He carried out my instructions so faithfully that their
sudden flitting had every appearance of the flight of a pair of lovers.
When Walter received no answer from his wife, and she did not go to him,
as he requested, he became very anxious, and insisted upon returning to
Paris, in spite of his injury. Immediately upon his arrival he was told
that his lady had eloped with the butler of the house, and the angry
landlord compelled him to quit the place also.
"I did not set eyes on him again for more than two years, when he
returned at Miss Dinsmore's earnest request, for she had not long to
live. He did not seem like the same man, and apparently had no interest
in life. When Miss Dinsmore on her death-bed begged him to let her see
the consummation of her one desire he listlessly consented, and we were
married in her presence, and she died in less than a month. Then he
confessed his former marriage to me, and told me that he had a child;
that her home must be with us, and to escape all scandal and remark we
would go to the far West. I was furious over this revelation, but I
concealed the fact from him, for I loved him with all my soul, and I
would have adopted a dozen children if by so doing I could have won his
heart.
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