Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-07-11
CHAPTER. xxxy11-fcontinusa,

$~e~S~~~@>~~~~~S-~es ~~seeeesese~esSese
CHAPTER. xxxvII-tContinued
And she swept along the broad halls
and down the broad stairway. he fol-
lowing, half-stupefed, half-fearful that
yet, in the moment Of his victory, it
might be snatched from him.
A vision of loneliness. she entered the
room, where all had gathered, to await
her coming.
ooh. Beatrice!" whispered Cora,
springing to her side. Don't marry
him, dear, don't! I once loved him, too
child as 1 am. But now"
She shuddered as conclution to her
sentence.
Fear nothing, DEAR" whispered Be-
atrice in return.
And, wonderingly, Cora resumed her
seat.
Only one was absent. Aliens place
was vacant. AS her eyes swept the lit
tie group, he entered and took his place
among them.
The clergyman from the village
church was also present in his robes.
Taking the hand of Beatrice in his,
Randolph advanced into the room.
Before the ceremony takes place."
he said, II wish to tell you all that I
am about to be united With one who is
lnheritor alike to her fathers name and
fortune. The cruel mistake regarding
her birth has been rectified, and our
wedding trip is to the land where we
may gather the proof of the statement
which ! have just made. Mists which
have clouded her reason have cleared,
and tonight she comes to me-nly
,brde-my wife!"
The thrill of an irrepressible triumph
was in his voice; his eyes dwelt upon
the anticipated pride Of possession, on
her exquisite loneliness.
He made movement toward the
minister, when she checked him.
Zone word" she said. you, as mas
ter of Grey Oaks, gave to your friends
"a surprise. Is it not fitting that I should
do likewise? It is only to tell them that
to obtain proof of which you just have
spoken, our contemplated trip will not
be necessary. My claim to my name
and Inheritance already is made good!
I, Beatrice Markham, tonight am mis-
stress of Grey Oaks, and the papers to
prove it are already mine! Let him
dare dispute it who will"
"Beatr pleaded Chester, "calm
yourself! If this be true, it can in no
way affect our present course. Remem-
Der, your lovers fate hangs on the next
half hour!" he whispered, so that she
alone might hear.
''My lovers rate!" she said, aloud
eyes, you are right! All is ready for a
wedding, is it not? 1t were fitting, then,
that there should be no disappointment.
There shall be none. What does a
change in bridegrooms matter? All,
Randolph Chester, you believe that
have, indeed, gone mad? Not so! Cow
ard! Villain! Perjurer! Tonight you
shall take my rightful lovers place, as
he shall step into yours-but yours in
outward semblance only! Where
yield him honor, yield you contempt!
Where I give him my worship, I give
you disdain! Where to him I proffer
love, honor and all wifely obedience, to
you throw the scorn which you so fit
tingly deserve! Men, do your duty!"
AS she uttered the last command, her
voice rose higher.
The doors leading to the library were
thrown open, and four officers of the
law entered and stepped to Mr.. Ches-
ter's side.
Behind them stood Tyrrell, and still
behind them, alone and unfettered, Ber-
tram Talbot.
With one glad cry of rapture, unheed-
ing all the rest, Beatrice FASTENED to-
ward him. felt his dear arms close about
her, while her tired head rested on his
breast.
Forked lightning flashed from Ran
dolph Ckester's eyes as he glanced from
one to the other of those who had so
lately been his guests.
t'What does this farce mean?" he
questioned, finding voice at last, but in
stinctinctively conscious, light as was
the OBTAINING grasp upon his sleeve, that
it soon would tighten into force should
he strive to break free from it.
''You wish to know what it means.
Randolph Chester?" replied Bertram
Talbot, while his arm held Beatrice
more closely to him. ''It means that
you called checkmate too soon! It
means that defeat, instead of victory, is
the issue Of your bitter war against
honor and truth! 1t means that as you
have dealt to Others SO shall measure
be meted out to you-perjurer and false
witness! You shall stand in the box to
which you condemned me. You shall
occupy tonight the cell which I have
left vacant! You shall wear the con-
vict's garb with which you, so merci-
1cssly, would have dishonored mel"
''You can prove nothing" said Ches-
ter.
eve can prove ALI" retorted Talbot.
Must you see the papers to believe?
Mr. Legion, show them to him."
Allen drew from his breast pocket
e11
per was plainly marked as Donald
Markham's will, with date affixed. The
certificates. too, were easily scanned.
Chester laughed, sardonically.
GAIL this proves nothing against me-"
he said. II did not know that this was
true"
@'And this mans testimony-think you
it will also prove nothing?" asked Tai
bot, and, pointing to Tyrrell. who, cow
.ering behind the rest had hitherto been
unseen by his late master.
$50 you've brought him, too?" sneered
Chester. ''And the game is up, Ell: