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Show STRANGELY WEDDED Jl By JESSIE E. SHERWIN. f"5 U m ,, i-i (Copyright, WIS. Western Newspaper Union.) Waldron Morse, seventy, worn ont, hul mine to Shell Beach to die. Wilton Wil-ton Kevere. thirty, at life's choicest phase, had eonie to reconstruct 11 broken brok-en life. neear.se the one was exhausted exhaust-ed in mind and body and the other world-weary, the mutual seriousness of manner and face attracted each to the other. The older man. 'wheeled along the beach In his invalid chair, looked eagerly for the only sojourner at the famous health resort who attracted him because of his gravely sympathetic sympathet-ic ways. There was a poise, gravity and clearness clear-ness about the younger man that led Mr. Morse to accept him as a person he could rely upon. The fact that he seemed to he well versed legally added to Mr. Morse's regard for him. The old man was wealthy, but his affairs had some complex com-plex features that disturbed him, In view of his condition. "All I fear for," he told Revere, "is that my daughter Ethel, if left alone In the world, would be at the mercy of self-interested persons who would not guard her interests. If I could only be sure of living until some pending litigation is settled !" "Cheer up, dear friend !" Revere told him. "You may live for many a year to come." But the next day Morse was taken fatally ill. He called Revere Re-vere to his bedside and seemed to rely re-ly upon his continued presence as a solace until his daughter, who was living with an aunt in the city, arrived. Revere was fascinated at his first glimpse of the sweet, innocent face of Ethel Morse. He was sent for in urgent ur-gent haste. Mr. Morse clasped his hand fervently as he sat down by his bedside. "Revere," he said, "you have been lite a son to me. The doctors say I may live but a few hours. I have learned to esteem you, more, to rely npon you. Oh, my friend, help me to die In peace by consenting to cherish cher-ish and look after my daughter's interests." inter-ests." "I will do all you may wish to benefit bene-fit her," assured Revere. "More than that! Revere, I beg of you to do what I suggest. She will have a fortune, sh'e is a wife any man may be proud of. Will you marry her?" Revere was dumbfounded. He got as far as "I dare not I am " but a spasm of pain overtook Mr. Morse, and Revere had to call for the doctor. An hour Inter he was suit for again. At a glance he realized that Mr. Morse was dying. By his side was his (laughter, (laugh-ter, pale and benumbed with grief. A ! stranger in clerical attire sat at a dis- ! tanc.e. "Revere, it is all arranged."' panted j the dying man. "Eth'el has consented i she could not deny my last wish. Be kind to her, protect her, make her life happy." And in the whirl of hurried vents the words were spoken that i made Wilton Revere and Ethel Morse husband and wife. He did not intrude upon her until the funeral was over and she started for the home of her aunt. As he helped her upon the train, he said, simply, quietly, definitely: "I shall soon be in Chicago, whither I shall remove my office to take up the affairs of the estate, as your father has desired. When any business occasion occa-sion arises where it is necessary to eonsnlt with you, I will notify you. I would suggest that we keep the marriage mar-riage secret." There followed for the wife a v strange experience. Only twice in a year Revere came to see her, and then only long enough to submit some legal pspsrs, and In the presence of her aunt. Then one day he called at her home, to find her alone. "I am about to leave the city permanently," per-manently," he said, "having closed up all matters of the estate. I have a confession to make. I am not your husband; that marriage ceremony was Invalid." She regarded him with speechless amazement. "I could not deny your father's wish," he continued, "and I fancied I saw a way to protect your interests in the way T have without intruding upon you. Two years since I parted from my wife, an unworthy woman, whom I have never seen since, bnt I am still her legal husband." "Oh, why did you not tell me before!" be-fore!" suddenly breathed forth Klhel. "It was unmanly, it was cruel, for I I " She hurried from the room In tears, mod Revere left the house In a strange maze of emotion. Could it be possible that she cared for him? And be oh. that fatal tie, that shut 'him out of paradise ! Hope, doubt, despair were in his thoughts as, a week later, he again i called at the home of Ethel. There J was a certain plaintive expression in j hor face that seemed to upbraid hltn. j "I learned only yesterday that my ! wife died over a year ago in a railroad rail-road wreck in Canada. It was previous pre-vious to my marriage with you. I am sorry If this new complication dls- 'tresses you." "Then I am your wife, in reality !" breathed Ethel, n quick glow- suffus- j Ing her lovely face. Then she seemed to totter. leaned , towards him and fainted In his arms. To lie there! When her eyes' again opened, in her face was that which told Wilton Revere that she loved him even as he loved her. and that there was no menace of another parting. S ' x |