The Lonely Bride by Fred M. White

-"Let us have a clear understanding," Grace was saying. "I am just a little dazed and bewildered by the sudden change. It is now nine days since we had that eventful meeting in the charcoal-burner's hut. On that occasion you repudiated all connection; you said that in all probability we should never meet again; you gave me to understand in plain language that you were going to marry Miss Fenton. I came away feeling happier than I have done for some time; I was also comforted by the reflection that I was very soon to see Max Graham again. Unfortunately, Max's disappearance is still a mystery, though I had a strange letter this morning, telling me that if I am patient all will be well. It looked to me as if my lost happiness was coming back again. And now you come to me at the eleventh hour telling me that you will expect me to keep my compact, and meet you at the registrar's office to-morrow morning at 11 o'clock. At any rate, I think I am entitled to an explanation."

The words came from Grace in a torrent of anger and indignation. For eight days she had seen and heard nothing of Stephen Rice; she had taken him absolutely at his word, and she had regarded herself as being free in future from his hateful attentions. And here he was at the very last moment standing before her in the drawing-room of the bank house as if nothing had happened, and reminding her that he expected her to keep her compact the next day. He did not look a bit like the miserable abject creature that Grace had seen in the charcoal-burners' hut--he was the Rice, cold, and treacherous, that she had learnt to fear so much.