CHAPTER LXVI. "THIS WOMAN MY WIFE.!'

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 106, 13 June 1885, Page 4

CHAPTER LXVI. "THIS WOMAN MY WIFE. !'

" Aro you tho mastpr hero ? Ay, horo and olaowhere whero the wrongs of othors Give mo tho right I" " Tub Spanish 8tudent." The streaming light from tho window of a cafe foil across his faco— a face which now imts half -drunken and malignant oxultation was that of a sot and a scoundrel. Liko ono paralysed, bereft of motion the girl stood. lie! of all men. "And so gave me the slip !" ho sneorod on, still holding her slender wrist in his vicoliko grasp. "You thought a bridal trip would provo less expensive if takon by tho groom alone— didn't you? Woll, thoro shan't bo any wedding tour this time. Gome r She shrank back with a low cry of terror. Go— with him ! Oh, no, no, no ! A few passing by glanced at thorn curiously. Tho shadow of hor hat-brim hid tho fear and hatred ilaming over hor sweet, sonsitivo face. "Come !" he repeated, and strovo to draw her onward. Tho inherent brutality of his earlier life, for many years kept undor rein, and plated with our modern mail of invinciblo gold, now asserted itself. "I will not !" she panted. " Release mo, or I'll ask the people who pass for help— you coward !" Uo laughed -a slow, chuckling, complaisant laugh. "Ask, my dear ! Ask away! Thero's not a man in America can dispute my right ! A husband can claim his wife, and I claim you !" Again sho endeavoured to wrench her ! hand f reo. His thick red fingers wore cruol in thoir grasp as they tightened still more fiercely around it. " I am no wife of yours !" she cried, hotly. But horo he broke in again, bringing his faco so close to hers that the fumes of his breath stilled her. V Ah, wifo in name ! That was all you wero to be.! Tho law acknowledges no nominal wives, my pretty, prudish Mrs Clauin!" "I tell you," she protested, and now her words came brokenly in hor excitement. " I have never been your wifo. Not for a day, an hour, a minute, not ono, thank God! It was Voyle you married. He wont through that farco of ceremony to savo me ! And ho did it! " Tho declaration seemed to sober the halfbefuddled old reprobate. But it was a ruse— a trick ! Of course it was. " Do I look like an idiot ?" he snarled, " to swallow a talo like that ?" She was almost beside hersolf with abhorrence, dread, disgust. Sho drew herself up and faced him trembling but erect, hor eyes under tho brim of the littlo felt hat groat luminous stars of flamo. "It is true !" she cried, •' as true as that we both live and breathe. My brother knew in consenting to that mock marriage that he saved mo from an ignoblo man — from a life of misery. He did not know ho saved mo from a demon." Never before had such passionate words passed tho child's pure lips. Their vehemence startled even the savagely resolute old man before her. He stood silent a moment, never for a second, though, loosening his hold of her wrist. " It's a lie !" he asserted doggedly. " Do you suppose I could have been fooled by a slip of a boy ? Do you take me for an imbecilo that I should not know tho girl I married ? You are my wifo. That fact is one it is no uso dodging now. Love and honour you will not," his harsh voice rising till moro than one of the surging passers-by hearing tho words ainiled scornfully at tho conjugal quarrel, " but obey you icill ! Come with mo!" He drew her hand within his arm, half drew, half pushod her onward. Oh, for Marc— for Voylo ! His very touch was contamination. And now began a desperate resistance. "I will not go 1" sho cried frantically. " Oh, sir," appealing to a gentloman hurrying by. " Help ! Savo mo from him 1" An American, characteristically promp and chivalrous, the stranger swung round, his cane upilung. " Ho has insulted you — " he began. A fow others observing tho trio gathered around them. Claflin's crimson face grew fairly purplo in the gas-light. "Takecaro!" hocriod,hoarsoly. "Don't be too fresh, young man. This woman is my wife !" " Your wife !" Several incredulous voices repeated tho words. Now that her hat had slipped backward they could see distinctly how lovely and almost childishly youthful was the girl before them. " I am not ! He has no claim on me !" sho wailed, despairingly. "You hear her ?" hissed Claflin. " Now you can see for yourselves how blessed I am in a lying and rebellious wife. Go your way, gentlemen !" Every minute pedostrians, observing the commotion, joined the group. Tho man whohadinterferedat har solicitation dropped his raised stick. It was just a matrimonial row. One never got any thanks for interfering between husband and wife. Besides, an outsider should not make their affairs his. " Oh, of course if the lady is your wife," he said, apologetically. More dense grew the crowd around them, Remarks were being passed freely on the ostentatious diamonds of the man, the beauty of the girl beside him. "Come on!" commanded Claflin, gruff with rage. * • Don't you see we're the centre of a street gang? Come, Vella 1" It began to snow, great white, whirling, feathery flakes. Vella ! The name was rare. He knew only one who bore it. It was impossible that she should be here at this hour. With languid curiosity the young fellow swinging by — tall, handsome, fair-haired grey-eyed, glaneod toward the group by the curb-stone. And there he saw, full in the radiance of the gas-light, a proud and beautiful head, upreared like that of a stag at bay, a face as white as the driven snow, eyes brilliant with hate and terror. " Good Heaven i" he gasped, " Volla Vernell!" Their eyes met. " Come on !' cried Claflin, almost mad with fury by this time, and dragging her onward by main force. " By Heaven, you shall !" " Shall she V out rang a voice.

With the leap of a tiger, Owen Costello sprang forward, cloffc the crowd asunder, flung up his strong right arm, and planted on Mr Jonas Claflin's immaculate shirtbosom a staggering blow. And in that instant ho recognised the millionaire. " By Jupiter .» he cried j '« lied Jake 1"