The Unknown Bridegroom OR, THE MYSTERIOUS WEDDING RING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 330, 21 January 1911, Page 7

The Unknown Bridegroom OR, THE MYSTERIOUS WEDDING RING.

(All Uights jßeser.vcd,)

By the Author of "Stella,"- ''Two Keys," Etc., Etc.

PART 23. For a mil minute ho was speechless : lie wits trying- to subdue the wrath thai was virgin;;- within him like a tempestuous sea, that he might calmly as he played his last card. At last he turned his face full upon her. "Finn-nee," he said, "T was hoping" you would let yourself be won—;a) lea-.1. in appearance —and then ; ihat secret marriage could for ever i emain n secret. We could have h:id a grand wedding. and you could iiavc : lakin your place here in a becoming i Mii'iiiirr. even though n second eere- ! mony would really be but a lai'ce : | lor \o'i are already my wife, and vou know it. if the world does not." Floreii now determinedly roilfr( nted hi in. her figure drawn proudly erect, and all sentiment, in connection with the coward before her meiy. d into scorn. lfvlS. "I am not your wife. Sir Walter ' 1 .eight 011. " she said. in tones \ibraiii v. ith indignation, "and if what von iust said was intended as i it threat To loerce me into comply- ! iirr v, iih \ our wishes, you will lind th.it \on have made a great, mis- ! t:ie. 1 was never married to urn, ; alt Jiotiv li 1 confess 1 believed myseli ! to iu> \ o'tr wife for a few short, minute-. until all that dreadful farce was o\er and I turned and looked into ihe eyes of that stranger who ! mid beside me. and who in some' ! unac omit able way had managed to | take y our p'a e. Kven now 1 can- ! not understand it—how or why you | were not there, and how he could i have deceived every one in the way he did —or what could have been his object. It is all a terribly tantalizing mystery," she concluded. her voice full of pain. "Florence, you ate' still deceiving vouiself. even as you were deceived that night. In the gloom and tempest, i m eloped to my eats in & mackintosh, is it strange that I appeared unnatural or like a stranger to you the man returned, with snioolh-t ongued falsehood. ' "You know that is false." retorted I the girl, passionately. "Once bei fore yon argued in the same way ' and tried to claim me ; but such -uiblerfug ■ is useless. I am not \ vour wife, and I will not be driven into a iinion wit'i you.'' "Florence, you are. . mad to take ' >uch a stand." returned her Compan- ; ion. in cold, metallic tones, "for 1 have incontestable evidence to prove Ihat our marriage was a strictly

lc-ii-al one." ■ "What is yuiir e\ idenee ?" haugh-

; tily demanded the girl. ! "I ha\e the certificate, duly filled' \ out and sinned l.y t lie cleegy man vh,, | od'icial.'d. mid 1 can produce three 1 wit Hisses who will swear that they saw yo;i married to me," Sir Walter I calmly replied. : A great shock agitated Florence i from h. ad to foot at this assertion. Now she understood why Anna I'olI pom v. as at the Towers, and a numj her of things had recently occurred ; to cause lvr to feel that (he girl ; was \\alrhm.t? and spying- upon her ; movements. I Slv also comprehended why sh". >vith her guardian and his wife, had I heen invited in visit the Towers. I The man had imped thai , on.-e unI der his roof, lie could bring such a j preponderate.-!' <>f influence end <-vi- ! .lence to hear upon her that she i would he browbeaten into sulunis- | sion to his will. r j "Who are I hoe witnesses?" she I .piest ioned. imperiously. "One j s Albert llaydeii. the young ! man v. ho drove you to the church : .h" o her i wo —\ on Know them well j , —are Addison T. Merrill and Anna i j Folsom," raid Sir Walter, quietly. i | ".Mr. lia.\ den 1 could not identiI I V, for I diil not ewe ha\e a I j glimpse of his face : but I am fully | ' iiware thai both Mr. Merrill and ! j Anna Know iha! I was not. married j | ;o \o:i." I'.nnly rejoined Florence. I j "dhc.v will all swear to the fact, ! : never! heless," retorted her conipani ] i-n. in a warning' tone. I j "Yon ai'e o\ei'-confidenl. Sir \\ al- ! | ,i-r I.eighLon." she shot, back v. ith ! | scornful emphasis. 'Mr. Merrill j las himself fold me that he knows ; j to the contrary—that he would swear J ] o 1 lie fad ." I "Vis. Ted has a rather convenient. ! •on'.ci. iii-i', I admit." said the young i j nan. in e.u indifferent tone. "Tidis ; | .in'l al •'-a.\ s lies he, n «,n i he look- ; ! .mi o.- I h • ino-n -I s of number one. ■ ! .mil there might have been circuin- '. ! -nali'es under which he would have | I -worn as y oil a ssert : but jusl at j pins' til he is prepared lo take his j oath that he was oiv of the three ; witnesses to o'.ir marriage." Florence's heart sank for a moment nl this. Too well she recalled her last interview with Addison Merrill and his parting- words to her. ! ' He had said : I "Mark my words, I will make you I rue the day and hour as long as you i li\e. I your secret, even ! though you think you have guarded ! it so sacredly- that no on;; suspects i it ; you love that haughty beggar. • ; Carrol, btii he shall never win you. : ! and foi' your scorn of me I swear ! | that you shall drag out your life ■ | in a I onde.ge so bitter that you j i will pray to die." '■ ; And this was what he meant —that j i heiuiiKe of her "rejection of him he ' | would revenge hims,ilf upon her by j J espousing Sir Walter's cause, and so ! | reduce her to a Utter bondage, in--1 deed, by swearing' that she was alj : ready the baronet's wife. ■ j The faithless Anna, she did nut i I doubt, would not hesitate ),, ,„•,- j ■ jure her-, '!f f,,r a proper consideruI ; t ion. while as for 1 lay den. ( h..' r.i h"r ! : wii ne~-. a l l In nigh she In ,y\\ not In n'.:' ! ' of him. -1... presumed Ihai 1,.- was of { the -;ii!ii' cliaiacler as the iv-t oi I Ih-m. ,|:,.,.|i hj, i-. e>. 'ei a 1 I hi- seemingly de,p,.i in e |,o|.,i . and le-r hand in \ np-iii aril: l \ ■■id up to I ha' ''h : ' iu w h."i i. .-he .-■> Pu.g worn round j her lack end upon which thai i»tuI liar ring hung- suspended, while there,

was an extiliaiu not" iu her tones lis she exclaimed : ••You cannot prove it. all the same. If yon married me that night in llosedale chape', when; u- the ring with which you wedded me? I>e--crib' it—how it, was narked"" A light laugh rippled easily over the baronet's lips. "\\ liero is vour wedding ring, I'l.. ronce ?" lie repeated. "Wei!, we knew you had one. bu; whe> - o you keep it 1 am not prepared to say. Hescribe it ? Certainly. It is not the conventional wedding ring, but a curious little relic that belonged to my mother. composed of three strands braided togel her. and fastened with a small plate, upon which there are engraved some Creek characters which mean ' l.ovo and hope.' You will ask me why 1 used such a ring instead of the usual plain circlet. I had provided myself with such a ring, all properly marked, but in the hurry and excitement, of being so detained, I forgot to lake it with me that night and never once thought u f it until the clergyman called for it. AI first I was appalled : then remembering 1 lie little heirloom which I alwavs carried with me. I ventured to use it as a substitute, thinking I could replace' it with the real wedding ring later. Now. are you satisfied? Have I at la-st proved my position to you ?" ho concluded, in a. voice of triumph. CHAPTER XXVIIT. "Oh '" moaned Florence. in a voice of agony, while she reeled dizzily under this stupendous blow, which seemed to dash every prop from beneath her. Could it be possible, she wondered, that, she had been mistaken after all— that Walter l.oighton had really sloiul beside her that night, instead of a stranger, and that she was legally his vv he ? How otherwise could lie have known ;,n.\ thing about the ring which sh" had believed no one on earth knew she possessed? How could he havo known about the characters engraved upon it ? Had her brain really been halfturned by the illness which. even then, must have been coming upon her. as lit' had declared so long ago. and t has her lever fancy had mistaken In'in for a :-t ranger ? Was she indeed doomed to serve out a bitter bondage as the wife of a man whom she felt she now loath-l-'or the few seconds while Uv'se thoughts soothed madly through her I rain she was appalled—almost in despair. Then the memory of those dark brown eyes into which she had looked on that dreadful night returned to her, and calni'd her with a. strange feeling of sucurity. She knew she was not Walter I.eight oil's wife in spite of all. "Florence, forgive me ! I did not want to -coerce you !" Sir Walter exclaimed, breaking in upon her musings. "Why cannot \ou comelo me willingly? Hive yourself to me and 1 will spare no effort to make your int ure lhe brightest and happiest a woman has ever known."

"You already have tn.v answer. I am not ,\o'ii' wife. I will never lie known as such." Florence proudly returned. ••Then 1 shall claim you publicly. I will see Mr. Si/aver, reveal our secret, and demand that he use his authority to compel \ou to assume vour rightful position." '•Fortunately I am <>i' ai;'<'. and my I guardian has no power to compel me to anything, even were he a man to lend himself to any such cowardly scheme as 'you propose." retorted Florence, with icy hauteur. " And were 1 imFed hound to you as you I a'.iirm—were I doomed to wear fel- j let's that { must always hale, at least after this hd •■■v\ iew— 1 would j not live here a t Worthing Towers, j grand as it is. one hour as your j Wife." j Sir Waiter was amazed al litis -ipiriied outburst, but lie gravely re- j marked : I •'1 will ghe .vou until '.he end of this wtek to relent and retract, j Florence: then if vou continue to j be obdurate I shall seek an interview \ with Mr. Sea\er." j "You do not need to give me one j hour, Sir Walter l.eightou." the lair j girl returned, loltiiy. "I will myself tell my guardian the whole story this very night, and to-mor- i row I shall return to London. -Vow | leave me. if voir please" "Mm. Florence" j "I will not listen to another word from \o.it. Co .' go !" she commanded, facing him with an air and 1001-l he dare not obey. lie piniifl from her. his pa'e lips trembling with emotion as he uttered n last \indictive snarl and threat. ••I swear I wiil claim you before j i lie world! The public prints shall ring with the story of that- roman- | tic elopement ! " Florence d ; d not deign a reply, but stood like a statue until lie had passed beyond her sight, round 1 he corner of t he Towers. ■•■■ Heavens, how could I ever nave been so blind as to think I loved him—so rash as to have yielded to Ids entrains for. a secret marriage ?" she murmured, a shiver of repugnance. She turned again, and placed two or three times over the u/lass walk, and then was on the point of going in to seek Mr. Seaver. when she espied a iiother figure coming towards her from the opposite direction. Her first impulse was to get. Into the house as quickly as possible, for if the newcomer .should prove to be one of the guests she was in no mood to be social and eiiU'i-l ai niug. Cut she was suddenly seized with a feeling of curiqsity regarding the , man. for there seemed 1 o be. even i n that dim light, something familiar about his figure and bearing. She paused as he drew nearer, ami then in a low. musical voice observed, and speaking with evident cant ion : "Pardon, senorita. but will you I kindly inform me if the Senor Seaver is still u H'lesl at Worthing j Towers V" Florence recognised the voice insiaull.v . "All." she exclaimed, in a I one of p|. asei| surprise. "I cannot be mistaken. You are the gentleman who -o i,ra\elv e a me fo 11i.v rescue (>n the : Hi L'h i of •' he pal masipie in I tome. : I am ver\ m!;kI of this opportunity oiir." i-i-t urie-d t lie \ oung man. bow- j ing low. "1 trust .-he will pardon j ni'j for addressing her so uuccamon-

iotisly. although when x spc/ke 1 kd.jx-?. hoi' not ; but if I could sec the Senor SeaviT for a few moments without Inning my presence made Known here it would lie a great favour"' •'1 think T can manage it for,von." : Florence cordially returned. " Jhil before I go in I would like to tell you that we have sol veil, or think we have, the mystery of that attack upon me in the grounds of the palace." "Ah !" said August Castaldi, with a slight start. "Yes, we are quite sure it was the plot of a eertaij. V.'oinan, who was in Koine at that time, and who had been guilty of a great wrong against a young girl. .She mistook me for that young girl who so strangely resembles me, and who is really my cousin" "Ah, senorila, your cousin !" cried the young "Mexican, in a voice that was scarcely audible from emotion. "Yes, Monica King is my cousin, and" "Monica is ! Then she lives ! You have seen her. perhaps. Vott can tell me v.here to find her. for I have sought her everywhere,"' August panted, incoherently, a nd in shaking lows. "You have soght her everywhere!'' exclaimed Florence, amazed. Then a sudden inspiration seizing her. she added, with a joyous ring in her voice: "<'an it be possible that you are Senor Augustine Castaldi '.'" "Yes. senorita. that is my name ; Inil. <>h. tell me. pipa.se," the young man pleaded earnestly. "Yes. Monica is alive and well," Florence began. "Heaven be praised!" he interposed in such a tone of relief and joy thai his companion instant ; .v comprehended the situation. Sh" read the secret which he had guarded so faithfully for years, anil hjving already suspected Monica's affection lor him. she told herself that a evrv pretty little love story would doubtless follow this rather romantic interview. "Where is the lady '.' Pray tell me where to find her ?"' August concluded, huskily. "She is here at Worthing Towers with me," Flori nee replied. "T was so shocked and unnerved by that attack on me thai I insisted upon leaving liome immediately, and, strange as it may seem, Monica and I met on the train, both on our way to Paris. If was a startling meeting, for we had never .seen each other before—in fact, nailher knew of the existence of the other, and as we came suddenly face to face, it was almost like meeting one's own ghost." She gave him a brief account of their journey, their visit in Paris, of Mr. Seaver's interest in Monica, and their plan to keep her with them until every effort had been made to recover her fortune. "Ah, senorita, I must have been sent here by the gootl (iod !" August burst forth when she concluded. "I was by accident that I learned tinSenor Seaver was a guest at Wo. thing Towers ; but knowing thai, lie is an American, and as I possess a great deal of knowledge regarding the Senorita Monica's affairs, and those of the scoundrel who has wronged her. 7 made oold to come here to seek his counsel and help." "Well, you shall see him immediately. Come with me" Florence began, when the young man interrupted her. "Pardon, senorita, but tiie interview must be very secret," he said. "Sir' Walter Leighton knows me. lie was very attentive to Miss Inez King in lioiiic and also in Paris. It was surmised at one time that he would marry her : and if he should learn that r am here to seek advice of the American lawyer, he might feel justified in communicating the fact to Carl King and his daughter."

A great tremor vil. rated along Florence's every nerve ;>s she listened to this, and her partially-allayed wrath against Sir Walter Leighton was augmented a hundredfold. Thai he should amuse himself, with a woman like Inez King '"or months. and even while seeking' to win her to he his wile. was. she felt, an unpardonable insult to her.

liitt it was only for a moment that she allowed the thought to disturb her; the next, she was replying" to her companion. "Very well. SenO.r L'astaldi. i will arrange for you to see Mr. Seaver privately." she said; then inquired, insinuatingly : "Tmt would you not like to set Monica also '? I am sure she would lie greatly disappointed to miss seeing you. She has wondered why she did not hoar from von in reply 1.0 her letters. .Shi.' has grieved"— ■ — "(Irievc (1 ■> Letters? Senorita. I have received no letters," cried the young" Mexican, in sfrangely-agilat ed tones. "Ah. yes, if J might but see her for oven five minutes." "You shall," said Florence. "There is a little summer.house on the lawn. a short way down the avenue"— — •'Yes, 1 passed it as I came." interrupted 'August, eagerly. "Well, go lliere, and I will bring Monica to you within ten minute.-.. When she returns to the, house 1 will send Mi". Seaver to you." "Thanks — thanks. I am wry grateful to you, senorita. J will go fit ojK'e ;" and the fondly-impatient fellow faced abruptly about and walked back towards the little sum-mer-house of v.liioii Florence had spoken, while she sped around to a side entrance to the Towers, where, passing quietly in, she began to look for her cousin. She did not feel like facing the company in the drawing-room just then, so sent a servant to see if Mis.s King was there ; but the man soon returned, saying he could not find her. .i{turning- lightly upstairs, Florence went straight lo Monica's room and tapped upon the door. A low "Come in" answered her. and, entering, she was astonished to see her cousin standing by a panel, from which she had swept aside Some heavy curtains, in a listening altitude, a strangely intent expression on her face. "Hark !" she whispered, and holding up a warning linger as she saw her cousin. Florence listened, but shook le-v he a d to indicate tnat she could hear nothing, and presently Monica coil* tinned : (To be Continued).