Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

130 THRICE WEDDED. ‘‘How do i know? Very easily. My little plot has worked finely, gloriously; and a few days more will see the consum- mation of my dearest hopes. ‘The paper you have is alla forgery, except the girl’s signature, as are also the letters which you and she received. But that is no matter, for one of their signatures is sufficient to break the marriage, which is all T want. Perhaps you would like to know why? I will gladly inform you. You are aware that I have a nephew. You know who he is, although you have never been willing to recognize the tie that binds’ him to you. Well, this nephew is very much in love with Miss Dora Dupont, and wishes to make her his wife, which she never could be legally unless she signed a document consenting to a divorce from your son. Ralph Moulton Ellerton—oh, you need not start, yon know that ought to be his name—real- ized that she would never give up her first love unless her pride was severely wounded, so he planned this little plot, forged the necessary papers—with what success you already know—and in a few days she will be his bride.” “Coward! dastard! you don’t mean to tell me that she will willingly become his wife!” | “‘Oh, no! she has not even been asked to consent to it yet. She will be forced into the contract, and learn to love him afterward, you know!” said the wretch, making a horrible grimace. ‘‘But such a marriage will not be legal. ‘The law would never recogi.ize it,” returned Mr. Ellerton, in a composed manner. He was utterly confounded by the bold wicked- ness of the other. “Ha, ha! The law won’t have anything to dowith it. The young lady will be wedded here, in the presence of witnesses enough to prove all that is necessary. And when she is set at liberty it will be too late for the law to do anything about it.” ‘And my boy—my boy! what is to become of him?” now gasped the thoroughly frightened father, as he began to realize how firm was the web that entangled himself and son, how cunningly the plot had been laid, and how fatal the snare into which they had been enticed. | “Oh! you begin to think my vengeance is going to amount to something after all; don’tyou? I swore you should rue the day you stole my bride, and now your son shall taste gpome of the bitterness which I have realized!” comicbook