By Street & Smith

Contents

Page
[PROLOGUE.][3]
I [TWO UNEXPECTED VISITORS.][5]
II [A STANCH FRIEND MAKES A VAIN APPEAL.][11]
III [THE YOUNG LAWYER EXPERIENCES TWO EXTRAORDINARY SURPRISES.][16]
IV [A MYSTERY EXPLAINED.][20]
V [A MOTHER'S LAST REQUEST.][26]
VI [A HERITAGE OF SHAME.][30]
VII [TWO NEW ACQUAINTANCES.][36]
VIII [THE VENOM OF JEALOUSY.][43]
IX [THE HOUSEKEEPER AT WYOMING.][50]
X ["THE GIRL IS DOOMED! SHE HAS SEALED HER OWN FATE!"][58]
XI ["NOW MY VINDICATION AND TRIUMPH WILL BE COMPLETE!"][65]
XII [THE MASKED BRIDAL.][71]
XIII [THE DASTARDLY PLOT IS REVEALED.][79]
XIV ["YOUR FAITHLESSNESS TURNED ME INTO A DEMON."][88]
XV ["OH, GOD! I KNEW IT! YOU ARE ISABEL!"][95]
XVI ["YOU SHALL NEVER WANT FOR A FRIEND."][104]
XVII ["WOULD YOU DARE BE FALSE TO ME, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS?"][111]
XVIII ["I SHALL NEVER FORGIVE EITHER OF YOU FOR YOUR SIN AGAINST ME."][119]
XIX ["I WILL NEVER BREAK BREAD WITH YOU, AT ANY TABLE."][128]
XX [EDITH RESOLVES TO MEET HER ENEMIES WITH THEIR OWN WEAPONS.][137]
XXI [A MYSTERIOUS STRANGER PAYS EDITH AN UNEXPECTED VISIT.][146]
XXII ["I WILL RISE ABOVE MY SIN AND SHAME!"][154]
XXIII [A SURPRISE AT THE GRAND CENTRAL STATION.][164]
XXIV [A SAD STORY DISCLOSED TO AN EAGER LISTENER.][173]
XXV [A NEW CHARACTER IS INTRODUCED.][181]
XXVI [AN EXCITING INTERVIEW AND AN APPALLING DISCOVERY.][189]
XXVII [MRS. GODDARD BECOMES AN EAVESDROPPER.][199]
XXVIII [ISABEL STEWART ASTOUNDS MR. GODDARD.][208]
XXIX ["OUR WAYS PART HERE, NEVER TO CROSS AGAIN."][217]
XXX ["I HATE YOU WITH ALL THE STRENGTH OF MY ITALIAN BLOOD."][226]
XXXI [RECORDS SOME STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS.][234]
XXXII ["YOU WILL VACATE THESE PREMISES AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE."][242]
XXXIII [MR. BRYANT MEETS WITH UNEXPECTED DIFFICULTIES.][250]
XXXIV [AN UNEXPECTED MEETING RESULTS IN A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY.][259]
XXV ["THAT MAN MY FATHER!"][268]
XXXVI [FURTHER EXPLANATIONS BETWEEN MOTHER AND DAUGHTER.][276]
XXXVII ["MY DARLING, YOU ARE FREE!"][285]
XXXVIII [AN UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER.][292]
XXXIX [CONCLUSION.][298]

THE MASKED BRIDAL.

PROLOGUE.

The most important and the most sacred event in a woman's life is her marriage. It should never be lightly considered, no matter what may be the allurement—honor, wealth, social position. To play at marriage, even for a plausible pretext, is likely to be very imprudent, and may prove a sin against both God and man.