After Mr. Dalton had failed in his search for Marion Vance he returned to the United States, where, shortly after, he had met and married the sister of Richard Forrester, who was reputed to be quite wealthy.
Disappointment awaited him in this, however, for Miss Forrester possessed but a small sum in her own right.
But matters could not be helped, and the chagrined husband made the most of it, invested his wife’s small fortune carefully, and, by earnest attention to business, made money steadily for several years.
Report said, also, that Richard Forrester gave him a handsome lift, and it was not long before he was reputed to be the possessor of a large fortune.
But, of course, his marriage with Miss Forrester was not legal, although he had confidently believed it to be so until this very day; and Earle condemned himself for many things that he had said, after being reminded by that low moan of how much Editha had been made to suffer.
Mr. Dalton saw how it wounded him, and laughed maliciously, whereupon Earle turned upon him almost savagely.
“Do you mean me to understand that you will wound me by venting your malice upon her? Let me assure you that if I know of your willfully causing her even one moment’s unhappiness, I will have no mercy on you,” he said.
Mr. Dalton chuckled.
“You are really fond of—ah—your sister; it is really pleasant to see such unity in a family. I trust you will always be as fond of your—sister.”
He seemed to take a satanic delight in repeating the word. He knew that it fell upon both their hearts like the blow from a hammer.