Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 43: what you’re looking at

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34 : THRICE WEDDED. “Tt is no farce, father,” firmly replied his son. ‘‘Have done with such talk, or by Heaven, I'll flog youn. I tell you this thing is going to be made null and void, and if you won't obey me willingly, I will force you to obed- ience. Not one penny of my money shall you have, to begin with; I will give it to some one who is willing to give heed to my wishes. And I think I know of one who would be very olad to get it.” This latter sentence was muttered partly aloud and partly to himself, while a vitter sneer curled his lips. . 7 “T will shut you up,” he continued, ‘‘and you shall live upon bread and water until you consent, or if that does not bring you to your senses, I will. send you to the remotest lands of the earth, where, with barely enough to live upon, you will soon be glad to come to terms. ‘The idea of you really thinking that you love this low, ill-bred girl, or even the thought of marrying her in the future, is perfectly ab- surd. Why, boy, she is almost a beggar, while you will be worth your hundreds of thousands. My son mating with such as she! I tell you I won’t have it. Better had you died when you were so ill, than that Dr. Dupont should have saved your life, to waste it on his girl. Choose, sir, and choose thoughtfully and carefully, for I swear Pll move heaven and earth before this thing shall goon. You know what the girl said; if you would repent she would also.” ‘I will ask you the same question, father, that Dora asked her mother: Do you wish me to utter a falsehood? You _ have been as strict with me about the truth as any one.” ‘This talk is all cant, Robert,” replied his father, angri- ly. ‘You know as well as I that you will regret it in the future. It’s only your thundering will. Just think how ashamed you will be to introduce her into your own circle by and by; ascommonly brought up as she has been, and such a frightful little squab, with red hair, too.” | Robert’s eyes blazed now with a dangerous sparkle. | “‘T am not at all afraid, sir, that I shall ever have cause to be ashamed-of my wife. Her mother is more of a lady now than you are a gentleman, with the insinuation that you cast at her to-night.” | 3 Mr. Ellerton winced. ‘He had repented what he had said ag soon as the words were uttered; but it enraged him be- 7 yond measure to be reproved by his son, and he shouted: © ‘Silence, you young rascal! If you ever call that girl Eomicbooks.co mn