Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-11-08
IFORBID THE BANNS.

II again until it flashed into my mind as
4 chance OF escape from Mr.. Pitt Sam.
son.
DO you know the young mans name.
or the names of the witnesses 81
only know that the man and woman
were named Jean and Angus. and lived
at Ciantyre, but it took place seven
years ago, and they may be dead or have
moved. But l know the boys full name
1t is Rodney Carlton,"
What" He dropped her hands, and
stepped back in such surprise that she
looked at him uneasily.
DO You know him :"
es-no-I believe l knew him years
ago, he said eonfuseOly. There Is a
family Of that name in the North"
Then you could find him for me. or
trace Jean and Angus? Oh. / am so des-
perate-l will even try to prove myself
married to escape Mr.. Samson And
perhaps l am-reaUy."
But, my dear child" he said gently,
but with curious smile of relief in his
eyes, how do you know that it may not
be out or the frying pan into the fire?
" hat do you know of Rodney Carlton?"
Nothing, except that he was gentle
man, and Mr.. Samson is mott" she said
SIMPLY. And he was such q nice boy
l am sure he has grown into a man who
would not force any girls inclination"
i see he said slowly. Then / sup
pose your plan is to find Rodney Carlton,
and prove the marriage with him to save
yourself from Mr.. Samson, and then to
get the marriage set asidef"
Yes, of course"
Doesn't that strike you as little
hard On-Rodney Carlton?"
'No-why should it be? He does not
know me, and will be only too willing
to dissolve the tie. supposing it should
prove to be binding. My only fear is lest
he should have married in the mean.
while. And, anyhow, | am afraid he will
look upon me as an enemy rather than
q friend"
81 hardly think it likely!" he re-
marked drily, with a glance at the
earnest eyes raised to his. "But we can
but see. by the way, if it is seven wears
ago, your aunt and Mr.. Samson will
plead that it is cancelled on the charge
of deserton."
1T is not quite seven years. 1t was
in August that / went to Scotland, and
this is only june"
"True." he said absently. $50 it was
Well, suppose l undertake this business
for Won. viii YOU put the matter in MY
hands and agree to trust me?"
Indeed l will! Whom else have ! II
trust? And l should not have come to
You otherwise. When / saw in one of
the papers that YOU had come back to
town, my first thought was to appeal
to YOU"
witnesses-to say nothing of Rodney
Carlton How long have Wet"
''They have fixed the marriage for the
l4th.''
He looked grave.
Only six days! Well, must do my
lest. l promise you one thing
shall not marry Mr.. Samsonl If / can
bring no other witness. l will bring Rod
ney Carlton, and he as your husband
must claim you"
She shivcred little, and hesitated for
the first time.
Il did not mean-that, exactly" she
faltered. 81 merely meant-to gain
time!'
"And that can only be done by assert.
ing that you are married already"
IIt EIItlfCd IdLiINl huiLLlCttiN- Tic WIS
far less depressed than she was herself,
Theo thought, and wondered a little
whether he cared as she had fancied He
seemed to take her suggestion of proving
herself another mans wife quite calmly!
Il suppose SOL" she said obviously, in
answer to his words.
"At any rate, trust metz he reminded
her, with new note of undisgliised ten
derness in his voice. There, don't look
so sad Indeed, / am sure it will all
come right. And now l am going to take
you home"
But that Theo begged him not to do.
She had eluded the vigilance of her aunt
and her self-constituted fiance, when her
desperation drove her to the extreme
measure of coming TO Lord Calne's fiat,
but she hoped TO get home again without
suspicion, and without being questioned.
She had SAID that she was going to see
some people who lived III Kensington,
and had really left a card there, and then
driven straight on TO Ficcadilly.
Lord Calne let her have her way, as
she seemed SO far upset that his pressing
the matter made her almost break down.
But he sent his man TO call a hanson.
and put her into it himself with care
that seemed to make her belong TO him
i'll some sort.
"Now, don't worry your head over t e
business any more. and don't fret" lie
said, as he shook hands with her. Il
must leave town again at once for Clan.
tyre, and shall not write to YOU as my
letters may be intercepted But trust
mel shall not let you be married tc-
to anyone eXcept-Rodney Carlton!"
She tried to smile back at him, but
her lips We're tremulous. and as the cab
rolled away, two great tears rose in her
pansy colored eyes and hung on her
lashes.
"He does not care, after all" she
whispered to herself II almost wish 1
had not told him of that Scotch mar
rage. And yet-no, anything is better
than Mr.. Samson!"
Lord Calne went back TO his rooms,
and dropping into a chair, fell into q
brown study. His thoughts were pleas
ant ones, to judge from the smile in his
eyes and tho happy curve of his lips.
All the cynicism and world WEAKNESS
seemed to have vanished from his face,
and once he spoke half aloud