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The night of this strange and almost unnatural marriage had arrived. Ouida had very sensibly invited but few guests. Some of them were assembled in her mansion. Thence, it had been arranged, they should be driven to the quiet and unostentatious church, where Horatio Nugent would pronounce the simple words that would mate forever Ouido Angelo to Paul Strogoff.

"I don't like this marriage," said Mr. Salmon, the lawyer. "Paul is a fool, to marry Ouida Angelo. She is a great artist, but no creature for wife to any man."

"They love each other," said Marie, indignantly. "I don't see why they should not marry."

"Of course," replied the father, "a young girl always looks into the romance of the case. My experience in marriage settlements, and in the divorce courts, teaches me that a marriage of this kind never turns out well. By the way, how are you and young Clafton getting along?"

"Splendidly," said Marie.

"That's good. Now you are my own sweet child."

"I am helping him court my cousin, Georgie. He likes her better than you ever thought he cared for me. You see, father, I have never ceased to truly love Milton. Pray, forgive me, but I thought the best way to rid myself of Mr. Clafton's attentions, was to have him fall in love with Cousin Georgie. He has entered into the trap