The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-04-25

MS meanneSs. She saw 1t now she nm.
derstood what he had done. and she
understood the words with which ha
had tainted her into what she had
done. But she could not bear the scan.
dial that must follow on his total ruin.
nor the scandal that must follow IL Ed.
ward Wallace fulfilled his threat, Her
little fortune might save Charles
would at least enable him to get Off to
America. She would make it over to
him, and then, If Edward Wallace
chose to marry her--why, let him!
The time was up, and Wallace re-
turned. ,,... .s,s.-
Have you decided, Miss Black?"
Yes" replied Daisy, without NOV
Ing. Il am perfectly helpless. must
marry you If you choose"
He sat down by her and issued his
directions-not unkindly, but In man.
ner that admitted, no appeal. Daisy was
to marry him in a month; she was not
to return to her home but to spend that
month with his aunt, Mrs. Tenant. who
would see to all her preparations and
act the part of guardian to her during
the time. Mrs. Tenant would arrange
all the particulars Of her trousseau and
charge herself with the payment for it,
and in the meantime Edward would see
his betrothed every day.
So he took her away to Mrs. Tenants,
and came day by day to see her; and
all sorts Of dainty garments were sent
in from the best shops, and Daisy
signed papers that her lawyer drew up
for her, and continually her eyes grew
duller and her lips grew drier; and
half the month had gone away when
Edward came in his turn with papers
to be signed.
Then he explained to her that these
legal documents represented the full
tillment Of her uncle's last wish. After
the destruction of his will his heart had
melted toward Daisy, and he had de-
cided to make over to her a sum suffi-
Gent to keep her in comfort all the days
of her life. No penny was to go to
her brother. He did not live to carry
out his intentions, but Edward felt it
duty incumbent on him to do what he
knew to be his cousins wish. He made
over the specified sum to Daisy, and
| considered himself thereby absolved
from drawing up marriage settlements.
Daisy heard, in the dead-alive way in
which she heard everything in those
days. She neither cared nor understood
and she did not see the inQuisitorial
glance that her betrothed bent upon
| her.
Gradually-not that day nor the next
it dawned on her dulled brain that
this money was absolutely hers, to dis
pose Of If she would, and for a short
while she was her own mistress, to act
as she pleased. This, too, she would
give to Charles; and again she wrote Sc
cretly to her lawyer. If Edward were
angry his anger could not kill her, and
If it did, there was nobody true and
honest left in the world, and she would
| as soon be out Of 1t.
Delays, tiresome and vexatious, kept
the mater unsettled till within two days
of the wedding. 1t was Sunday, and
|
she had heard a sermon. Something In
that sermon stirred Daisy uncomfort
ably, and she felt certain kindness II
her tyrant's manner that she had never
| noticed before.
She left him for minute, and re
turned with a paper torn to shreds IL
her hand. Her face burnt feverishly
and her manner was hot and excited.
Edward" she said, this is the paper
that you gave me fortnight ago"
"You have torn lt!' said he, aftel
bending to discover what 1t was. 81
does not matter; you can have another
copy"
But tore 1t to destroy it. l do no
want to have the money. was goint
to do what l ought not with it,
1T was only copy, Daisy" he sai(
gently. Your lawyer has the rea
deed. The money is your own, and yo1
cannot get rid of it."
Il was going to get rid Of it," sh
sobbed. 81 was going to give 1t t.
Charles without your knowing. Yol
see cannot be honest; there is some
thing in the blood"
Poor Daisy" he said, in voice o
pity. you cannot learn to trust me
and l cannot torture you any further
You shall be free altogether, dear. Yo1
need not fear any talk or scandal.
will arrange that no blame falls upol
you. Ny aunt will take care of you. D
not make over that money to any one
Daisy; let Charles have the interest
you like, but keep the principal in you
own hands. You may want it."
He kissed her hand, drew off tn
splendid ring that had marked the er
gagement, and left her far too niue
bewildered to know what had befalle
her.
All night long Daisy lay awake
thinking and weeping and praying. EV
erything was a puzzle to her-Edwar
most of all. Since the first day they ha
met they had been foes; she had take
no pains to disguise her enmity, an
10 I,oI 5opo h 10 4n ppovolSo he