The Masked Bridal

  CHAPTER XXXVIII.

  AN UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER.

  The morning following his conference with his betrothed, our younglawyer went early to seek an interview with Emil Correlli.

  He was fortunate enough to find him at the hotel where he had told himhe could be found if wanted.

  In a few terse sentences he stated the object of his visit, cited theevidence he possessed of Correlli's bigamous exploit, and thenstartled that audacious person by summarizing the contents of the lateMrs. Goddard's confession.

  "If you are not already sure of the fact," the lawyer emphaticallyadded, "allow me to inform you that your sister was never the wife ofMr. Gerald Goddard, as that gentleman had been married previous to hismeeting with Miss Correlli. It was supposed that his first wife wasdrowned in Rome, but the report was false, as the woman is stillliving."

  "I do not believe it," angrily exclaimed Emil Correlli, and yet, inhis heart, he felt that it was true, for it but verified his ownprevious suspicions. "I tell you it is all a lie, for Goddard himselftold me, only two days after my sister's death, that, if I chose tolook, I would find the record of his marriage to her in the books ofthe ---- Church in Rome."

  "That is true; Mr. Goddard supposed the marriage to have been legal,because, at the time he deserted his lovely wife for Miss Correlli, hedid not know that he was lawfully bound to her. But, later, both heand your sister learned the truth, and the secret of their unfortunaterelations embittered the lives of both, especially after theydiscovered that the real Mrs. Goddard is still living," Roy exclaimed.

  "How do you know this?" hoarsely demanded his companion.

  "I have recently seen and conversed with Mrs. Goddard, and all thefacts of her history are in my possession."

  "Who is she? Under what name is she known?"

  "That is a question that I must refuse to answer, as the revelation ofthe lady's identity cannot affect the case in hand; unless--it shouldcome before the courts and the truth be forced from me," Roy replied.

  "Then why have you told me this wretched story?" cried the man, almostsavagely.

  "A lawyer, in fighting his cases, is often obliged to use a variety ofweapons," was the significant response. "I thought it might be just aswell to warn you, at the outset, that your sister's reputation mightsuffer in the event of a lawsuit, during which much might be revealedwhich otherwise would remain a secret among ourselves."

  To convince Correlli of the truth of his disclosures Mr. Bryantannounced that he had in his possession, at that moment, a copy ofMrs. Goddard's confession, and proceeded to read it, having firstdeclared that the original was in his office safe.

  Emil Correlli, was ghastly white when Roy stopped, after reading theentire confession. He realized that his case was hopeless; that he hadbeen ignominiously defeated in his scheme to possess Edith, andnothing remained to him but to submit to the inevitable.

  "Now I have just one question to ask you, Mr. Correlli," Roy remarked,as he refolded the paper and laid it upon the table for him to examineat his leisure. "What is your decision? Will you still contest thepoint of Miss Allandale's freedom, or will you quietly withdraw yourclaim, and allow it to be publicly announced, through the Bostonpapers, that that ceremony in Wyoming was simply a farce after all?"

  "You leave me no choice," was the sullen response; "but," with amurderous gleam in his dusky eyes, "if you had brought the originalconfession with you to-day, you would never have gone out of thishouse with it in your possession."

  "Excuse me for contradicting you, sir; but I think I should," Royreturned, with the utmost courtesy. "I took all proper precautionsbefore coming to you, as it was--although not because of any personalfear of you. No less than three persons in this house, and as manymore outside, know of my visit to you at this hour. And, now, sinceyou have decided to yield to my requirements, I have here some papersfor you to sign."

  He drew them forth as he spoke, spreading them out upon the table,after which he arose and touched the electric button over the mantel.

  "What is that for?" curtly demanded his companion.

  "To summon witnesses to your signature to these documents."

  "Your assurance is something refreshing," sneered the elder man. "Howdo you know that I will sign them?"

  "I feel very sure that you will, Mr. Correlli," was the quietrejoinder; "for, in the event of your refusal, there is an officer inwaiting to arrest you upon the two serious charges before mentioned."

  The baffled man snarled in impotent rage; but before he could frame aretort, there came a knock on the door.

  Roy answered it, and bade the servant without to "show up thegentlemen who were waiting in the office."

  Five minutes later they appeared, when Emil Correlli, without a demur,signed the papers which Roy had brought and now read aloud in theirpresence.

  His signature was then duly witnessed by them, after which theywithdrew, Mr. Bryant's clerk, who was one of the number, taking thedocuments with him.

  Roy, however, remained behind.

  "Mr. Correlli," he said, as soon as the door closed, "I have one morerequest to make of you, before I leave; it is that you will openlyacknowledge as your wife the woman you have wronged, and thus bestowupon your child the name which it is his right to bear."

  "I will see them both--"

  "Hush!" sternly interrupted Roy, before he could complete hispassionate sentence. "I simply wish to give you the opportunity to dowhat is right, of your own free will. If you refuse, I shall do myutmost to compel you; and, mark my words, it can be done. That womanand her child are justly entitled to your name and support, and theyshall have their rights, even though you may never look upon theirfaces again. I give you just one week to think over the matter. Youcan leave the country if you choose, and thus escape appearing incourt; but you doubtless know what will happen if you do--the casewill go by default, and Giulia and Ino will come off victors."

  The man knew that what the lawyer said was true, but he was so enragedover his inability to help himself that he was utterly reckless, andcried out, fiercely:

  "Do your worst--I defy you to the last! And now, the quicker yourelieve me of your presence the better I shall like it."

  The young lawyer took up his hat, bowed politely to his defeated foe,and quietly left the room, very well satisfied with the result of hismorning's work.

  All the necessary forms of law were complied with to release Edithfrom even a seeming alliance with the man who had been so determinedto win her.

  An announcement was inserted in the Boston papers explaining as muchas was deemed necessary, and thus the fair girl was free!--free togive herself to him whom her heart had chosen.

  Then she was formally adopted by Mrs. Stewart, the old schoolmate ofthe late Mrs. Allandale, and a little later, when they were settled intheir elegant residence on one of the fashionable avenues, society wasbidden to a great feast to honor the new relationship and tocongratulate the charming hostess and her beautiful daughter, who wasthus restored to a position she was so well fitted to grace.

  At the same time Edith's engagement to the young lawyer was announced,and it seemed to the happy young couple as if the future held for themonly visions of joy.

  True to his promise, Roy gave Emil Correlli the week specified todecide either for or against Giulia; then, not having heard from him,he instituted proceedings to establish her claim upon him.

  Correlli did not appear to defend himself, consequently the courtindorsed her petition and awarded her a handsome maintenance.

  Once only Gerald Goddard met his daughter after she learned the factsrelating to her birth and parentage.

  They suddenly came face to face, one morning, in one of the up-townparks. He looked ill and wretched; his hair had become white as snow,his face thin and pale, and his clothing hung loosely about him.

  "Pardon me," he began, in uncertain tones, while he searched her facewistfully. "No doubt you despise me too thoroughly to wish to hold anyintercourse with me; still, I feel that
I must tell you how deeply Iregret, and ask your pardon for, what occurred in the dressing-room atWyoming on the last night of that 'winter frolic.'"

  Edith's tender heart could not fail to experience a feeling ofsympathy for the proud man in his humiliated and broken state.Remembering that it was through him that her blessed freedom from EmilCorrelli and her present happiness had come, she forced herself torespond in a gentle tone:

  "I have always felt, Mr. Goddard, that you were not fully conscious ofwhat you were saying to me at that time."

  "I was not," he eagerly returned, his face lighting a trifle that sheshould judge him thus leniently. "I had been drinking too much; still,that fact should, perhaps, also be a cause for shame. Pray assure meof your pardon for what I can never forgive myself."

  "Certainly; I have no right to withhold it, in view of your apology,"she responded.

  "Thank you; and--and may I presume to ask you one question more?" hepleaded.

  Edith's heart leaped into her throat at this, for she was impressedwith a knowledge and a dread of what was coming.

  For the moment she could not speak--she could only bow her assent tohis request.

  "I want to ask if--if, since you left my house, you have learnedanything regarding my previous history?" he inquired, with pale lips.

  "Yes," she said, sadly, "I know it all. My mother told me only becauseI demanded the truth. She would have preferred to keep some thingsfrom me, for your sake as well as mine, but I could not be satisfiedwith any partial disclosure."

  "How you must hate me!" the man burst forth, while great drops ofagony gathered about his mouth.

  He had never believed that a human being could suffer as he sufferedat that moment, in knowing that by his own vileness he had foreverbarred himself outside the affections of this lovely girl, toward whomhe had always--since the first hour of their meeting--been strangelyattracted, and whose love and respect, now that he knew she was hisown child, seemed the most priceless boons that earth could hold forhim.

  At first Edith could make no reply to his passionate outburst.

  "No," she said, at last, and lifting a regretful look to him, "I hopethat there is not an atom of 'hate' in my heart toward any humanbeing, especially toward any one who might experience an honest,though late, repentance for misdeeds."

  "Ah! thank you; then have you not some word of comfort--some messageof peace for me?" tremulously pleaded the once haughty,self-sufficient man, while he half extended his hands toward her, in agesture of entreaty.

  Her lips quivered, and tears sprang involuntarily to her eyes, whileit was only after a prolonged effort that she was able to respond.

  "Yes," she said, at last, a solemn sweetness in her unsteady tones,"the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee and give thee peace."

  She often wondered afterward how it happened that those words ofblessing, once uttered by a patriarch of old, should have slippedalmost unconsciously from her lips.

  She did not even wait to note their effect upon her companion, but,gliding swiftly past him, went on her way.