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 l