The Unknown Bridegroom

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 309, 5 November 1910, Page 7

The Unknown Bridegroom

(All Ilights Reserved.)

OR, THE MYSTERIOUS WEDDING RING.

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

PART 2

Her niotli.'r had died about a year previous, mid Mr. Richardson, when he .realised lu> could not live, committed her an.l the care of her fortune, lmiil she should liecoine of age. to another trusted friend, who had long condiicied all law business for him —Robert Seaver by name.

Mr. I .eight on was obliged to come to New York to arrange mat ters of business. and he l-ecainc grea'-b attached to Florence during his isit, and fids feeling was fully reciprocated on her part. She was a charming girl, and the man found himself looking forward with fond anticipations to the time when his son would meet and win her. and h- could claim her as a d'-'a*' daughter.

With ihis end in view, he resolved that the two shov.kl meet as early as possible. a n.l lie returned to Australia with the intention of selling out. his own business as soon as he ::o\dd do so with profit to himself. •Alien lie v. ould return to New York, ami once more take up his residence there. "•tit misfortune seemed to pursue him from that moment. (pen his arrival at Sydney he was u-re-ted with the terrible intelligence that his wife had sickened and died eery suddenly only the week pre-

vious. This in it self was a blow from which il would take hint long 10 rally. Inn il was succcodod during the. 'u'iir i'\ loss after loss financially, whifli threatened to leave a poor man and Might ihe prospects of his onlv son ii fortune's wheel did not Joon take » more favourable tui'n. These misfortunes culminated in his own deaih. resulting from a shock of apoplexy upon discovering that a large cargo of uninsured wool had iioen destroyed by fire, and the man cnew this heavy loss would just about wreck his business, for he had depended upon the sale of this wool to meet some heavy obligations that would shortly become dtte. What served to make these circumstances all the more sad was the fact that his son, in whom all his lopes were centred, lay low with a : virulent fever at that, time, the | physicians having positively asscrli.'d"that. his c a se was hopeless—that j he could not possibly rally. I A few months later, and about six ; previous to the opening of our story j Mr. Ilobert Seavor was surprised one I tiav to receive the card of Walter (.'. ' Leigh ton. with a few lines pencilled ! ipon it. requesting an interview with ; him. | He instructed the boy to show his visitor into the olliee, and presently !l\ hiuid.-ome, finely-formed young i man of some twenty-three years prcI -ented himself before him. i At first, the lawyer was favourably i impressed wit h him. He appeared to be very intelligent and well read. was courteous and affable : nay. more —peculiarly fascinating in his manner. Upon learning the young man's story that his father, after a series of misfortunes, which culminated in the loss of mosi of his fori tine, had ilied. Urns blighting his prospects. \nd having him almost penniless. Mr. Se a \er. whose sympathies were j lecdly eniisied. interested himself in | vs behalf, and he succeeded in securing him a position in a bank of ! which he was one of Hie directors. i lion than this, he invited him to ! lis own home, where he introduced 1 | him to his family a nd to his beaut ij i'ul ward, with whom the young m a n | iiroceedcd at once to fall deeply in

I ?ur. Se a ver knew of the compart I'.hirh Ui.' parents of tin.' two young ■cople had entered into years before; I,ul, ji. h :1 (l slipped from hit? mind, and was not recalled until the mis.hief was done, and it became evilent that \o'.mg Feighlon intended lo pn.vs his sail and .secure the | wealthy bride that had -been selected j >ur hi in. | ii,. bitterly regretted Unit ho had not foreseen the result, and guarded lis ward more carefully, especially when it became apparent 'to him lhat. in spite of whatever virtues (Ik \ouiig man might possess, he lad \ei'e"grave >.'ault.s as well: that le vas addicted to the habit- of inS ■ einpiTance, while now and t hen .lie r.- was an e\ idence of tyranny and j into!., ranre of other people's rights ! .Hid <>:>in ; ors that betrayed an "n- ---| i.-r'/bu; s-liishn.'ss that would make ; ill ■'..( nt ie and sensitive girl wretched 1 if she became bis wife. j JJm Florence had ('alien under his j charm, and he. making the most, ot ! his opportunities, eont inued to ! \\ea\e the web of his fascinations ! about her until she grew to believe ! lhat. her happiness lay only in his i keeping, while, too. she fell that she i wa c ai-o earn, ing out the wishes ol ! her father, whom she had idolised. ! and for whom alone she would have i sacrito'd herself, even had her own i he-art not responded to them. ! Coir-e'iuentlv when Waiter Leigh-

! ton told her of his love, and fori niallv asked her to be his wife, she *! nnh. sitalingly pledged herself to him. i Mr. Sravoi- decidedly disapproved ! of I'm' I'liia.s't'nii'iit. In fad • he re- , fused lo renar<l lliein as lovers, say- ! j„..■ !lv,i Florence was I'm' lon vmiii!:' I and had seen too little of the world ! to hind herself hy any promise, and ! he should not giv<-- his consent Ui I am Midi ai'i'an'zeiiient until she had i had at least or.e season in society. ; and was more competent to judge for herself. ! Florence, knowing how truly her I guardian had her interests at heart, I would have cheerfully submitted to ! his wishes, and this attitude on her | part created the fir at disagreement i between the lovers, and th e ic ' J oac ' J | broken, the young man often made i her wretched for days by his jealousy and caprice. Ho began to be less courteous aud careful of her feelings, in many ways betraying his innate selfishness, and upon two or three occasions hail up-

pared in her rdiaiv's errawing-- ] room decidedly under the influence of ! liquor. j Once Mr. Seaver had a long and i .-oniidential talk, with her about it. '•Florence.'' he said, with great tenderness. as he earn..- upon Ivr wee pi ne. from anxiety and mortification, "if you are unhapp\ in your . relations with Walter —ami i think ; you have cause to be—l advise you : to break them off at once. T am sure he is unworrnv of \ our r.-gard. or In.' Would be more considerate oi . your feelings." •'J'»nt 1 really am fond of him, Uncle liobert. and I should miss him i so to give him up : and. besides, papa wanted me to marry him. you know." Florence replied, wiping the tears from her cheeks ami tningio ; smile, aw a.\ her i rout he , "My child, uiiif fatle-r ifwr would have wished yon to be inline.wod I<y his desire if he could have- forc-emi t |.ese roadil ions,'* Nil - the ueiw re- : plv, "I'.i'liexe me. dear, if he w '•'■'<: ' |„.',v io-day. he would be the i-r.-t to warn ymi against one who has . no more res pen for \on than to route into your presence in a partial ; s'ate <!•' in! o.vicai ion and mori ii,v \ on l.iet'or,. \ our friends.'' "<>h. but. .Walter sa.\ s that lit 1 is no : .-! n \e to drink : that In- Ims perfect ; coiiimand of himself, and" "Then why does lie not prove his statement, dear?" Mr. Sea\er intra'- ; posed. "Why il,i« he allow drink I o gel. tlf bet let- o'' him '.' If I MMi ' not,' mis'aken hi? lias been here a

good many i hues w h -n i! w. ould have bi.vii more to his i-i■'•<;'• : >■■ lup-i' remained av. a.\ . I clahu ''• an insult to aii.v voting la<lv —t o sa> nothing about her friends—to present himself before lu'i- willi i lie iain i of lienor in In's breath. Thai, is getting i" be a common occurrence with l.eigh,.on, not to iinntion his unkind 1 realnieiil of \on at. sii'-li 1 inn's. Florence, i wish \on unulil Ih'imK with him altogether." T.l 1. gent hunan i'imicluded. earnestly. "Oh. I—l conidn'i do ilial . I'nele Robert." sighed 1 he gin. with a look of trouble in Ivr e\ es thai, went to his heai't. "W altei- says he couldn't live, without inc. and perhaps he will li,. different when he has a lioin..' and interests of his own. li—l hope my inlluence him will win liim by-aiid-ln-. and—and. I hen, I feel a s if I must, do us pa| a wished, and try (o save the son of his clearest friend." Mr. Si'awr smil-'d sadly at this

sophist r\ . lie realised, as manv tuvolln-r has done that continued opposition only ser\cs lo at'oiee ant a gonism. and the more he ai'gucd against her 'o\er. the mote st rongi.v sm she would be in her dm ermina i ion to stand by him. Hut he could not resist one part ing ad mom i ion. ■■My (tear girl.'" it" said. " li,,|! ' l llat ter v ourself l ha' if > our inlhmnce fails to accomplish what ,um desire while you hold \ our fate in ,\ our own hands it will achieve it when UVI haw sacrifice,l ;. our liberie to one who. 1 mar. will p''o\e a \eritable t.\ rant to vou in the future." He left her then, bill v. itli the secret resolut ion to si ;rv no effort to prevent a marriage which, he hdt uire. would prove most disastrous to the happiness oi 'hi* lo'. ety girl, who had become very dear I o him .luring the year and a half that she had been under It is e ;; re. Ilis own children— ; di saw- his cotingesi son. who was finishing- a luiiui'i'Diii'st! in Hermaue. at- Heidelberg— were married, and 1 i'- ■" -t in lionies of their own. ami Fhrence 1,.,,| i.ee U a verit able sunbeam in h ; s house, which oMierwise would have been dull and lonely. He resolved t ho. t on 1 l',e completion o! her studies that summm- he would lake her abroad. where she would be utterly free from ih • inI'lience oi her ho er. a: d wou'.l pe;-- : hance meet oil, -is who wou d ; -l\e ho- different. !■!■■ as of bee ami per-

haps open her ••;■ es to 1h • -hiring au!;s and import h'ness ~,' i he .i ouii.tr man. When dune ean.e hj" had matured Mini aiinouiiC-f! ; s 'dale-, whereupon o : >ng l.ei ; ;hlo)l. suspecting th'-ir ohleei. had a! 'no '■'■ gan '-<> urge Florence to consent lo a secret marriage. I'or ;! ion-' mite Mm lie! wiMi-iood a !l Ins ,-iit realies. oui a! la-' . as we have seen. his passional" appeals .ro'.eil irresim ibF— ih-y had swept All harriers av. a; and mm her reluctant. con.S'ii' • i'or ■ o:uo w"oo!.s previous lie had -appeared i o mend his ■ourse. and Conducted himself with great cirrumspeei ion ulmn he '■ ;sile<i her. a i the same Mar- Mirowiivr :! n I lier all Hie Pm-muMon " ; which he was nue-ier. mo i 1 the (an .girl Ihn tei'.'d her.-.' 1 ! 1 I'll' h''' 1 jnlluence was having Mie desired epect . md sh ■ I'l'i'n pi'opoiu innately light-lieart'-d and happy. They parted, as related, in tin summer house, where he had appoim-

I'd a secret, meet iiisr—for hj" was delormined I hev should he sulijerted to io interrupt ion—she tvtiirninir toilie lams" J,-, ... haP-dazed frame of mind. Ie to !;.) to arramre iVir Mie (—remoiiy lliai would niiilii' him the unworthy husband of a beaiiMMd and innocent. „-j,-l a,,il the master of u hundred thousand pounds. lie chuckled widi se-crci triumph «s he vaulted li.u-lul> o\ <'r the hedjre at the liat" of Mie summer-house and walked briskly alon.ir the road !>' iiuk'h the Irais I'or eiwu.

"N'mv I "&jX£ fixed jus! to mv niiiiii.' hi' muUt'Wl. showing his white teeth in an t-vi! smile. *-1 .<m t liL-iti ta'<e her abroad, and give 1,,.i- ~ taste of Iho world fur a mw months. Then ! will appear "l' 1 '" I |u.' sa'iic to claim my bride ami the <mndsome fortune I. have won. Ha. hit. my shrewd old lawyer. '*■'-■■"•'■ ■\« ms' will prove wlio has playon <emost sauaeioiiis game : Then when I explode "my bomb I'll Ji'o '» u,v a high old time on ihe ot her side of the f>ond with niv prettv little wile." Poor Violence went straight to he! own room, where she confided to her maid what she had promised t,, do. The u'irl was already in the pay of \oung l.eigblon. and readily lent herself to the plot,, cheering her fair mistress, and painting the future in such bright colours for her thai ere lone, Florence began to look forward to her approaehing nupUals with more serenity, if not positive iov. The remainder of the ila.v Passed swift P. in packing ;iiid making ready for ti,,. morrow's departure, alld when the dinner-hour arrived I'vcrv - body professed to be so weary it. was arranged that they should retire very curly, to get needed rest for their contemplated voyage.

Tt was barely eight o'clock when Mrs. Server and Florence hade Mr. Scorer "Food night" ami repaired to llvir rooms. Mr. S. a.'.er had a couple o; b-t J. Rio writ e. ..ml wen! t,) Ihe librae;, for Ihi-l ompo,e, ,\ i ~ (j.iarter i ,, nine 1- lot'cnce and her maid, who were sit line j n absolute silence ..,,,| darkness, heard him ase, ltd. ihe st aii's and .Miter his own nj-itr, im.iiT . 'fee minutes I*sl ter the tWo t i-embl-ing g'iris stole soitl>- down a liack st niivase and out of a back door.' Imriim the last, hour Ihe night had grown intense!;.. dark: hea\ y clouds had rolled up from tin.' south ami we.-t. v. idle an occasional dash ot Imhtmne. ami one distanl peal "'" ihmi.fr portended an approaching -t ni'iii 1 ockuie •he dee- and i ak'ng ihe N e\ wi; f, her. they sped I own I'd-- the ■ air iiefore mentioned, and upon i-eaehin-.:' ii found i he. promised carina em awa i i iter t hem . ":Miss UichardsOii '.'" cr, i lie inouir\ . in a b>w. ca.ui ions t one. from one of lie- lv. o figures, sitting upon t he dri\er"s bos. "Yes." was il],. tremulous response from Florence. The man sprang to the ground and opened Mm carriage-door. ■■ 1 am Mr- I ."ightoit's friend, whom l,e h-s sent to conduct you to the Kosodaie i 'lmpel." he said, in a rent sm'ii: . \oice. "I think «.' Ulllsl ma'-e haste, however, or va; shall tic rttuu'ht in a siorm."

A -h.arp'-r ea.-h of i pulit ni n-j. :! n<l a loud' r roil of thunder s..'emed to corroborate Ins si ntemenl . ami caused the -iris to spring quickly inside tilvi'liirle. ;,nd in another moment the;, v, ere speedin'-'.' swiftly 011 their wa;. ■•(Hi. lam afraid ! 1 wish I had no' <o ." Panted the trembling !,ri<ie eh el . while she clung coir- ulsi\el\ to her <-oi 11 pa 11 i <ui • "Non-en.-''. Miss i-'loreive I We are net-fed iy safe, am! there is iusi romance riioi>li a 1")')! this al'tair l" make it- cxeit iug." llippalUiy replied the u irl. who was just, unprincipled •iioiieh 10 ei>io.\ such a lark. "'II

isn't ~ bmg drive, and «,' shall pio|u,l,|\ ' get ilvro before the storm nertal.es us. and it' will doubtless be <■*, in. before we come back-"

Nevm-i hcless. the storm did over;vk,. tlr-in, even though the driver iiurrii'il his horses to " the lop of their sored, and broke with terrible i'ur\ 'MM as the eat'riage halted ],.•- • ( ,iv the pretty little church a t Kosehil.-. The girls i|uickl.\ alighted and .uirrmd inside lhe chapel, which was ,11! dimly lighted, near the alt a''. where a clergyman ill: his surplice was awaiting 'ho coming of the bn:lal party. Young I.eighton had not yet put n; in aiipeai'ance. greatly io the disappoint mem ~f Florence and the anm.vance of his friend, who was I" .ict a.s best man. Florence and her maid sal ilnw n. in one of the pews i (1 await the ai'rixal o<' the ' belated bridegroom. while her escort. went, out to the >orch I" watch for him. Here he fell into eonversai ion With ;j,e driver, who was also a friend "f !.eight on's. and during which the> liscussed their escapade, and comnetu. d freel.v iipon the shrewdiv'ss •)!' Ihe adventurer in managing >o wheedle ; , pretty girl into the secret uarriage for the sake <>'.' getting ■oniro! of Iter fori une. Meantime the storm increased m ,-jolence. the sky at times being one i ,h r ei. oi (lame, the thunder almost a

•on! imams mar. and 1 lio r;iiu p<>'""' n U- in torrents. ••Where in iliuiul'.'!' can l.emhton -,,,•)•' ~, |,T,.oih muttered his friend. ;, n ,; poorin.u; "forth into i.iio darkuess wit h ;in\ious e.\ «'s. !lo stood l bus i'or a moment ■ ' I"'" ~, turned ;,nd re-entered Mm church ,\ ii h his . empunion. Almost a i ill'' same instanl a 'all i„-uiv. urn 111. -.1 hi lilt- eyes in a waior,n„»i ni „| rape emerm'd from behind 1,,. piliar near which they n ' 1(1 l "' 1 '" -taii'iiiic ami fol lowed, them. Tin' sound o< his hurried slops •aused Mn' niiii'i's ti> turn shandy wound, thmi om' "I' them exclaimed : •■Thank Heaven, l.eitditon. you ~,'„. ronii' ! llov, did \oti gel K'M' "" ••(in hmsrliai'k. hidn'i vmi hear ai«' •■" was i In' brief response. ■■N„ : tliis deuced storm (Viviens ~,\ s.mnd. I uii ! •! nsl hear it ! " -aid i lie olher. a s a \ivid (lash \< as ollowd In a deat'eiiimr erasli oi ,I,under v- 'nieh shook i h>' building to is io'iiidad ions. 'Mint roine." he

uided. ■'Mi" gi''! has been waiting Ueiv (or ii'Mi-I'. an hour, and is „.ari> (ri....;iiiened io death. I'm' he.ai "afraid -he'd i-l-ml "eon goiim ~,.me. as i beimve slie is more Mian haK inclined to do. and \ou'd lose ih" nic" (ai plum \on have so omi■liairiv i.lolled iov. i'w the c.rlilicale'. and all if m. * now i- Mm denature of Mm cleric man. 1 H :n 7\ thai after the knot- is tied, uhile } ou at'" lading \ our bride io die carriage " li,. hurried his companion do\\ n I he aisie. (or lie «ns anxious t,, gel the mat t,T i>\ er : I hen going to I '10r- .,,',-". he conducted her to his side, the maid follow ingFlorence r-muced ; ,n\iousU up at her lover „- she came Io lu'm : hul in Mie gloom, and mull'md as he U;i\ .),,. eoiild not see him disl inct ly. and -h" wa- In" a.u'i'atrd to addmss him, while sic was eaire-r lo n'l urn home

as soon as possible. The clergyman was e\ id-mi \\ in a |,in-i-. also, his patience bavin- been .orelx tried li\ the hues,' waiting. and lie hastened i hrough the ser\ ice with what sliced he could without making- ii seem a farce. YVle n he called for the ring Ihe l,i-ide.,-,-,.0m seemed to hesitate for an instant : but after fumbling on his pocket for a moment, produced it. and two. minutes later the couple were pronounced husband and wife. As ihe la--I word of the hurried Pciiedici ion fell from the minister's lips, l-'lorenee lilted her white face and appealing eyes I o her husband's. ■•Now. take me' - she began, win n suddenly fro'/e on her lips, and a low. shuddering moan burst from her. Ai the same instant there came anoi her lerrilie crash that seemed t () rock ibe w hole ea'Th. Jim the \oung wife did not hear il. She had fallen into her companion's anus. limp, white. and senseless. The fare into which she had looked was that <>i an utter stranger. She had married a man whom she had never seen before '. lti.".(>. iTo be ContiuucU.)