rly, but
waited until near noon before anything happened! Then I saw the squire and
the rector ride forth together and take the road to Benedict. Then I made
a descent upon the fort. So you have my Californian sweetheart staying
with you?" he exclaimed, in a light and taunting manner.

"Sir!" said Elfrida Force, in a tone of haughty indignation.

"Oh, come now, Friday, you never really supposed that woman from Wild
Cats' to be my wife! And, as for the lighter relationship, I need have no
qualms in confessing it to you. A confidence of that kind could not shock
you."

A crimson tide of shame and wrath swept over the lady's cheeks and brow,
but she controlled her indignation, and kept silence.

"You have no idea how free and easy I feel in your society, Friday. With
everybody I feel ill at ease, because I must play a part and seem other
than I am. But with you I can be myself. With you I can speak of my
_bonnes fortunes_ as to a confidential friend."

"Col. Anglesea, if you are trying to cast reflection upon the good name of
the worthy woman from California who is our guest, your labor is in vain.
We know that she is your lawful wife," said Mrs. Force.

"You do! Then, by Jove, you know more than anybody else does!" he replied,
with a laugh.

"We have received a telegram from the Rev. Dr. Minitree, of St. Sebastian,
confirming the fact of your marriage with Mrs. Wright."

"Oh, you have? But suppose at the time of that frolicsome wedding with the
Wild Cat widow I had a living wife in London?"

"Man!" cried Elfrida Force, in horror and amazement.

"Yet such was the fact. My wife, Lady Mary Anglesea, was living in London
at the time of my marriage with Ann Maria, or Mary Ann Wright, or whoever
she was. I have actually forgotten her true name."

"Oh, villain! villain! Your deviltry is unmatched in all the world!"

"Thanks. You do me no more than justice. And you must see by that I am
quite worthy to be--your son-in-law; for, my dear Friday, that is what I
am. I received the news of the death of my wife, Lady Mary Anglesea, while
I was staying at Niagara, and just one week before the most auspicious day
on which I met again my old 'pal' and her new family. So, when I married
Odalite Force, I was perfectly free to contract lawful marriage, and so
the same Odalite is now my lawful wife. 'Read, learn, ponder and inwardly
digest' that fact, my lady, if you please."

"You make these statements in reckless bravado. I do