The American Marquis by Nick Carter — page 20: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Ea eee THE AMERICAN MARQUIS. f You are right,” interjected Clinton, earnestly. ‘‘Go on!” The mayor thinks that we have permitted our chateau to be used by a party of romantic Americans for the purpose of celebrating a marriage in a novel way. For this reason he has consented to perform the ceremony in this dark room, and to whisper the names. When the bride’s name is about to be uitered, you must place your hand over your ears. ‘« And after the ceremony, what am I to do?” ‘« Receive your money, and go back as you came.” “* Not even a word with my wife?” | —** Not a word.” *“Very well,” assented Clinton. And then, as the man left him to go out of the room, he whispered to the woman at his side: ‘‘ And you, mademoiselle, will you not grant a short interview to your husband, who is likely to go mad Irom too short a glimpse of your divine beauty?” ‘‘Would you really like 1t?” whispered she. She was close beside him, and as she looked up and whis- pered, her breath fanned his face. She seemed to draw nearer to him. Her hand touched his. A shock ran through him. He was hot and cold in a second. He longed to take her in his arms and rain kisses on the face he knew must be beautiful. His strong arm was about her waist, and she was nestling, willingly, against him almost before he knew what he was doing. ‘‘Tell me that I may see you again,” he whispered in her ear. ‘‘You may,” she answered. ‘‘ Leave it to me. Hush! he is returning.” | Tak She drew herself away, letting her hand fall for a moment in his as she did so. | The three men had not observed them. But Clinton Hastings? Was he in love with this masked woman? Had he forgotten the face in his studio? In love? Yes—madly, fiercely in love. Forgotten the face? No. ee ik , It seemed to him that his soul was in a terrible conflict with the two strange loves. : _ The face of a woman seen but once—the form of a woman whose face he had neyer seen. | comicbooks:-com