Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

Tr oo THRICE WEDDED. - As for Robert, he was so anxious and uneasy that he could scarcely swallow; but the meal was soon over, and _ they started for Mrs. Dupont’s. 7 It was only a short distance, and they were soon there. Mrs. Dupont met them in the hall, with a grave and troubled face, and ushered them into the cozy sitting-room, where Dora lay upon a lounge, with red and swollen eyes. At sight of Robert, her tears started afresh, and she sobbed as if her heart were. broken. ee He went to her, and took her in his arms, whispering words of comfort in her ears, and soon had her smiling © again. She could not be unhappy long when he was with — her. Taking Mr. Ellerton’s hat, Mrs. Dupont asked him to be seated, and then drawing a low rocker opposite him, she be- gan her story. Mr. Ellerton listened with cold politeness until she men- tioned Squire Moulton’s name, when he glanced angrily at his son. Robert understood the look, and his own eyes fell. When she had finished, he replied, half laughing at what he considered children’s play: ‘“Well, my dear madam, you are making yourself unhappy about a very slight matter. No ceremony like that could possibly be legal. In the first place, they are minors; then there are no witnesses, and they had no certificate.” Oh, but I forgot to tell about that,” she replied, hastily. © “There it is,” and she handed him the paper. : His brow clouded instantly as he read it. The affair was beginning to assume a more serious look than heliked. He saw it was made out in due form, and signed by ‘‘Anson Moulton, clerk.” z He saw through the whole plot immediately—saw that the man whom he knew to be his deadly enemy had in- tended to do him this great wrong; that he meant to strike — a blow where it would tell. He turned sternly to Robert, and said: “Well, sir, what have you to say for yourself? You have _ disobeyed me by going where I have strictly forbidden you, to say nothing of the fix you have got yourself into.” “T intended no harm, father,” replied Robert, respect- fully. ‘‘I heard of the squire’s statuary, and you know how fond I am of such things, so I told Dora we would ride out and see it.” ne ™ -comicbooks.co