He has a most strange story.

He married a girl about five years ago just to make himself safe from another woman whom he had been making love to.

I was awfully angry with him at the time--I was staying in the house and I refused to wait for the wedding.
I thought it such a shame to the girl, although it was merely an empty ceremony--but she was awfully young, I believe." "How interesting!" and Sabine's voice was strained.

"You saw the girl--what was she like ?" "No, I never saw her--it was all settled one afternoon when I was out--and I thought it such a thundering shame that I left that same night." "And if you had stayed--you would have met her--how curious fate is sometimes--isn't it?
Perhaps you could have prevented your friend being so foolish--if you had stayed." "No, nothing in the world would ever prevent Michael from doing what he wanted to--it is in the blood of all those old border families--heredity again--they flourished by imposing their wills recklessly and snatching and fighting, and who ever survived was a strong man.

It has come down to them in force and vigor and daring unto this day." "But what happened about the marriage ?" Sabine asked.