Read Ebook: For whose sake? A sequel to Why did he wed her? by Southworth Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte

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Ebook has 3564 lines and 115542 words, and 72 pages

"Well, I have come to-night to bring you invitations to be present at the ceremony in the church and afterward at the breakfast at the house. And, boys, you must be sure to come."

"And where am I to get the widding garment proper for the occasion? Sure, there's no time to be cutted and fitted and made dacint to appear in sich grand company, though I thank the lady all the same," said Andrew Quin.

"Why, Dandy! Don't you know that you are in New York, where you can be fitted out for a wedding or a funeral or an Arctic expedition in five minutes--more or less?" laughed Ran.

"Yes; it's more or less, I'll allow. But I do reckon I can get a ready-made suit of clothes raisonable enough here."

"Certainly you can! But you must let me see to that, Dandy. I will be down here again to-morrow. And, lest I should forget to tell you, I must do so now. On Saturday morning you must let Mike bring you to the church. He knows where it is."

"All right, Misther Hay," said Dandy.

"And, Longman, you have not promised, but you will come, I am sure. My friends uptown wish to make the acquaintance of the Nimrod who saved my life."

"Oh, Mr. Hay!" laughed the giant deprecatingly. "But I shall be proud to come to your wedding," he added.

Then Ran bade them good-night and went home.

The next day--Friday--was the last before the wedding and the sailing. There were yet a few articles to be purchased, and so Mrs. Walling got ready to go on her usual morning shopping round. She asked Judy to put on her hat to go with her.

She did not intend to call for Palma on this occasion; a feeling of delicacy withheld her from going into the way of her thanks.

But while the carriage was standing at the door, and while Mrs. Walling was waiting in the parlor for Judy to join her, Mrs. Cleve Stuart was announced and entered the room.

Palma went straight up to Mrs. Walling with outstretched hands and glowing eyes and said:

"How shall I thank you for the rich, beautiful dress--the soft, lovely, caressing dress--that folds me around with the feeling of a friend's embrace--your embrace?"

For answer the lady drew the speaker to her bosom and kissed her, smiling.

"I want you to know," continued Palma, "that I feel more comfort in this than I should if I had bought it myself out of boundless riches."

Again Mrs. Walling kissed her, laughing this time.

"Every time I put it on I shall feel your love around me."

The elder lady pressed both the younger one's hands and said:

"We are going out to try to find a suitable sea cloak for Judy. We must find an extra heavy one. It will be terribly cold crossing the ocean at this season. They will be on the banks of Newfoundland in the first days of December. Will you go with us?"

"With pleasure," said Palma. And as Judy now entered the room, ready dressed for the drive, they arose to go out. But just at that moment Mrs. Duncan was announced and came in.

Both Mrs. Walling and Palma received her as cordially as if she had not interrupted their departure. Mrs. Walling then introduced:

"My young friend, Miss Judith Man."

"How do you do, my dear? I am glad to see you," said the visitor.

Judy bowed and smiled.

"You are going out. Don't let me detain you. I was on my way down to Fourteenth Street to do a little shopping and just dropped in here to tell you a piece of news; but I can take another opportunity," Mrs. Duncan explained.

"Oh, no! Pray do not! We should die of suspense! Pray, sit right down and open your budget. Our errand can wait as well as yours. It is only shopping. And when you are ready for yours you would oblige us by taking the fourth seat in our carriage, so that we can go together," Mrs. Walling pleaded.

Mrs. Duncan laid down her muff and shopping bag and seated herself in one of the luxurious armchairs.

Mrs. Walling rang a bell and gave an order:

"Bring coffee into this room."

And presently the four women had tiny china cups in their hands, sipping hot and fragrant Mocha, three of them listening while the fourth told her news.

"Yes! yes!" eagerly exclaimed Mrs. Walling and Palma in a breath, while Judy looked up in eager curiosity.

"You know, without any one's planning--unless fate be some one--that Jennie and her child were passengers on the same steamship, and even in the same cabin, with her fraudulent husband and his false bride?"

"Yes! yes!"

"I said when I discovered that complication that those elements were as explosive as dynamite. Neither could have expected the presence of the other on the steamer, and so I was really anxious to hear what happened when Miss Leegh and her 'bridegroom' met his lawful wife and child on the ship, on the ocean, whence neither could escape without jumping into the sea."

"Well, have you heard?" impatiently demanded Mrs. Walling.

"Yes; I have just received a long letter from Jennie, dated November 15th. She had been at home four weeks before she found time to write to me."

"She met her husband on the deck of the steamer. She was as much astonished as he was confounded. But I had better read her letter to you."

"To think of Jennie's self-control and forbearance!" concluded Mrs. Duncan.

"And to think of Lamia Leegh's insolence in trying to patronize her, the real wife of her own 'brevet' bridegroom!" exclaimed Mrs. Walling.

"And to think of the man's assurance in carrying off matters with such a high hand!" remarked Palma.

"Och, sure, and himself had always the impidince av the divil, had Gintleman Geff!" exclaimed Judy, surprised into her dialect; then, suddenly aware of her "backsliding," she clapped her hand to her mouth a minute too late and looked frightened; but as she saw that neither of her friends were in the least disturbed she felt relieved, while the visitor evidently thought that the brogue had been humorously assumed for the occasion, for she replied in kind:

"Ay, has he--the thaif av the worruld!" Then, turning to Mrs. Walling, she continued: "What an active fate there seems to be at work here! Did you see the significance of the latter part of Jennie's letter?"

"Yes, of course; her father has left Medge, in the south of England, and is in temporary charge of Haymore vicarage, in the north of England," replied Mrs. Walling.

"And our Gentleman Geff of the many wives and aliases, in trying to escape his one real wife and avoid her father by getting off the steamer at Queenstown will unwittingly rush into their power again the moment he sets foot within his stolen estate at Haymore. Now, if his lawful wife had been anybody else there might be a chance for a show of fight. But the daughter of the Vicar of Haymore!"

"Ah!" exclaimed Mrs. Walling, drawing her breath hard.

"Jennie writes of the great preparations they are making at Haymore to receive the usurping squire, who is now expected to arrive with a large party of invited friends for the Christmas holidays, little knowing that he will there meet his lawful wife and her avenging, priestly father."

"And confront the lawful heir of Haymore with the more terrible family solicitors," laughed Mrs. Walling.

"Then Mr. Randolph Hay is really going over at once to take possession of his estates?" inquired the visitor.

"Yes; he sails on Saturday; but not alone--he takes his wife with him. He will be married on Saturday morning and embark in the afternoon."

"Ah, indeed! That is news. I had heard no rumor of his being engaged, or even attentive to any of our girls. Who is she?"

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