project, mother mine! Well, l will
think of it. love no one. l shall not
easily love again."
'And Imogene loves you, my son; [
think it no more than honorable that
you should give her the benefit of your
name. With such a woman for a wife,
love will surely come. Trust me for it. -
He kissed the lips that were so near
his own.
Mother, | will try to crafty you. l
will ask Miss Ireton to be my wife,
Mrs. Trenholmes face flushed rap
turously. Her lifelong wish would be
gratified. Her only son, the pride of her
heart, would be the husband of the most
beautiful and nobly- born woman in
that part of the state
That night, Ralph sat by the side of
Miss Ireton. He was pale and calm
nothing of the nervous expectancy that
characterizes the doubtful lover. He
took her hand in his and spoke very
quietly.
Miss Ireton, you know my sad his
tory You know of the blight that fell
upon my life little more than year
ago, and knowing what you do, will
you be my wife,"
She looked into his cool eyes, and
saw that he did not love her. And she
had given him so much! All the hon.
age of her impassioned soul! She flush
ed crimson and set her white teeth
hard 1t was cruel to be won in that
cold way; but anything to be near him.
She would have been happy as his dog,
if she could have been no more to this
man she loved so fervently. She put her
hot hand into his.
Il will be your wife, she said, as
coolly as he had spoken.
He touched the jeweled fingers with
his lips and placed upon one of them a
diamond-the betrothal ring.
All that night Imogene Ireton tossed
restlessly on her bead. Her ambition, at
last, was to be satisfed-she was to be
Ralph Trenholme's wife; but his love,
for which she would have given her
soul, was not to be hers.
He shall love mer' she cried, pas
sionately 81 will win him! Good heav-
ems! why is he so much unlike other
men that my beauty has no attraction
for him? Can it be that | am hideous
in his eyes?
They were married in the first week
of January. There was no para6e-not
even bridesmaid, save Agnes Tren-
holme. The old house at the Rock shook
opposed all display. She would have no
wedding party, no bridal tour.
A terrible storm swept over Portlea
the night after Ralph took home a wife
| It's like had not been known on the
coast since that fearful storm when the
foreign ship had been wrecked outside
the harbor, and the waves had cast
Marina up at the feet of Ralph Tren-
holme. The old house at the Rock shook
with the force of the tempest, the very
foundations trembled the roar of the
waves on the rocks below was perfectly
deafening. Imogene paced her chamber
all the night through; she could not
sleep, she saba storm like this al
ways made her restless
CHAPTER TX.
f6a HREE weeks after