The ceremony began in its simplest form, the minister standing close by the couch to catch the faint responses of the dying girl. They were uttered clearly and audibly, with a faint ring of joy in the accents, very different from Devereaux's low, reluctant tones: Then the minister said solemnly: "I pronounce you man and wife!" CHAPTER XXX. BEFORE THE DAWN. None could envy Edmund Clarke's feelings as he hastened on his way to find out the fate of the fair girl he believed to be his daughter! He could not credit the story of her elopement. Harrowing suspicion pointed to the probability that Roma, having found out the truth about herself, had hurried to Boston to have the real heiress put out of the way. What more likely than that the wicked girl had intercepted Jesse's letter containing Liane's address and made capital of it to further her own evil ends? The man shuddered as he realized what a fiend he had cherished as his daughter. He realized that it was the old fable of warming a viper in the bosom that stings and wounds the succoring hand. Roma could never come under his roof again. Her vile attempt on his life and Doctor Jay's precluded such a possibility. But he groaned aloud as he thought of having to break all the truth to his frail, delicate wife--unless he should be able to first find Liane and get the proofs of her real parentage. With a trembling hand he rang Mrs. Brinkley's bell, starting back in surprise when it was answered by no less a person than Sophie Nutter. "Mr. Clarke!" she faltered, in blended surprise and pleasure. "Sophie!" he exclaimed, following her into the little parlor, as she said: "Come in, sir. All the folks are out but me, and I must say I am as much surprised to see you here to-day as I was to see Miss Roma yesterday." Artful Sophie, she distrusted Roma, and took this method to find out if he knew of his proud daughter's goings-on. "Roma here yesterday!" he exclaimed, in a voice of agony, feeling all his suspicions confirmed. "Yes, sir, she was here to see old Mistress Jenks yesterday, and spent an hour with her!" returned Sophie quickly, scenting some sort of a sensation in the air. She saw him grow pale as death, and he almost groaned: "Liane? Where was she?" "At her work, sir, at the store." "Where is she now?" "It is thought she has run away with some rich young man, sir. She is missing this morning, and all her clothes gone!" "The old woman--where is she? I must see her at once!" "Lordy, sir, the poor old creature ain't here this afternoon. She went out to look for Liane, vowing to kill the fellow that persuaded her away!" Mr. Clarke had always liked Sophie when she was a member of his household. Her kind, intelligent face invited confidence. "Do you think that her distress was genuine, or was she playing a part?" he asked, adding: "To be frank with you, Sophie, I have a deep and friendly interest in Liane Lester, and I suspect foul play on the old woman's part."