Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-08-15
CHAPTER VII.
The wIdosvesi bride.

Ult DIS she was iSINlug the cHuTCH Oh
the bridegroom's arm. the cry with
which she greeted him was a cry of joy
for one happy moment she realized
only that he was alive and before her.
She lung herself into his arms; but
as they closed around her she caught a
glimpse OF her husbands face. Its ex-
preston of jealous rage recalled her
thoughts, and she remembered every
thin. TIL reaction was more than
h could bear. and she tainted.
1t was a long and dreadful swoon,
and the carriage had nearly reached
her new home before She recovered
from 1t.
Her first thought. 5s her senses re-
turned. was, of course, for the lover
h adored, not for the husband she
loathed.
"oh. Shirley. Shirley she moaned,
"why did you not come sooner? Why
were you silent? Oh, my iove-my only
love-
Then her eyes Enclosed, and she
looked up into her husbands face. His
arms il was that now encircled her,
and they held her in a passionate en-
brace--as passionate and tender as that
of the lover whose name she had callea
upon.
But she shuddered with horror and
repuision, and tried with all her
strength to free herself from the un-
welcome embrace.
At first Philip Grayson resisted her
efforts, but, with a long-drawn sigh.
he suddenly withdrew his arms. and
h shrank from him 10 the farthest
corner of the carriage.
"Claricc!" he whispered, in a low
tone. and the deep misery OF his voice
almost touched her leart-"Clarice. L
love you! My darling. you are my wife,
Don't repulse me, Ciarice; I could not
help it. Oh. my wife-my lovely little
wife-I don't know in what words to
tell you how much ! love you! Try to
like me a little-have pity on mel"
PITY? What pity ave you had on
me? Wretches, monsters! You have
all lied TO me-tricked. deceived me!
oh, misery! Even my wv father and
mothec must have been in the plot TO
deceive and sell ME for your wretched
money, while they knew that he lived
my own true lover-my best. my dear
est oh, Shirley-Shirley!"
She wrung her hands in despair: she
tore the orange DlOSSOWS from neT hair
and flung them at his feet.
She would have torn the flowing veil
from her head and the golden circlet
from her finger, to serve them in like
manner, but Philip Grayson caught her
hands in his and held them, gently. but
firmly. while he spoke in a tone of such
grave authority hat she found herself
forced TO listen with respect, almost
with calmness.
Hear me, Clarice-this much. at
least you must do. / did not know that
the man YOU loved and had been en-
gagged TO was still alive. Had / known
1t for a positive fact, / cam tell just
what l might lave done, but / would
not ave lied to you, anyway / would
IL don't deny it-have tried with all
my power to win you for my wife, un-
der any circumstances. for l owe you
madly. / have never loved any woman
but you. / Rave rather laughed at the
subject until / saw you, and now fate
has punished me by awakening in my
-Ieart a passion that nothing but death
can destroy. You may hate mel sup
pose you will-but / shall love YOU for
ever. And o are my wife now. Clar-
ice: remember that, n understand
the meaning OF it. No living being,
man or woman. shall come between us;
and as to that young lover of yours,
let him look to it, To love Miss Clarice
Mowbray-that was natural to anyone:
but to approach Mrs. Philip Grayson-
let him look to it, / say. If he but
breathes a word of love or casts upon
you one look to give offense to me. !
tell you plainly there will be no mis-
take in the next report of his DEATH
Clarice replied to these words with a
look of concentrated scorn and anger.
and then wrenched her hands from his
grasp with such force that her we'd
ding ring almost cut her finger, while
the red marks of his powerful clasp
lay on her delicate white skin like welts
raised by a whip.
II hate you!'' she Kissed. fercely, and,
turning from him. gazed steadily out OF
the window. the blind of which she
drew up before he could interpose to
stop her movement, which was as
swift as a fash of light.
The reply that Philip Grayson was
about to make remained ~unspoken. for
at that moment the carriage stopped
and the coachman appeared at the
door.
The new-made husband sprang light
~ from the carriage, with an assump-
tion of ease and joyousness which he
was very far from feeling, and hen
gave his hand 10 the shrinking bride.
1t was in vain that Clarice sought to
evade his hand or shrink away from
him. He caught her reluctant fingers
and. with gentle force. drew her hand
within his arm; then led her through
the gaping and whispering crowd that
stood about the door.
With keen modification he, saw in a
moment that news of the scene at the
church had already reached here, and
he felt 1t even more keenly when he
entered the house. where not a servant
except his own valet was in the Fall 70
welcome the return of the bride and
groom.
Carl whispered a few words TO his
master. and Mr.. Grayson replied:
Very well | VIII see him In the IL
brary. where Is Mrs. GraysrE's maid?
Call her TO attend her MISTRESS
Leonce came quickly down stairs.
having heard tho words. for she was
waiting Mrs. Grayson's appearance on
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