The Masked Bridal

t she was that little baby who had been born in Rome-that child of shame whose father had so heartlessly deserted it; whose mother, her brain turned

o blight, as with a lightning

rew herself upon it, utterly wretched, utterly hopeless. For hours she lay there i

, that she was not the daughter of those whom

diately after their marriage, and had spent

and she now realized that the letters which she had j

e secret, and that is why she had been so anxious during her last

had not destroyed them immediately upon adopting her, and

nless she chose to disclose it; nevertheless, she felt just

nt, whose eyes had only the day before told her, as plainly as eyes could speak, that he loved her, while her heart had thrilled with secret joy ov

strains of soothing music to her, and she had looked forward to her return to the young lawyer's office as

could never be anything to Royal Bryant-he could never be an

, who gave her sixty dollars for it. She reserved articles she presented to her stanch friend, Kate O'Brien. These matt

ice, expecting to behold there the radiant face of Edith. To his great disappointment, she was abs

am now entirely alone in the world. I find that circumstances will not permit me to return to your employ, and when you receive this I shall have left New York. Pray do not think that because I do not see you and thank you personally before

rely

Alla

n. He stated that he wished to consult the young lady upon a business matter and that if Mrs. O'Brien should learn of her address, it would be considered a gre

ation. When the train reached New Haven, feeling faint, for she had

sandwiches, together with a little fruit

e-looking, richly-clad couple who were

her boot caught upon the threshold, and she would have fallen heavily to the platform if E

t, for she turned very white and a sha

ith inquired, while her husband, springing to her aid,

e you don

man replied, as she leaned heavily

dropped as she stumbled, and followed the couple to the train, where, wi

ommon passenger coach in which

he gentleman, as, supporting his wife with on

n?" he inquired, looking ba

do not belong i

ng the bag along, if you will be so kind," h

t one end of the car, where madam sank heavily in

she pleaded, thrustin

ull of sympathy, dropped upon her knees and began to unbutton the boot, w

nt, and the young girl started to her fee

ss you have friends aboard the train to be troubled a

ed, and flushing slightly, as she encountered the g

s face lighted

to remain with my wife?" he inquired. "I am perfectly helpless, l

reat relief and safeguard if she could complete her journey under the protection of these prepossessing pe

educe the inflammation, she was questioned by her new acquaintances, and informed them of her recent bere

the alcohol whe

l you, please?" she remarked, signifying that she did n

suddenly cried out, in a voice of pain, as the woma

e lady, trying to smile reassuringly into the girl's startled face. "So your name is Edith All

ect her regarding her name; t

gain; she had a right to use only the first half of her surname, if she chose, and it would no

d to let the matt

pt the position of traveling companion to her, at a salary of twenty-five dollars a month. She stated that about a month previous she had

th; "then," she added, "if I meet your requ

t. And now, Edith-of course I am not going to

sed Edith, with a charmi

were formally introduced to you. My husband is known as Gerald Goddar

ng thus of herself; why she should have shot that quick

ndency to curl; her eyes were of the same color, very large and brilliant, and rendered peculiarly expressive by the long raven lashes which shaded them. Her complexion was a pale olive, clea

ening reception, she thought her the most b

Gerald Goddard, when she was startled to find him sharply scrutinizing he

and repulsion; and she found herself hoping that she would not be obliged to see very

was almost white and his face somewhat lined-whether from

ed as a remarkably handsome and distinguished looking man, who entertaine

n to be either trusted or loved, even though she had not been an hour