Step by step, with horror-stricken eyes, Alida retreated from the man to whose
protection and embrace she had flown. "Then it's true?" she said in a hoarse
whisper.

He was speechless.

"You are willfully blind now, miss, if you don't see it's true," was the
stranger's biting comment.

Paying no heed to her, Alida's eyes rested on the man whom she had believed to
be her husband. She took an irresolute step toward him. "Speak, Wilson!" she
cried. "I gave you my whole faith and no one shall destroy it but yourself.
Speak, explain! Show me that there's some horrible mistake."

"Lida," said the man, lifting his bloodless face, "if you knew all the
circumstances--"

"She shall know them!" half shrieked the woman, as if at last stung to fury.
"I see that you both hope to get through this affair with a little high
tragedy, then escape and come together again in some other hiding place. As
for this creature, she can go where she pleases, after hearing the truth; but
you, Henry Ferguson, have got to do your duty by me and your child or go to
prison. Let me tell you, miss, that this man was also married to me by a
minister. I have my certificate and can produce witnesses. There's one
little point you'll do well to consider," she continued, in bitter sarcasm,
"he married me first. I suppose you are not so young and innocent as not to
know where this fact places YOU. He courted and won me as other girls are
courted and married. He promised me all that he ever promised you. Then,
when I lost my rosy cheeks--when I became sick and feeble from