Whatever she did, and whatever she was, the
grave has closed over her, and there let her lie. I never want to hear
her name this side of eternity."
Mollie looked almost frightened; she shrunk away with a wistful little
sigh.
"I am never to know, then, if seems, and I am to go on through life a
cheat and a lie. It is very hard. People have found out already I am not
what I seem."
"How?" sharply.
"Why, the night I was deluded from home, it was by a letter signed
'Miriam' purporting to come from you, saying you were dying, and that
you wanted to tell me all. I went, and walked straight into the
cunningest trap that ever was set for a poor little girl."
"You have no idea from whom that letter came?"
"Not the slightest. I am pretty sure, though, it came from my husband."
"Your--what?"
"My husband, Miriam! You didn't know Miss Dane was a respectable married
woman, did you? It's true, however. I've been married over a month."
There was no doubting the face with which it was said. Miriam sat
staring, utterly confounded.
"Good heavens! Married! You never mean it, Mollie?"
"I do mean it.
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