New Bertha Clay Library

ALL BY BERTHA M. CLAY

Love Stories with Plenty of Action

The Author Needs No Introduction

Countless millions of women have enjoyed the works of this author. They are in great demand everywhere. The following list contains her best work, and is the only authorized edition.

These stories teem with action, and what is more desirable, they are clean from start to finish. They are love stories, but are of a type that is wholesome and totally different from the cheap, sordid fiction that is being published by unscrupulous publishers.

There is a surprising variety about Miss Clay’s work. Each book in this list is sure to give satisfaction.

ALL TITLES ALWAYS IN PRINT

1—In Love’s Crucible 2—A Sinful Secret 3—Between Two Loves 4—A Golden Heart 5—Redeemed by Love 6—Between Two Hearts 7—Lover and Husband 8—The Broken Trust 9—For a Woman’s Honor 10—A Thorn in Her Heart 11—A Nameless Sin 12—Gladys Greye 13—Her Second Love 14—The Earl’s Atonement 15—The Gypsy’s Daughter 16—Another Woman’s Husband 17—Two Fair Women 18—Madolin’s Lover 19—A Bitter Reckoning 20—Fair But Faithless 21—One Woman’s Sin 22—A Mad Love 23—Wedded and Parted 24—A Woman’s Love Story 25—’Twixt Love and Hate 26—Guelda 27—The Duke’s Secret 28—The Mystery of Colde Fell 29—Beyond Pardon 30—A Hidden Terror 31—Repented at Leisure 32—Marjorie Deane 33—In Shallow Waters 34—Diana’s Discipline 35—A Heart’s Bitterness 36—Her Mother’s Sin 37—Thrown on the World 38—Lady Damer’s Secret 39—A Fiery Ordeal 40—A Woman’s Vengeance 41—Thorns and Orange Blossoms 42—Two Kisses and the Fatal Lilies 43—A Coquette’s Conquest 44—A Wife’s Judgment 45—His Perfect Trust 46—Her Martyrdom

47—Golden Gates 48—Evelyn’s Folly 49—Lord Lisle’s Daughter 50—A Woman’s Trust 51—A Wife’s Peril 52—Love in a Mask 53—For a Dream’s Sake 54—A Dream of Love 55—The Hand Without a Wedding Ring 56—The Paths of Love 57—Irene’s Vow 58—The Rival Heiresses 59—The Squire’s Darling 60—Her First Love 61—Another Man’s Wife 62—A Bitter Atonement 63—Wedded Hands 64—The Earl’s Error and Letty Leigh 65—Violet Lisle 66—A Heart’s Idol 67—The Actor’s Ward 68—The Belle of Lynn 69—A Bitter Bondage 70—Dora Thorne 71—Claribel’s Love Story 72—A Woman’s War 73—A Fatal Dower 74—A Dark Marriage Morn 75—Hilda’s Lover 76—One Against Many 77—For Another’s Sin 78—At War with Herself 79—A Haunted Life 80—Lady Castlemaine’s Divorce 81—Wife in Name Only 82—The Sin of a Lifetime 83—The World Between Them 84—Prince Charlie’s Daughter 85—A Struggle for a Ring 86—The Shadow of a Sin 87—A Rose in Thorns 88—The Romance of the Black Veil 89—Lord Lynne’s Choice 90—The Tragedy of Lime Hall

91—James Gordon’s Wife 92—Set in Diamonds 93—For Life and Love 94—How Will It End? 95—Love’s Warfare 96—The Burden of a Secret 97—Griselda 98—A Woman’s Witchery 99—An Ideal Love 100—Lady Marchmont’s Widowhood 101—The Romance of a Young Girl 102—The Price of a Bride 103—If Love Be Love 104—Queen of the County 105—Lady Ethel’s Whim 106—Weaker than a Woman 107—A Woman’s Temptation 108—On Her Wedding Morn 109—A Struggle for the Right 110—Margery Daw 111—The Sins of the Father 112—A Dead Heart 113—Under a Shadow 114—Dream Faces 115—Lord Elesmere’s Wife 116—Blossom and Fruit 117—Lady Muriel’s Secret 118—A Loving Maid 119—Hilary’s Folly 120—Beauty’s Marriage 121—Lady Gwendoline’s Dream 122—A Story of an Error 123—The Hidden Sin 124—Society’s Verdict 125—The Bride from the Sea and Other Stories 126—A Heart of Gold 127—Addie’s Husband and Other Stories 128—Lady Latimer’s Escape 129—A Woman’s Error 130—A Loveless Engagement 131—A Queen Triumphant 132—The Girl of His Heart

133—The Chains of Jealousy 134—A Heart’s Worship 135—The Price of Love 136—A Misguided Love 137—A Wife’s Devotion 138—When Love and Hate Conflict 139—A Captive Heart 140—A Pilgrim of Love 141—A Purchased Love 142—Lost for Love 143—The Queen of His Soul 144—Gladys’ Wedding Day 145—An Untold Passion 146—His Great Temptation 147—A Fateful Passion 148—The Sunshine of His Life 149—On with the New Love 150—An Evil Heart 151—Love’s Redemption 152—The Love of Lady Aurelia 153—The Lost Lady of Haddon 154—Every Inch a Queen 155—A Maid’s Misery 156—A Stolen Heart 157—His Wedded Wife 158—Lady Ona’s Sin 159—A Tragedy of Love and Hate 160—The White Witch 161—Between Love and Ambition 162—True Love’s Reward 163—The Gambler’s Wife 164—An Ocean of Love 165—A Poisoned Heart 166—For Love of Her 167—Paying the Penalty 168—Her Honored Name 169—A Deceptive Lover 170—The Old Love or New? 171—A Coquette’s Victim 172—The Wooing of a Maid 173—A Bitter Courtship 174—Love’s Debt 175—Her Beautiful Foe

176—A Happy Conquest 177—A Soul Ensnared 178—Beyond All Dreams 179—At Her Heart’s Command 180—A Modest Passion 181—The Flower of Love 182—Love’s Twilight 183—Enchained by Passion 184—When Woman Wills 185—Where Love Leads 186—A Blighted Blossom 187—Two Men and a Maid 188—When Love Is Kind 189—Withered Flowers 190—The Unbroken Vow 191—The Love He Spurned 192—Her Heart’s Hero 193—For Old Love’s Sake 194—Fair as a Lily 195—Tender and True 196—What It Cost Her 197—Love Forevermore 198—Can This Be Love? 199—In Spite of Fate 200—Love’s Coronet 201—Dearer Than Life 202—Baffled by Fate 203—The Love that Won 204—In Defiance of Fate 205—A Vixen’s Love 206—Her Bitter Sorrow 207—By Love’s Order 208—The Secret of Estcourt 209—Her Heart’s Surrender 210—Lady Viola’s Secret 211—Strong in Her Love 212—Tempted to Forget 213—With Love’s Strong Bonds 214—Love, the Avenger 215—Under Cupid’s Seal 216—The Love that Blinds 217—Love’s Crown Jewel 218—Wedded at Dawn 219—For Her Heart’s Sake

220—Fettered for Life 221—Beyond the Shadow 222—A Heart Forlorn 223—The Bride of the Manor 224—For Lack of Gold 225—Sweeter than Life 226—Loved and Lost 227—The Tie that Binds 228—Answered in Jest 229—What the World Said 230—When Hot Tears Flow 231—In a Siren’s Web 232—With Love at the Helm 233—The Wiles of Love 234—Sinner or Victim? 235—When Cupid Frowns 236—A Shattered Romance 237—A Woman of Whims 238—Love Hath Wings 239—A Love in the Balance 240—Two True Hearts 241—A Daughter of Eve 242—Love Grown Cold 243—The Lure of the Flame 244—A Wild Rose 245—At Love’s Fountain 246—An Exacting Love 247—An Ardent Wooing 248—Toward Love’s Goal 249—New Love or Old? 250—One of Love’s Slaves 251—Hester’s Husband 252—On Love’s Highway 253—He Dared to Love 254—Humbled Pride 255—Love’s Caprice 256—A Cruel Revenge 257—Her Struggle with Love 258—Her Heart’s Problem 259—In Love’s Bondage 260—A Child of Caprice 261—An Elusive Lover 262—A Captive Fairy 263—Love’s Burden 264—A Crown of Faith

265—Love’s Harsh Mandate 266—The Harvest of Sin 267—Love’s Carnival 268—A Secret Sorrow 269—True to His First Love 270—Beyond Atonement 271—Love Finds a Way 272—A Girl’s Awakening 273—In Quest of Love 274—The Hero of Her Dreams 275—Only a Flirt 276—The Hour of Temptation 277—Suffered in Silence 278—Love and the World 279—Love’s Sweet Hour 280—Faithful and True 281—Sunshine and Shadow 282—For Love or Wealth? 283—Love of His Youth 284—Cast Upon His Care 285—All Else Forgot 286—When Hearts Are Young 287—Her Love and His 288—Her Sacred Trust 289—While the World Scoffed

In order that there may be no confusion, we desire to say that the books listed below will be issued during the respective months in New York City and vicinity. They may not reach the readers at a distance promptly, on account of delays in transportation.

To be published In July, 1926.

290—The Heart of His Heart 291—With Heart and Voice

To be published in August, 1926.

292—Outside Love’s Door 293—For His Love’s Sake

To be published in September, 1926

294—And This Is Love! 295—When False Tongues Speak

To be published in October, 1926.

296—That Plain Little Girl 297—A Daughter of Misfortune

To be published in November, 1926.

298—The Quest of His Heart 299—Adrift on Love’s Tide

To be published in December, 1926.

300—Suffered in Vain 301—Her Heart’s Delight 302—A Love Victorious

[Pg 2]

ROMANCES THAT PLEASE MILLIONS

The Love Story Library

ALL BY RUBY M. AYRES

This Popular Writer’s Favorites

There is unusual charm and fascination about the love stories of Ruby M. Ayres that give her writings a universal appeal. Probably there is no other romantic writer whose books are enjoyed by such a wide audience of readers. Her stories have genuine feeling and sentiment, and this quality makes them liked by those who appreciate the true romantic spirit. In this low-priced series, a choice selection of Miss Ayres’ best stories is offered.

In order that there may be no confusion, we desire to say that the books listed below will be issued during the respective months in New York City and vicinity. They may not reach the readers at a distance promptly, on account of delays in transportation.

To be published in July, 1926.

To be published in August, 1926.

To be published in September, 1926.

To be published in October, 1926.

To be published in November, 1926.

To be published in December, 1926.

[Pg 3]

SUFFERED IN VAIN

OR,

A PLAYTHING OF FATE

BY BERTHA M. CLAY

Whose complete works will be published in this, the New Bertha Clay Library

Printed in the U. S. A.

STREET & SMITH CORPORATION PUBLISHERS 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York

[Pg 5]

CHAPTER I.

A SINGULAR WILL.

Always more or less subdued in tone and tranquil of aspect, the eminently genteel Square of Porchester is, perhaps, seen in its most benign mood in the gently falling shadows of a summer’s twilight.

The tall houses begin slowly, very slowly, to twinkle with a glowworm irradiance from the drawing-rooms to the apartments on the upper floors as the darkness increases. From the open windows float the glittering strains of Gounod, Offenbach, Hervé, fluttering down over the flower-wreathed balconies into the silent street beneath, each succession of chords tumbling like so many fairies intoxicated with the spirit of music. At not infrequent intervals, sparkling broughams whirl past, carrying ladies arrayed obviously for dinner-party, soirée, or opera, in gay toilets, only half-concealed by the loose folds of soft wraps.

At the moment the curtain rises, two persons of the drama occupy this stage.

One is an individual of a peculiarly unattractive exterior—a man of probably some two or three and thirty years of age—a foreigner, by his appearance. It would have been difficult to tell whether recent illness or absolute want had made his not unhandsome face so white and pinched, and caused the shabby garments to hang about his tall, well-knit figure. Seemingly, he was one of those most forlorn of creatures—a domestic servant out of employ.

The expression on his countenance just now, as he[Pg 6] leaned against the iron railings of the enclosure, almost concealed behind a doctor’s brougham which awaited its master, was not pleasant to regard. Following the direction of his fixed stare, the eye was led to a superbly beautiful woman, sitting half-within the French window of a drawing-room opposite, half-out upon the balcony, among some clustering flowers.

This woman was undoubtedly quite unconscious of the steady attention bestowed upon her by the solitary being, only distant from her presence by a few feet. She was a young woman of about three-and-twenty—an Italian, judging by her general aspect—attired in a rich costume, lavishly trimmed with black lace. A white lace shawl, lightly thrown over her shoulders, permitted only gracious and flowing outlines to reveal themselves; but her supremely lovely face, the masses of coiled and plaited hair, dark as night, stray diamond stars gleaming here and there, the glowing complexion, the sleepy, long, silk, soft lashes, resting upon cheeks which might be described as “peachlike,” the crimson lips, the delicately rounded chin, the perfect, shell-like ears, made up an ensemble of haunting beauty that, once seen, could never be forgotten.

Of the vicinity, much less of the rapt gaze of the wayfarer lingering yonder, she was profoundly ignorant, her attention being entirely occupied by a written sheet of paper, held between her slender white fingers. This she was apparently studying with absorbed interest.

The loiterer clenched his fist, malignant hate wrinkling his care-worn face, and made a gesture, betraying the most intense anger toward the imperial creature in the amber and black draperies.

“So, Madam Lucia Guiscardini,” he muttered, under his breath, “you bask up there, in your beauty and your finery, like some sleek, treacherous cat! Beautiful signora, if I had a pistol now, I could shoot you dead, without leaving you a moment to think upon your sins. Your sins! and they say you are one of the best and noblest of women—those who do not know your cold and cruel heart, snow-plumaged swan of Firenze! How can it be that I could ever have loved you so wildly—that I could[Pg 7] have knelt down to kiss the ground upon which your dainty step had trod? Were you the same—was I the same? Has all the world changed since those days?

“I have suffered cold and hunger, sickness and pain, weariness of body, anguish of mind, while you have been lapped in luxury. You have been gently borne about in your carriage, wrapped in velvets and furs, or satins and laces, while I—I have passed through the rain-sodden streets with scarcely a shoe to my foot. They say you refused, in your pride, to marry a Russian prince the other day. All the world marveled at your insolent caprice. I wonder what you think of me, or if you ever honor me with a flying recollection? Am I the one drop of gall in your cup of nectar, or have you forgotten me?”

A quick, firm step startled the tranquil echoes of the square, and made this fellow glance about with the vague sense of ever-recurring alarm which poverty and distress engender in those unaccustomed to the companionship of such dismal comrades.

The instant he descried the person approaching, his countenance changed. He cast down his fierce, keen eyes, and an expression of humility replaced the glare of vindictive bitterness that had previously rendered his visage anything but pleasant to look upon.

This third personage of the drama was one, in appearance, worthy to take the part of hero. He was, perhaps, about thirty years old, with a noble presence, a fair and frank face, though one clouded by a strange shadow of mysterious care ever brooding. The face attracted at once, and inspired a wish to know something more of the soul looking through those bright, half-sadly smiling violet eyes as from the windows of a prison.

The forlorn watcher next the iron railings left his post of stealthy observation on seeing this gentleman, and, crossing, so as to intercept him, stood in the middle of the pavement in such a way as to abruptly bar the passage.

The large kindly eyes, which had been cast down, as if indifferent to all outward things, and engaged in painful introspection, were suddenly raised with a flash of displeased surprise.

[Pg 8]

“Sir,” began the poor lounger deprecatingly, half-unconsciously clasping his meager hands, and speaking almost in the voice of a supplicant, “Captain Desfrayne, forgive me for daring to address you; but——”

“You are a stranger to me, although you seem acquainted with my name,” the gentleman said, scanning him with a keen glance. “I don’t know that I have ever seen you before. What do you want? By your accent, you appear to be an Italian.”

“I am so, captain. I did not know you were coming this way, nor did I know you were in London. I have only this moment seen you, as you turned into the square; or I—I thought—for I know you, though perhaps you may never have noticed me—I knew of old that you have a kind and tender heart, and I thought—— Sir, I am a bad hand at begging; but I am sorely, bitterly in need of help.”

“Of help?” repeated Captain Desfrayne, still looking at him attentively. “Of what kind of help?”

Those bright eyes saw, although he asked the question, that the man required succor in any and in every shape.

“Sir, when I knew you, about three years ago, I was in the service of the Count di Venosta, at Padua, as valet.”

“I knew the count well, though I have no recollection of you,” said Captain Desfrayne. “Go on.”

“He died about a year and a half ago. I nursed him through his last illness, and caught the fever of which he died. I had a little money—my savings—to live on for a while; but all is gone now, and I don’t know which way to turn, or whither to look for another situation. It was with the hope of finding some friends that I came to London; I might as well be in the Great Desert.”

“I have no doubt your story is perfectly true; but I don’t see what I can do for you,” Captain Desfrayne said, with some pity. “However, I will consider, and, if you like to come and see me to-morrow, perhaps I—— What is your name?”

“Leonardo Gilardoni, sir.”

The hungry, eager eyes watched as Captain Desfrayne[Pg 9] took a note-book from his pocket and scribbled down the name, adding a brief memorandum besides.

The sound of these men’s voices speaking just beneath her window had failed to attract the attention of the beautiful creature in the balcony. But now, when a sudden silence succeeded, she looked over from an undefined feeling of half-unconscious interest or curiosity.

As she glanced carelessly down at the two figures, the expression on her face utterly changed. The great eyes, the hue of black velvet, opened widely, as if from terror, or an astonishment too stupendous to be controlled. For a moment she seemed unable to withdraw her gaze, fascinated, apparently.

The little white hands were fiercely clenched; and if glances could kill, those two men would have rapidly traversed the valley of the shadow of death.

Fortunately, glances, however baleful, fall harmless as summer lightning; and the interlocutors remained happily ignorant of the absorbed attention wherewith they were favored.

In a moment or two she rose, and, standing just within the room, clutching the curtain with a half-convulsive grip, peered down malevolently into the street.

“What can have brought these two men here together?” she muttered. “Do they come to seek me? I did not know they were conscious of one another’s existence. What are they doing? Why are they here? Accursed be the day I ever saw the face of either!”

The visage, so wondrously beautiful in repose, looked almost hideous thus distorted by fury.

She saw Captain Desfrayne put his little note-book back in his pocket, and then heard him say:

“If you will come to me about—say, six or seven o’clock to-morrow evening, at my chambers in”—she missed the name of the street and the number, though she craned her white throat forward eagerly—“I will speak further to you. Do not come before that time, as I shall be absent all day.”

With swift, compassionate fingers he dropped a piece of gold into the thin hand of the unhappy, friendless man before him, and then moved, as if to continue his way.

[Pg 10]