Mischievous Maid Faynie

n which she found herself; then, as they opened wider, in amazement too great for words, she beheld the figure of a man, half hidden

she would have uttered was strangled upon her lips by the heavy hand that fell sud

to the inevitable-you are my wife-there is nothing out of the way in your being her

uty suddenly dawning upon him; but she shrank from his embrace, and from

disadvantage, she freed herself from his grasp, and stood facing him

are-to imagine even that I could ever have cared for you-to have believed you noble, honorable and-a gentleman. Why, you almost seem to be a different per

violently at these words-but the look of fear in

er little white hand with a gesture commandin

nly when I told you that I had changed my mind about eloping, and instead o

he had the name wrong, but could not think what it was to save his life. "Come, now,

a church, and with a revolver pressed close to my heart-beneath my cloak-forces

, now, none of that, my beauty. You're my wife all right, no matter how much of a fuss you make over it. I want to be agreeable, but you persist in raising

him how you love me, and couldn't live without me and all that-and mind, you put it on heavy-it will end by his saying: 'Youth is youth, and love goes where it is sent. I forgive you, my children; come right back to the paternal roof-consider it yours

e in a ringing voice. "I see it all now-as clear as day. You-you-ha

arth to come in for his gold-couldn't help but be his heiress, you know-couldn't di

he fact that there is some one beside myse

d eyes-despite the brandy he had imbibed he still

aughter!" he cried, in asto

to me-that you hoped they were well," said Fayni

u," and deep in his heart he was cursing the hapless cousin-whom he believed

ttle knowledge of the world as I possess-that you are a fortune hunter-that most despicable of all creatures-but in this instance your dastardly scheme has entangled your own feet. Your well-aimed arrow has missed the mark. You have wedded this night

bound he was at her side grasping her slender wrists

not see that he had power to hurt her, even though she droppe

-disinherited you?" he cried, scarcely

n he had selected for me. That ended the matter. 'Then from this hour know that you shall not inherit one penny of my wealth,' he cried. 'I will cut you off with but the small amount required by law. There is nothing more to be said. You are a Fairfax.

n-heiress!" he cried in a rage so horrible that Faynie, b

iless young girl," she c

terrible volley of oaths, before wh

hrewdest one I've come across yet. You lie when you say you meant to tell me what had happened beforehand, and you know it. But you'll find out at your cost what it means

girl with a bitter

crazed by the brandy he had drunk so copiously-his clinched fist came down with a heavy