Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-08-15
CHAPTER VII.
The Widowed Bride.

tin, as she was leaving the church on
the bridegroom's arm. the cry with
which she greeted him was cry of joy
for one happy moment she realized
only that he was alive and before her.
She flung herself into his arms; but
as they closed around her she caught a
glimpse of her husbands face. Its eN-
preston of jealous rage recalled her
thoughts, and she remembered every
thing. The reaction was more than
she 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 it.
Her first thought, IS her senses re-
turned, was, of course. for the lover
she adored, not for the husband she
loathed.
ooh, Shirley, Shirley!' she moaned
"why did you not come sooner? Why
were you silent? Oh, my love-my only
love-"
Then her eyes Enclosed, and she
looked UP into her husbands face. His
arms it was that now encircled her,
and they held her in a passionate EN-
brace--as passionate and tender as that
sof the lover Whose name she had cal!eo
upon.
But she shudderei 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
she shrank from him to the farthest
corner of the carriage.
"Clarice!" he whispered, in a low
tone, and the deep misery of his voice
almost touched her eart-"Clarice, I
love you! My darling, you are my wife.
Don't repulse me, Clarice; 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 little-have pity on mel"
pity? What pity have you had on
me? Wretches, monsters! You have
all lied to me-tricked, deceived me!
Oh. misery! Even my own father and
mother 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 blossoms from her 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 that she found herself
IA Hcto 1tvit1 a
with calmness.
- "Hear me, Clarice-this much. at
feast you must do! 1 did not know that
the man you loved and had been en-
gagged to was still alive. Had known
it for a positive fact, I can't tell just
what I might have done, but would
not have lied to you, anyway. I would
Il don't deny it-have tried with all
my power to win you for my wife, I'M
der any circumstances, for I love you
madly. I have never loved any woman
but you. I have rather laughed at the
subject until I saw you, and now fate
has punished me by awakening in my
heart passion that nothing but death
can destroy. You may hate mel sup
pose you will-but I shall love you for
ever. And you are my wife now, Clar-
ice; remember that, and 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 natura! to anyone;
but to approach Mrs. Philip Grayson-
let him look to it, I say! If he but
breathes 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 whip.
IT hate you!" she Kissed, fiercely, 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
ly from the carriage, with an assump-
ton Of ease and joyousness which he
was very far from feeling, and then
gave his hand to 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
che 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 it even more keenly when he
entered the house, where not servant
except his own valet was in the hall to
welcome the return of the bride and
groom.
Carl whispered few words to his
master, and MIR. Grayson replied:
''yery well. will see him in the Ii
brary. Where is Mrs. Grayson's maid
Call her to attend her mistress"
Leonce came quickly down stairs,
having heard the words, for she was
waiting Mrs. Graysons appearance on