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"I might as well accept the inevitable as my fate," he murmured, with a sigh. "I might have been happy with Gerelda if I had never known Jessie Bain." When he arrived at the Northrup mansion, Gerelda's mother came down to welcome him. Like her daughter, she did not appear to notice his constraint, and greeted him effusively, as in the old days.
But instead of a white, upturned face, and a shimmering heap of satin and lace, he beheld a ladder, which was placed close against the window; and half-way down upon it, caught firmly upon one of the rounds, he beheld a torn fragment of lace, which he instantly recognized as part of Gerelda's wedding veil. He could neither move nor speak. The sight held him spell-bound. By this time Mrs.
Their loud peal at the bell brought down a servant, who admitted them at once. In a trice they had sprung up the broad stair-way to the landing above, from whence the excited voices proceeded, appearing on the threshold just in time to hear Gerelda's terrible accusation. Each laid a hand on Hubert Varrick's shoulder. "You will have to come with us," they said. Mrs.
Varrick had sent a note to her son at his hotel, begging for a reconciliation, and stating that she would be at the wedding without fail; but never a word did she say about Jessie Bain. It seemed like a dream to Hubert his ride in a cab through the cool crisp air to Gerelda's home on that eventful morning.
Hidden among the flowers, Gerelda found a little note in Varrick's handwriting: "I hope my darling rested well. Heaven has made the day beautiful because it is our marriage morn." It was an odd notion of Gerelda's to steal away from their elegant city mansion and her dear five hundred friends, to have the ceremony performed quietly up at the Thousand Islands, with only a select few to witness it.
"That is proof positive that Gerelda was not with Captain Frazier, and that he, poor fellow, was entirely innocent of her whereabouts." Hubert Varrick was greatly amazed at this intelligence; but before he could make any remark Maillard went on quickly: "We received a long letter from an old nurse who used to be in Gerelda's family years ago. It was written at my cousin's dictation.
Rosamond shrunk back abashed, though she stammered: "I I should like to see how he takes it." "I would like to accompany you for the same reason," interposed Captain Frazier. "He will be angry enough at you coming back to frustrate his marriage with the girl whom he idolizes so madly." Gerelda's face grew stormy as she listened.
I will ask no more for mercy at your hands. But hear me! I will save Hubert Varrick if it lies within human power. I will find a way; he shall not die, I swear it!" A gleam crept into Gerelda's eyes. "He is beyond your aid!" she cried, excitedly, half rising on her pillow. The effort this cost her proved almost too much for her.
My God! it was Jessie Bain, my enemy. I remember it all now. I wonder that memory did not come back to me when I heard the name Jessie Bain. She did not know that it was I who was Hubert Varrick's wife, or she would have let me die." The effect of Gerelda's words was startling upon Rosamond. "What are you going to do about it?" she asked, eagerly. "Do?" echoed Gerelda.
"Have you seen the morning paper, Hubert?" she asked, with a little rippling laugh on her lips. "It is amusing to me how these newspaper men get hold of things so quickly. I was down to one of the stores this afternoon ordering the wedding-cards. I knew you would be anxious to get them, and I wanted to relieve your mind and Gerelda's as well.
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