“It is terrible, Daisie Bell, because, through my fault, a great mistake has been made. The marriage to-night was not sham, but real, and you are legally the wife of my Cousin Royall!”
CHAPTER XV.
“THE FAULT WAS MINE!”
A bolt from heaven could not have stricken Daisie Bell more suddenly from her feet than the words Mrs. Fleming had spoken in such venomous triumph.
The poor victim tottered, moaned, and fell; but Dallas caught her in his arms ere she touched the floor, lifting her up tenderly and pressing her close to his breast.
“Daisie, my darling, speak to me!” he cried, in wild alarm, for her head fell heavily like a broken flower.
Mrs. Fleming cried angrily:
“Give her to her husband! It is his right to hold her now! Why do you not take her, Royall?”
“Hush, Lutie! I do not understand what you mean. Explain yourself,” Royall replied, with stern brevity, though, if angry, jealous looks could have killed, Dallas might have dropped dead then and there.
But Mrs. Fleming, with a start and shudder, exclaimed:
“Ah! true, true, you do not know what I have done, Royall; you do not guess that Daisie Bell is really your wife. I must confess the deceit I have practiced on you both. But wait—wait till Daisie revives; for she must hear it all, too.”