Evening star., 1924-04-17
Continued from Yesterdays Starr

Il would to God I could" he cried,
since from your manner l see that
would improve me in your sight. But
there is just sufficient truth in them
to forbid me, as l am, 1 hope, a gem
tleman, from giving them a full de-
niaL Yet in what am / worse than
think husband should come to them
| as one whose youth has been the
youth of cloistered nun? Heaven
knows I am not one to draw parallels
| twixt myself and any other, yet you
| compel me. Whilst you deny me, you
receive this fellow Blake-a London
| night-scourer, broken gamester who
has given his creditors leg bail and
he may close the door of the debtors
| Jail that's open to receive him."
This is unworthy Of YOU" she ex-
| claimed, her tone indignant-so indig-
nant that he experienced his first
TT would be were his rival he
answered quietly. But 1 am not.
have saved you from becoming the
prey of such as he by forcing you to
marry me-"
That I may become the prey Of
| such as you, instead" was her retort.
He looked at her a moment, smiling
| sadly. Then, with pardonabie self
esteem when we think of what man.
| ner of man it was with whom he now
| compared himself, Surely" said he,
lit is better to become the prey Of
the lion than the jackaL"
TO the victim 1t can matter little"
she answered, and he saw the tears
| gathering in her eyes.
Compassion moved him. It rose in
arms to batter down his will, and in
| weaker man had triumphed Mr..
Wilding bent his knee and went down
| beside her.
| II swear" he said impassionedly,
that as my wife you shall never
honor ID by all men, but by none more
| deeply than by him who will ever
strive to be worthy of the proud title
of your husband" He took her hand
and kissed it reverentially. He rose
and looked at her. Tomorrow" he
| said, and bowing low before her went
| his way, leaving her with emotions
that found their vent in tears, but
defed her maiden mind to understand
them.
| The morrow came-her wedding
day---a sunny day of early June, and
Ruth, assisted by Diana and Lady
Horton, made preparation for her
made preparation for the scarold, de-
| termined to show the world brave
serene exterior. The sacrifice w16
| necessary for Richards sake. Tha&
| Yet it would have been some comfort
to her to have had Richard at her
! side; it would have lent her strength
to have had his kiss of thanks for
the holocaust which for him she was
making of all that a woman holds
most dear and sacred. But Richard
| was away-he had been absent since
| yesterday, and none could tell her
| where he tarried.
With Lady Horton and Diana she
took her way to ST. Mary's Church at
noon, and there she found Mr. Wild
ing-very fine in suit of sky-blue
satin, laced with silver-awaiting her.
| And with i'm was old Lord Gervase
scoresby, his friend and cousin, the
very incarnation of benignity and
For wonder Nick Trenchard was
| not at Mr.. Wilding's side. But Nick
had definitely refused to be of the
party, emphasizing his refusal by
certain choice reflections wholly un-
flattering to the married state.
only witnesses--and little did they
guess the extent of the tragedy they
were witnessing. There was no music
| and the ceremony was brief and soon
at an end: The only touch Of Joy, of
choice blooms with which Mr.. Wilding g
had srhothered nave and choir and
altar rails. Their perfume hung heavy
as incense in the temple.
who giveth this woman to be mar
ried to this man?" droned the par
sons voice. and Wilding smiled def
antly a smile which seemed to answer
him, mo man.. have taken her for
myself"
Lord Gervase stood forward as her
sponsor, and as in a dream Ruth felt
her hand lying in Mr.. Wilding's COOL
firm grasp.
The ecclesiastic's voice droned on
his voice hanging like the hum OF
some great insect upon the scented
air. It was accomplished, and they
were welded each to the other until
death should part them.
Down the festooned nave she came
0n na ianL .,ip.r,. a. Sar S.ar
Behind followed her aunt and cousin
and Lord Gervase. On Mr.. Wildings
aquiline face a pale smile glimmered
like a beam OF moonlight upon tran
quil waters, and it abode there until
they reached the porch and were sud
denly confronted by Nick Trenchard
!red of face for once, perspiring, ex-