A Terrible Secret

leaps forward and tears his fainting wife out of the grasp

"stand back, or by the living Lord I'll have your li

to have two husbands. You're a magistrate and ought to know. Don't call names, and do keep your temper-vi

Inez answers, her b

understanding here. Keep your temper, baronet, and let us clear it up. I married Miss Ethel Dobb in

was ghastly with rage and fear. Ethel lay like one dead; Juan Catheron

oonlight alone' business-you know the programme yourself. The time came to part-Ethel to return to school, I to sail for the China Sea-and the day we left Scotland we went into church and were married. There! I don't deny we parted at the church door, and

eviving,"

brother for a liar of old, but what if this were true? what if her vengean

l mechanically drank. Then the blue eyes ope

" she said. "Wha

with a cry of fear, a shudder of repulsi

with flashing, defiant eyes at his enemy; "this coward has told a monstrous f

this business, you know. What does Sir Victor mean by calling you his wife? It isn't possible you

or Heaven's sake speak! The sight of this fellow-the sound of hi

," said Ju

face and kindling eyes; "It is a monstrous lie. Victor! O,

years ago in Scotland? Look at this picture; it's yours, isn't it? Look at this ring on my little finger; you gave it to me, did

, timid, she had yet a spirit of her

small, fair-haired lioness,

usband, "hear me and forgive me if you can. I have done wrong-wrong-but I-I was afraid, and I thought he was drowned. I wanted to tell you all-I did, indeed, but papa and mamma were afraid-afra

on, "truth is mighty an

e whole truth, and n

at fifteen know of love? The day I was to return home, we exchanged pictures and rings, and he took me out for a last walk. He led me into a solitary chapel, and made me join hands, and pledge myself to be his wife. There was not a soul in the place but ourselves. As we left it we met papa. We shook hands and parted, and until this hour I have never since set eyes o

wed into silence even the easy assurance of Juan Catheron. H

nly fault was in not telling me l

air, walked over, and

y of my name for three thousand pounds. I turned you out of Catheron Royals and let you go. I hold that forged check yet. Enter this house again, repeat your infamous lie, and you shall rot in Chesholm

stood and looked at him, his admirable good-humor unr

, she won't, but I say again it's deuced shabby treatment. Because, baronet, that sort of thing is a marriage in Scotland, say what you like. I suppose it's natural she should prefer the owner of Catheron Royals and twenty thousand per annum, to a poor devil of a sailor like me; but all the same it's hard lines. Good-by, In

dly and forgiving nod, flung his wide awake on his blac

t inhospitable lot I ever saw-never so much as offered me a glass of

He looked back at the li

ll-such a molly-coddle as he used to be. Of course her being my wife's all bosh, but the scare was good fun. And it won't end here-my word for

ilver shone, rare wines and rich fruits glowed. But a skeleton sat at the feast. Juan Cathe

e kissed him now. She had lost all, wealth, position, and the man she loved-this girl with the tangled yellow

his seat at the table. Ashen pale, trembling and frightened, Ethel sa

t up a dismal cry, so shrill as to penetrate even to the distant dinner-room. Lady Cat

. She lingered in the nursery for over an hour. Somehow by her baby's side she felt a sense of peace and safety. She dreaded to m

hought, "to find in my husband's house my rival and enemy, whose first look, whose first words are insults. She is mistress here, not I. And that fatal folly of my childhood come back. That horrible man!" She shuddered as she sat alone. "Ah,

usk of the chamber the little half-hidden white figure ca

w open? Come away immediately-yo

y coldly as he had neve

to him with

, forgive m

see her weep was torture, to see her suffer, misery. She had never been dear

truth and innocence, stainless as a lily, white as an angel. And to think that another man

nees before him and he

sob, and her head l

. And after we were married, and I saw you jealous of every man I looked at-you know you were, sir!-I was more scared than ever. I thought Juan Catheron was dead. I never wrote to him. I had returned all his letters. I thought I had de

e sweet, pleading face uplifted, the big blue eyes swimming in tears, the quivering lips, th