It was at this unpropitious moment that Richard Bristed returned.

CHAPTER XIII.

He arranged quiet strolls to the country--little excursions here and there with himself as my sole companion--and many sweet happy days of unsullied pleasure I pa.s.sed in his society.

One sultry morning, to my delight, he came in an open carriage, saying that the atmosphere was so heated he would drive me out of town to a charming little village with which he was familiar.

The prospect of such a jaunt was to me indeed agreeable; and as he liked to see me in becoming dress, I arrayed myself in white, placed a fillet of pale blue ribbon round my hair and a bouquet of blue forget-me-nots in the bosom of my dress, and thus adorned set forth, sitting by Richard's side.

I was as happy as a young queen; all the black suspicions which had darkened my horizon were absorbed in the fierce heat of that summer morning. His beauty, his fascinating smile, his lively conversation, filled me with rapture.

Arrived at the village, we stopped at a small but pretty tavern and alighted. While I entered the dwelling Richard drove his horses under shelter. He soon joined me, looking much disconcerted.

"Agnes, my darling, what shall we do? We cannot ride back to-night; the carriage is out of order, and I fear the horse is injured by the heat and rapid driving."

"O Richard, I must return home to-night!" I answered decidedly.

"Well, I will see what can be done, but we will rest awhile and take some refreshments."

A delightful half hour pa.s.sed while we were regaling ourselves with country fare and looking at the strange place from the window of the little inn. Then Richard proposed that we should walk out while waiting for repairs to our vehicle. Together we strolled through the quiet lanes and open commons till we came upon a pretty, unpretending church, half hidden in ivy and creeping vines. The door stood open. "Come," said he, "let us go in." I followed him in. To my surprise I discovered a clergyman in his robes at the altar. Richard whispered in my ear some words which I could not understand and their import I could only guess at, but his tender manner brought the hot blood to my face.

"Agnes," he continued, speaking with quiet determination; "you must be mine; everything is in readiness. We cannot return to-night; Fate ordains it!"

It did appear to me that Fate, as he said, ordained the events which followed that country drive. All the love and sentiment of my nature was aroused; but reason told my intoxicated senses that I must not act without forethought, so I shook my head to his pa.s.sionate urgency and endeavored to withdraw. But my companion pressed me gently back into an open pew, and hastened past me up the aisle.

A rapid conversation then took place between himself and the clergyman, who, after casting his eyes in my direction, went to his desk and took up his prayer-book.

Richard returned with quick steps to where I was sitting.

"Come," said he, smiling; "he is waiting."

Startled and trembling, I made no answer save an effort to reach the door.

"For heaven's sake, Agnes, do not make a scene! Recover your usual good sense. Do you not see that it is best?" whispered Richard, with earnestness almost fierce.

And so hurried, flushed and doubting, overcome with heat and excitement, I permitted myself to be led to the altar.

The ceremony soon ended. As the clerk shut his book and we turned to depart, I could not realize that this abrupt, informal marriage was a reality. As I pa.s.sed down the aisle, a white, fluttering, impalpable, and yet clearly-defined form arose from one of the empty seats, and un.o.bstructed by carved wood or heavy upholstery, pa.s.sed out through frame and plaster! The slight figure, the golden hair, I remembered too well--it was that of the _ghost of Bristed Hall_!

I clenched Richard's arm so that he muttered an oath, and said sharply, "My G.o.d, Agnes, what are you doing?"

"Did you not see that figure? It pa.s.sed straight through the wall," I whispered in affright.

"Move on--none of your d--d nonsense, Agnes," said Richard, scowling; then hastily adding, "Excuse me, love, you confuse me. My happiness makes me forget myself."

My mind surged with conflicting emotions. I felt a secret joy in the knowledge that I was united to the man I loved. This romantic, half run-away match pleased the romance of my nature, and yet I was unable to resist the feeling that I had done wrong. A strange foreboding of evil intruded upon my joy.

Richard that evening was gay almost to wildness. "O Agnes! Agnes! we have outwitted them, the fools! They thought they had conquered me, but you are mine, and I have won!"

He talked so disconnectedly, I thought he had taken too much wine.

Indeed, to this he owned.

"I could drink flask after flask of it, I am so happy!" he exclaimed.

We were happy that night and drove home in the cool of the morning.

It was arranged that our marriage should for the present be kept private, as Richard thought if it were known it might disorganize my school.

CHAPTER XIV.

We had been wedded but two weeks when one morning Richard asked me to show him my deed of the property.

"How strange," said he, as he looked it over. "Do you know, Agnes, before I wedded you I might have married many a woman of wealth, but I would not unite myself with a lady who would not honor me by giving me sole control of all her possessions."

"Well, Richard," answered I, laughing, "you can control mine if you like.

It matters little to me who holds the deed, so long as my dominion over the young ladies is not invaded."

"That is what I expected of your, loving nature, Agnes, and yet I suppose you would hesitate to convey your property to me."

"No; why should I?" I exclaimed. "I will go with you to an attorney this moment, if you desire it."

"Well, come, we shall see; get your bonnet," said he gaily.

I tied on my bonnet, and accompanied him down the street into a little dingy office in a narrow thoroughfare.

At the door, laying his hand upon my shoulder, he said jokingly:

"Agnes, go back, I was only trying you; I wanted to see if you meant what you said."

"Of course I meant it, and I will not go back till it is done."

"Well, well, you must have your own way, I see!" and with a gay, exulting smile he led me into the office.

I signed the paper giving to him the house and lands, and was glad when it was done, for I felt that it might atone for any suspicion or doubt of his goodness which had crossed my mind, for he had made me very happy since our marriage.

I returned to my school and its duties. In the interval between the recitations, I had time to reflect. I had acted impulsively, and perhaps unfairly. What right had I to give away a property given to me for an especial purpose?

Had I done right? That was the question which annoyed me--the question which constantly thrust itself before me during the live-long day. My sleep that night was disturbed. The form of the elder Mr. Bristed appeared in my dreams. He seemed to reproach me by his looks, and when I endeavored to speak to him, vanished from my sight.

Richard had left me after my signing the paper. He told me he was obliged to leave town on business, and I had no one to council with. My own thoughts startled me; I became nervous, and finally quite ill.