The Double Marriage [pp. 776-787]

Tlze Double _Ak'rriage.
or annoy him. I was frightened and
out of spirits, and when evening came,
my husband would insist upon my
going to the opera. I went; but I
could not forget those dreadful words.
The opera was beautiful; but my
attention would wander. Looking
round the boxes, I suddenly saw the
same lady I had met in the picturegallery. Her handsome, haughty
face bore an expression that surprised me; her large, glittering eyes
were fixed upon me, and a smile of
triumph, malicious and revengeful,
curled her lip. I turned to my husband and said:'I do wish, Percy,
you would tell me who that lady is
there opposite with the pink dress.'
He turned, at my request; but when
he saw her, his face became deadly
pale, and convulsed with emotion.
' Do you know her?-are you ill?what is the matter, Percy?' I cried.
"' Nothing,' said my husband,'but
the heat is too great; will you come
home, Eva?'
"I rose, terrified, to leave the box,
and turning again to look at the lady,
I found her gone. As we were driving home, when my husband became
more composed, I told him of my adventure in the picture-gallery, and
asked him if he could possibly conjecture the meaning of it.
"' Why, why, Eva, did you not tell
me this before? Now, do not be
frightened; but I have decided to
leave Paris by the midnight train
it is now ten o'clock; will you be
ready?'
"' Yes; but why this haste?'
"' Ask me no questions, Eva; only
hasten, and let us be gone.'
"My husband's manner was stern,
and he became so silent that I dared
not interrupt him. Directly we arrived at home, he left me to arrange
for our journey, and, ringing for my
maid, I told her to prepare for instant departure. I was tired, and
VOL. VI. —5o
my head ached with useless conjectures. I felt a forebodingof coming
misery that I could not account for.
I was in the drawing-room, packing
a few books, when a servant entered and told me I was wanted. I
said I could not see any one, I was
engaged; but in a few minutes the
man returned, and said the lady insisted upon seeing me, and before he
had finished speaking, the lady I had
seen at the opera stood before me.
"' You are leaving Paris,' she said,
with a sneering smile' but it is important that you should grant me a
few moments; perhaps I may alter
your plans.'
"I bowed and the servant withdrew.
She stood and surveyed me for some
minutes with a strange, glittering look
in her wild eyes; and then coming
to me, she said:
"'You are passing fair. Percy Montford's second choice speaks well for
his taste.'
"' I do not understand you, madam,' I said proudly;'nor do I
see by what right you intrude upon
me or use mny husband's name.'
"' Your husband, girl!' and a mock
ing laugh rang ill my ears.'Nay,
Percy Montford is no husband of
yours.'
"'You are mad,' I replied. But
she interrupted me "' Mad! No; and yet, I tell you,
I am Lady Montford! You do not
believe me? I will tell you again.
Sixteen years ago, when I was young,
and the world said beautiful, I became the lawful wife of the man who
has deceived you.'
"I rose indignantly, and grasped the
bell-rope.
"'Nay,' said she,'pause one minute before you summon aid or assistance. I repeat-sixteen years ago
I was married. My husband had
then no title; he was simply Mr. Ingram; he lived with me one year,