Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-06-19

part Of the way to very large sum
of money"
She shook her head again.
Il have absolutely no knowledge Of
the subject. My uncle never took me
into his confidence" she said; "he
was very uncommunicative where
business was concerned-altho I am
sure that he was fond Of me-" Her
eyes filled with tears, not at the re-
collection of his kindness, but at the
humiliation she experienced at play
ing part in which she had no heart
1t made her feel inexpressibly mean
and small.
THAT is ALL" said Mr. Debenham.
Il shall Sc you at the registrars Of
flee"
She nodded.
May l express the hope" he said.
in his heavy manner. that your life
will be n very happy one, and that
your marriage will prove all you hope
1t will be?"
Il hardly know what l hope it will
be-, she said. YEARLY. as she accom-
panied him to the door.
That good man shook his head sad
ly as he made his way back to his
office.
WAS there ever so unromantic and
prosaic an affair as this marriage.
thought Doris. as she stepped into
the taxicab which was to convey her
to the registrars office? She had had
her dreams. as other girls had,
OF that wonderful day when with
pealing OF the organ she would walk
up the aisle perhaps upon the arm
OF Gregory Harrington, to a marriage
which would bring nothing but de-
light and happiness. And here was
the end of her dreams, a great hefr-
ess and beautiful girl rocking across
London IN a hired cab to q furtive
marriage.
Frank was waiting for Der on the
pavement outside the grimy little Of
flee. Mr.. Debenham was there, and
a clerk he brought with him as a
witness. The ceremony was brief and
uninteresting: she became Mrs.
DouKhton before she quite realized
what was happening.
There is only one thing to do
now, said the lawyer as they stood
outside again on the sunlit pavement.
He looked at his watch.
We had best go straight away TO
the London Safety Deposit. and, il
you will give me the authority, I will
take formal possession Of your for
tune and place ii in the tands Of nv
bankers. think these things had
better he Hono ro~,,l,cl,-'S
The girl acquiesced
Frank was singularly silent during
the drive: save to make some COM
mcnt upon the amount Of traffic in
the streets. he did not speak to her
and she was grateful for his forbear-
ance. Her mind was in n turmoil:
she was married--that was all she
knew-married to somebody she liked
but did not love. Married to a man
who had been chosen for her partly
against her will She glanced at him
out OF the corners of her eyes: IL she
was joyless, no less was he. It was
an inauspicous beginning to mar
ried life which could end who knew
how? Before the depressing granite
facade Of the London Safety Deposit
the party descended, Mr.. Debenham
paid the cabman, and they went down
the stone steps into the vaults Of the
repository.
There was a brief check whilst Mr..
Debenham explained his authority for
the visit, and it was when the OFF,
Gals were making reference to their
books that the party was augmented
by the arrival of Poltavo.
He bowed over the girls hand.
holding 1t a little longer than Frank
could have liked, murmured colour
less congratulations and nodded to
Debenham.
Count Pcltavo is here, I may say"
explained the lawyer, "by your late
uncle's wishes. They were contained
in a letter he wrote to me few days
before he disappeared"
Frank nodded grudgingly; still he
was generous enough to realize some
thing Of this mans feelings II he loved
Doris, and he made an especial effort
TO be gracious to tthe new conner.
A uniformed attendant led them
thru innumerable corridors till they
os-AeAS w - pAiVhtS vault udTOCO ny
stout bars. The attendant opened
these and they walked into a little
stone chamber illuminated by over
head lights.
The only article of furniture in the
room was a small safe which stood
IN one corner. A very small safe in
deed, thought Frank to contain so
large fortune. The lawyer turned
the key in the lock methodically, and
the steel door swung back. The back
of Mr.. Debenham obscured their view
of the safes interior. Then he turned
with an expression OF wonder.
There is nothing here" he said.
"Nothing!" gasped Doris.
Save this" said the lawyer.
He took a small envelope and hand
ed it to the girl. She opened it me-
chanically and read:
Il have, unfortunately, found it
necessary to utilize your fortune for
the furtherance of my plans. You
must try and forgive me for this;
but have given you a greater one
than you have lost, husband"
She looked up.
what does this mean7" she whisp-
cred.
Frank took the letter from her