The Unknown Bridegroom OR, THE MYSTERIOUS WEDDING RING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 326, 7 January 1911, Page 7

The Unknown Bridegroom OR, THE MYSTERIOUS WEDDING RING.

(All Wight? fJ.-j-Tvcn.)

[)y tlio Author of "SUM!a," "T«'o Kc.s," Fie., Lie.

r.\i!T t.). * * III! t v.'a s tli • •i*'.' iio one lo whom could appeal at. the time ot your lath. r's death lo manage your aifaiis t iurn <1 t'l'" gentleman. "If papa's lawyer, Mr. Appleby, had been at home, 1 tiling everything would have V.et'n different." replied Monica : "hut lie was abroad at that time, and still way lie. Hut t'ousin t ai l whs so kind and thoughlfid, apparently. while I was so confused and crushed by papa s death, 1 did nut (in-e dream of treachery. My lirst awakening to the fact was when, as 1 was beginning to recover from that fever in Or. Flint's sanatorium, 1 overheard a conversation between him and the nurse which opined my ryes to the truth.

"And \ou say your cousins are now in Koine '■*" "I know that Inez is there, for I met her one day not long ago in a i shop. Her father I have not seen. ! i was so frightened after meeting | Inez 1 rarely left the house. ! "Tilde I'obert," said Florence, turning' to him, "do you remember that brilliant-looking girl who represented the (ioddess of Night at the masquerade ball ?" "Yes. She wore a train about six yards long, which was carried by a couple of pages, a nd I never saw .so i many diamonds on any one in my life." Mr. Seaver answered. "Well, that was Miss Inez King." : Florence observed. "Good heavens!" cried the man. i bringing his hand down upon his knee with a resounding slap. ' I believe I see through the whole thing n,ow ! She believed yon to be your cousin. Monica, and she planned that assault upon* you that night. "Uncle. 1 believe you are right !" exclaimed Florence, with a shudder at the remembrance of that horrible experience ; "and that train of heis was what wits used to smother me. I recall now the leeling of velvet, and I noticed it, too. afterwards, on the arm of the voting man who rescued me. Oh, do you suppose her pages were those two awful men ?" "1 should not be at all surprised," replied Mr. Seaver, with sternlycompressed lips. "Then, of course, .Miss Inez King planned the whole scheme, and lam triad we came away from Home when we did." said Florence, with a. i of infinite relief. "And if I had known what 1 knownow. I would rather ha\e remained : and fought the battle out with that scheming woman and her rascally : father," her guardian vehemently returned. Then, observing Monica's puzzled face, he smilingly added : : "Our other ward thinks we are talking enigmas. Tell her the siory, ; dear, while I p;o to have a smoke." The "oilier ward' - looked up at him ; with a quick flush and smile' oi gratitude at being thus gathered so kindly under the protection oi the whole-hearted man. who nodded cor- ; ilially in return a.s he passed out of ! the room.

cn.w'TKi: x\nr. A T.OYKK'S ('OWAIUM.Y THREAT. i.aler in the day Florence had a Ioiil;' mid cont'dent ial ta'k with her ouardian. telling him Si l '' - plans i'C" o-iiraiiip,' her cousin, and Iho man seconded Hi "in most heart ;I\", promising also to do his utmost to h"l|> lhr> wronged girl recover her fortune und 1 I'iiiLj her persecutors to jusi ice.

On their arrival in Paris 'Mr. Seaver took. rooms in the Avenue de I'Opcra, and after starting Mrs. Sidney's maid fa!>!.v ol'f on her way to Kng'land, Florence and Monica gave themselves up to the enjoyment of the sigh's and g'.'i let ie.s around them. Meantime Waller I.eighton was paying' diligent, attention to Miss Inez King'. to ma-e up for past remissness in ih : s respect. 'l'he lady a f his lovu l.einjr beyond liis reach 'or the time lieing". ho reasoned that ill.Mr co'iid be no harm in his enjoyin.;;' himsell' with the l'i'iliant heiress, while il would be l'ar ji.leasanter to hav;. a conv'"nial companion during' til'. 1 r»rni\ a! then -to be wandering about by himself.

A couple of days after the departure of the Scavers, as he was passing' down the t'orso. Sir Walter iiuldenly came upen his old friend Ted .Meri'ill.

Tin' two men greeted each other with an appearance of great cordiality. and \i t each was conscious of a feeing uf unusual constraint.

; Sir Waller had been secretly liur--■ing n grudge against, his former friend ever since learning that lie had presumed to aspire to tin." hand of Florence, while .Merrill himself • t>:i 111 not fail to experience a feeling Df fi.ili 11. for having 1 trespassed upon ! ihe'rights of Leighton. "Well, well, Merrill, who would i h a ve thought thai Jon a nd I would meet here in Rome ? What have yau been doing with yourself (luring the lust eight months 7" Sir Walter ' inquired, with some semblance of 1 .oiiliality, i\h lie turned about lf> walk with the young man. "()h. I have beta travelling over {t

good part of Kurope with a most ; tsi■! i g 111111 i parly, and, by tlte way, \\ alt "i 1 , I. lie Sea vers and their pretty ward were among the number." Jlel'rill relurneil. thinking lie might as well lie fiank about hi,-- movements. "I'm ' Sn I have understood," •;;,i(i Sir Waller, drily. Merrill slai'ted. and changed colour at the tone as mtieh as at the. ivord."Ah." he returned, reorwriug himself after a moment. "perhaps \ou have seen them recently "Yes," t-aid iiis companion, with , irritating bre\ily, "Are they .still &S lloiiic '•?" "Nil : they Ivt'l for I'aris the da\ iit'foiv yesterday. They're uii their a \ Inline ".I (>'. e, [ 'in surry to hear that ! 1 'ill', C.\ Jieel e(i 1,, lUt't'l 1 hem he!'e,'' . Merrili <>lr-er\ ed, in a dr.-appomtcJ ; t( ■ J! 1 Sir Walter coloured anerily. "I'id \o\i, indeed ?" lie questioned sii'.'eringly. " .Pcai'i. volt think j , .

I'rttli'M' shabby of you, Ted, 10 have been poaeh i 11g u| on my preserves all llie-.r iron' lis "Your preserve.-, ? queried ids companion. W I'll ; | ;-Ce ]1 1 :en ! liltint* I'l liis "\ es ; 1 | e girl is Ihe same as n:\ Wife. ;; 11 i \ o.| I. HOW i! . ill spil ■' 1)1 • lie fact ili;;' thai nun-naif* i'eli through lasi summer, and I '-a\ it iV dou urigh: mean «>i' y.iu lo have skipped i,\er here on On; same vi earner and tried i o eio wd 11 ;0 out: a lid the \ o')11ba i oll ei spoke v, ilh consideral ill' Ilea I . "Well. 1 see that on have had the whole story. Waller, and I may as well own up that I have fallen desperately in hive with the? girl," Merrill confessed. "Indeed !"

"Yes. it's the truth. 1 can't help it, if you are cut up over it, and 'all is fair in love and war ;' so if Florence' Iliehard.-oa will have me I mean to marry her." said Merrill, with a note of defiance in his tones. "And her fortune, you should have added." retorted his companion, a gleam of fury blazing in his eves. "Well. I am willing to admit, that the fortune would be 110 objection." said Merrill. with a disagreeable laugh, "especially as I have been sailing pretty close to the weather since my respected uncle gave me the cold shoulder. This trip will cost me my last dollar unless T can win a rich wife," he concluded, reckless! v.

"Ted. you are getting upon dangerous ground." said I.eighton, who was now while with passion : " and let me tell you you will never win Florence- Uichardson.'* "Yuii appear to 1.-0 very confident about the matter." "I am : l'or she will be my wife in reality before the summer is gone." retorted Leighlon between his tightly-shut teeth. Merrill flushed holly, then paled. ".Nonsense ! T do not believe it ! She shall not he cried, after a moment of silence. Then he continued. more deliberately : "Waller, you and I have been good friends ill the past, and had vour marriage with Miss Uichardson been carried out as von had planned, our relations might have remained unchanged ; but 1 am in dead earn'st about, this matter. After hav ing lie n in her society all these months 1 have learned to love Ivr as a man loves but once in liis life, and I am determined lo win her if I can."

"Then it is lo be v ;ii' between us?" demanded the young baronet, with lowering" brow and fiercely blazing eyes. " Well, perhaps, unless we can be friendly rivals" "Xever!" fiercely interposed Leighton. "You traitor ! And L warn von to beware if you dare to interfere with my prior rights in this manner." "Very well : then war it will have to be." retorted Merrill, as lie wheeled suddenly about- and left his companion to go his own way and nurse his wrath to his heart's content . "What a fool I was fo tell him ih.y- had gone to Paris !'" f.eighton sullenly muttered, as he glared fiercely after his rival. "Hut. .iust as soon a-: the carnival is over I will follow thetn. Curse the fellow ! I never dreamed he would play me such a ■ h ibby trick." lie was not fo overcome by the interview. however, as to permit it to termrc in the least- with his amusement. lie proceeded directly to make a. call upon Inez King, with whom he spent the afternoon, driving out to the Campagnn. and afterwards dining with her at a fashionable cafe.

Morrill, on tlx 1 contrary, and literally, "in (load earnest." as lie had paid, Weill straight, to his hotel, packed his trunk, and took the next express on route lor .Paris. lie travoll.d night and day. and arrived a 1 his destination some ihree davs previous to 'the arrival of the Sen\or party, much to his disappoint 1111 nt. ]le kept ;1 sharp look oul for them, until (hoy 'had horn in t!ie city several days, and then he lost no time in calling upon them. Florence was not very well pleased bv his appearance, for she could not forgot their last interview. and 11i-i a'loil i« n nev.nl of his attentions and importunities. She secretly dospi: ed him for the iliroat he had mad.", hoping thereby to coerce her cor,-out to his proposal, Still, she was a lady, and felt that she must, 1.0 courteous to him. She introduced him to Monica, telhn..: hint how strangely they had met on their way fro:n Home, and by alwa.\s insisting upon her presence wh ii i.e called, she hoped to discourage a renewal of his s:iit. lint"the yotsng man had staked his nil upon winning h ; T, and he could not. be long eluded in t nis way : and one afternoon, when they were all out sight-seeing together, he managed to get himself and Florence separated from the others of the party, and t he;- took instant advantage of his upl 01 Utility,

" .Miss Floivn.v. thai all-important quest i(i|i which L askt d you 1. lie last time 1 saw yon is stiil unanswered." lie began. as i hey turned into a narI'Ow. shaded path. for lhey v.'i'i'c in tin: yard, n of ill.' Tuiller.ies. "1 went lo llomi; hoping to meet you there, liut not finding" >i)ii. came directly to Paris, to learn whether T am to 1)0 happV or wretched during the remainder of my lift', Florence —darling" ! I love you with all my heart and soul. Will you be my wife ?" Florence turned a glance oi' undisguised astonishment upon him. "Mr. Merrill," she began, with a chill in;g dignity that assured him he had nothing to hope lor. ''f confess 1 am ama/.ed that you should renew this subject after my attitude towards you upon previous and similar occasions. I'ut let me say now, once and lor all, that 1 shall never marry von,"

The \ OiiiH'." man Slushed holly beneath her icy e.iimncss of manner and the inflexibility ot her tones. "I cannot lake thai as a linal answer." lie said. "Oh. let me try to w; n you ?'' "It must be final, 1 "' she replied, without heeding his appeal, and so decidedly that he Knew his fate was sia'ed. "And if you persist in forcing" I lie siil> iec! upon me, T shall fee! obliged to request you to discontinue your calls. I would not willitmly wound :-ou, Mr. Merrill," she added, leoi-e ly, •'hut this ques.i 1111 s L n er l ll ' rafeil agai u. Ili.-- fare \\a- almo-t glia.st.ly in its pallor, but it was not caused I\. wounded lo\e. He was bitter!v incensed over tho

fact that a fine fortune was lost i.o him, when he had !-p< nt his all m t),e i trir.pt. i'.i win ii. and now his chagrin sen! ;1 1l the m eanii"ss of Ins ii;)! ure. whiih for so long iv had I;i I(I In eniu'eal, t O Ihe surface. "And \ hat '.s reail.v \ our ultimatum. Mi'-s I!iciiai'i!son ? ' he whispered hoarsely. "Most assuredly, -Mr. Merrill." she hauuhl ily returned.

"Th ii —n) ;i rk my words." he hissed, b nding his lips close, to her ear —"I will make you rue this day and this hour as long' as you live '. .1 know your secret... i veil though you think vou have guarded it so secretly that no one suspects it. ou love that haughty beggar Carrol, but he shall never win you. And lor your scorn of me, I swear that you shall drag out your life in a bondage so bittet that you will pray to die ! Florence drew herself up to her full height, and lifted her blazing eyes to his lowering face. "Sir," she began, with lofty scorn. "1 fail to understand you, but! can dispense with your company at once, and from this moment our acquaintance ceases." They saw r ,o more of Merrill while they were in T'aris. lie disappeared as suddenly as he had come, and Florence was heartily glad to be rid of his presence. Thus time passed very pleasantly and rapidly to our four friends until four weeks slipped by, when they were rejoined by Sir Walter Leighton.

lie had intended to leave Home immediately after the carnival, but Miss King had made so many plans ahead which included him, he found it next to impossible to tear himself away ; while, too, in spite of his ,boasted affections for Florence, he found the gay heiress a companion after his own heart, for she led him a lively dance, and he thoroughly enjoyed himself with her. when he was not hampered by the presence of those before whom he felt obliged to behave himself circumspectly. 1(516. Inez had been greatly upset, over the failure of her plot to capture Iter hated cousin cm the night of the bal masque—for. of course, it was by her orders that the two rascals in the guise of pages had endeavoured to kidnap Monica —and she was in a stale of continual fear that she might any day spring upon her unawares to wrest her stolen fortune from her, for she reasoned that she could have no other object in coming to Home just at that time. When the men who had acted as her pages at the ball appeared to claim her piomised reward for their services, they related what had befallen them just as they were on the point of abducting their victim. They could give no description oi their assailant, however, owing to the darkness and the .suddenness of the attack, and thus the identity of Florence's champion remained a mystery, greatly to the perplexity and annoyance oi Inez.

She artfully questioned Sir Walter and it was through him that she learned that the Weavers had left Home. ****** On his arrival in Paris Sir Walter easily found his friends, and was cordially welcomed by Mr. Heaver and his wife. Florence was not present when lit was first admitted to their apartment, but shortly afterwards she and Monica entered the room together. Sir Walter started to his feet as they appeared, an exclamation of astonishment breaking from him, while he gazed in -perplexity, first at one. then at the other. Rut Florence advanced with a .smile and extended her hand to greet him, and then laughingly observed : "1 see you are puzzled to find a duplicate of myself with us; but that will be explained —in a measure, at least —when I introduce my cousin. Sir Walter Leightoii, allow me to make you acquainted with Miss Monica King."

The young baronexpressed his pleasure in making the \ outig lady's acquaintance, but to himself lie exclaimed :

"Jove, another Miss King! AMiat can it all mean

Later, Mr. Seaver explained that they had discovered Florence's cousin purely l>y accident —that she had been travelling with an Fnglish lady, who had died very suddenly. and Monica and the lady's: maid were returning to Kngland by themselves, wlun the Seaver party had run across their path. The maid had been sent on her way home, but Mon'ca. at the earnest solicitation of Florence, had consented to remain with them.

"1. was not aware that Florence had any relatives ; and how remarkably tliey resemble each other !" Sir Walter musingly observed, anil still feeling curiously unreconcileiPto the name of King. "Yes, the likeness is indeed very striking," said Mr. Seaver, replying to the latter observation, but ignoring his reference to the relationship.

They had all agreed, in discussing Monica's affairs, that just as little its possible should be said about her history, at least, until Mr. Seaver ;-ou!d mature his plans to act against L'arl King and his daughter, and this he could not do until they could hear from August Caslaldi, to whom they had writien again, or gather from Mexico some tangible material to work upon. Their sojourn in Paris \\a; most delightful, and only the pleasant est relations seemed to exist between Sir Walter and Florence.

Ko word of love once escaped the. lips of the young baronet during- the six weeks lie was with them. although he had been most devoted in his attentions to both of the young ladies, who accepted them with the -ame friendly frankness in which (.hey appeared to be offered. It was a bright, charming morning". late in Jhiy, when they finally : turned their faces once more towards ; Fngland. - i!y some means —she could never ; .'.xaclly understand how—Sir "Walter j managed t o get himself and .Florence i separated from the others of their | parly, just as the train was leaving j. I'aris for Calais, and they barely j had lime to get into the last car- : I'iage—the \ oung' mail waving his hat to Mr. Seaver, who was looking hack for them, to show that they I w.-p. all right, when it began to pull ..ml of the sia'-Hiui. (To be' Continued j.