Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-10-23

cne threw on her cloak and her domi-
no and stood before her newly made
lord, her eyes bright, her face flushed,
her lips quivering. She was filled with
revenge half satiated, but revenge can
never be wholly satisfied, and with the
triumph Of victory.
II have won," she said. you tried
to deceive me again, Ludovic, but I
have won. You have been caught in
your own tolls"
He took the nearest chair, sitting
down in silence, but his face was dark.
AS she looked upon him some of the
triumph died out of her eyes; her
cheek lost its glow; she began to be
frightened. What would he say or do
next? AS for his reverence, he stood
within the door as If ready for instant
flight. Indeed there was cause for I'M
certainty because the man was desper-
ate, and his sword was at his side.
Silence" he said, cor l may kill
you"
Then there was silence. The other
two did not speak. The lady threw
herself upon the sofa, twisting her fin
gers nervously.
"You have married me, you say. You
shall be Il happy wife. You cannot inn
agine how happy you will be-"
In contest Of tongues the woman
has the best Of it.
$50 long as you, my lord, enjoy the
same happiness or even greater shall
not repine. You intended my happi-
ness in another way"
"You have destroyed my last chance.
1t is good beginning"
And ending. my lord. The fond
mistress whom you have fooled so long
becomes the wife. 1t is not the duty
Of wife to provide for her husband.
Nor will the Countess of Fylingdale al
low the earl to enter her house. She
will want the proceeds of her bank her.
self. In q word, my lord, you are not
only my husband, but you are now
privileged to provide for yourself"
He sprang to his feet and fell to
common and violent cursing, invoking
the immediate and miraculous inter-
vention Of that Power which he had
all his life insulted and defied. The
lady received the torrent without a
word. What can one say in reply to a
man who only curses? But she was
afraid of him; his words were like
blows. The headlong rage of the man
cowed her; she bent her head and COW
cred her face with her hands.
Then Mr.. Purden ventured to inter-
fere. let ME speak," he said. 1.-THE
thing is done. 1t cannot be undone.
Would it not be better to make the
best Of it? Does it help any of US
does it help your lordship-to revile
and to threaten"
The bridegroom turned upon him
savagely. you to speakw he said.
"You are too mealy mouthed and too
virtuous even to tear up page from
register"
II do not wish to be unfrocked or to
be sent to the plantations, my lord.
Meantime it would be doing you the
worst service in the world If I were to
tear out that page"
"Oh, you talk! You always talk"
VI old, my lord, have sometimes
talked to some purpose"
Talk again then. What do you
mean by disservice? You will say
next, I suppose. that this play acting
was fortunate for me-"
1--WE may sometimes turn disasters
into victories. If your lordship will
listen"
His patron sat down again, the late
storm leaving Its trace in scowling
face and twitching lips.
"WhN the dickens wasn't Molly there
How did this woman find out7 How
did she know that Molly was not COM
ing?"
Il can answer these questions" said
the lady. "Molly would not come be-