“Prince or king, it would matter nothing. I should hate him still, for I know too well that it was not for his own sake, nor even for his boasted gold, that I accepted him, but only that, through him, I might meet again my hero, Bayard Lorraine. It was a sin for me to marry with such thoughts in my heart, and Heaven has punished me for my sin; but I was young and ignorant. They dazzled me by their promises, and I thought I could tolerate Carl Bernicci for the sake of what he could bestow on me.” Sadie looked at her gravely while these thoughts passed in her mind, and answered: “And in proportion as you hate him, that wretch loves you, and I fear, Fair, that he is going to give you a great deal of trouble. I have found out that he has been lurking in this neighborhood ever since you came here, and I think he means to get you away by force if coaxing will not prevail.” [Pg 90] [Pg 90] “I would rather die than live with him,” the beautiful orphan cried, shuddering violently. “Then you must be very careful never to go out unless accompanied by me,” said Sadie, and Fair found it perfectly easy to do this, as she had been taken back to her old place at the factory, and the two always went and came together, Fair always shrouding her lovely face in a thick veil, lest she should catch a glimpse of Carl Bernicci’s dark face watching her covertly as she went and came. But in a few weeks, to her dismay, there came to Sadie Allen a telegram. “It is from my brother-in-law in Philadelphia,” she said, bursting into a flood of tears. “My sister—my only sister—is dying. She wishes me to come at once. I shall have to go to Philadelphia at once, on the first train, Fair,” continued Sadie Allen, drying her tears, and beginning to get ready in haste. “But, my dear, I do not want to leave you behind. Cannot you come with me?” “I could not afford it. I have no money,” Fair answered, sighing. She had expended all she had earned since her mother’s death in buying a plain black dress and[Pg 91] hat, and in contributing her joint share toward their simple housekeeping expenses. [Pg 91] “And I have so little that I cannot lend you enough to accompany me. How hard it is to be poor, and to have to live from hand to
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