HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1887-4-22, Page 7italtiL 22, 1887. THE BR,LJSSEL.S PO$T
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THE ACTRESS' DAUGHTER* gimes na lir°yt urptt ice n alarming
er ,face`°was
telt
TJfE MISTRESS OF RUM:MOND) ROUST,
A TALI: 077 WRONG AND Rr:,11 OR:SA.
By iilrs. MAY Afl'l:,"i FLAMING,
IiMING,
Anther or •• i,e•1. Fora li n"Itu,l ..:Hili
A aid's 4eereq" Lto., Ittc.
habitants, crowding to every door anti
window, in a magnificent carriage, with
silk volvet cushions, drawn by two
beautiful horses in silver -mounted har-
ness, and driven by a gentleman looking
like a lard bishop at the very least.
Oh 1 it was too muchhappinosa 1 She,
the descendant of many Skamps, to bo
thus honored 1 What would her ancient
parents say could they look out of their
graves and behold this glorious sight?
Wouldn't eho be looked up to in Burnfield
for the future, and wouldn't she carry
her head high, though! Why, not one
in all Burnfield but Mr. Barebones, the
parson, had been invited to dine with
the "squire," and neither Mrs. nor stiles
Barobones had ever seen, much less
ridden in, his carriage. That was the
red-letter day in all Miss Jerusha's life.
Slie was sorry, very sorry, when the
carriage drew up before her own door,
and the dignified coachman, touching
hie gull -bonded hat to her, drove off,
andleft her with a heart swelling high
with pride and exultation, to enter her
dwelling.
She found Georgia sitting in hor fa-
vorite seat by the window commanding
a view of the river, a book lying list-
lessly between her fingers, hor eyes 'on
the floor, her thoughts far away—far
away. Mies Jorusha entered, dropped
into a seat, and then began a glowing
harangue on tbo glories and splendor of
Richmond House.
Georgia moved hor chair, turned her
bead aside, and listened like one deaf
and climb. Long and eloquently did
the old lady expatiate on its beauties
and pomp, but Georgia answered never
a word.
"Ah, that heiress, or whoever gets
him, will have good times of it," said
Mise Jorusha, shafting her head by way
of 1r windup. "What do you think,
Georgia, but I asked him if he was
really a-goin'to bo married."
There was no reply; but Miss Jorusha
was too fu11 of her subject to mind this,
and went 011 :
"Says I, 'I hear you're a.goin' to be
married, Mr. Wildair,' and he larfs. 'Is
it true ?' says I, and he nods and begins
eatin' peaches, and larfs again. 'To a
heiress ?' says 1. 'Yes, to an heiress—
'monsely rich,' says ho. 'That's what
I'm a-gom' to marry her for.' 'Marry
her for her money l' says 1; 'oh, Mr.
\Vildair, ain't you asbamod?' No,' says
ho, lading all tho time, and giving mo
on,. of thoso queer looks out of thorn
handsome eyes of pian, 'Well, you
ought for to be,' says 1, rail mad. Is
she , u& .1ookin'?' says I. ' Beautiful,'
Saye Ile; 'tile most 1:andsome gal you
over seen: 'I don't believe it I I don't
believe it!' says I. 'Sho couldn't bo
handsomer than my Gooney, nohow;
it's clean oupossible,' says ."
As if the had received a .spear -thrust,
Georgia sprang to her foot and turned
upon Miss Jerusha such a white face
and such fiercely blazing eyes that the
good lady recoiled in terror, and tho
word died on her lips.
"Did, you dare r' she exclaimed pas-
sionately.
"Dao what? Oh, my doar 1 What
hen I done, Georgia 2" oried out Miss
,Jerusha, in dismay.
But Georgia olid not reply. Fixing
her eyes on Mimi Jerusim's face with a
look she never forgot, she turned and
lefb tho room.
"Awful sarpints 1 what hov 1 done ?"
said the dismayed Mise Jerusha. "Pm
always a-cloiug something to make Geer.
oy mad without kuowin it. Can't be
helped. Gracious 1 if I only bad a house
like that 1"
All through Burnfield spread the news
of the visit extraordinary, and before
tljglit it was currently known to every
gossip from one end of it to the other
hat young Squire Wildair, forgetting
the ancient dignity of his house, was
going to be immediately married to
Georgia Darrell, and bolero long this
rumor roaohed the ears of Miss Jorusha
and err. Wildair himself. From the
latter personage it provoked a peculiar
smile, fell of quiet moaning, but Miss
Jeruaha hardly know whether to be
pleased or otherwise.
For hor own part Rho would have con-
sidered tho rumor au honor ; but Geor-
gia was so "(moor." Miss Jorusha would
riot for all the world she should bear it.
Other girls might not mind each things,
but silo was not like other girls, and the
old maid had a vague, uneasy idea that
something terrible would bo the conse-
quence if sho hoard it. Bat Georgia did
nob hear itThooewasaquiet, conscious
delectation' Of Mrs. and Miss Boteoy
diguityabonther of Into years that made Pornvinkto.
distance and,mind to Miss .Joruslta was thinking of a gond
people kdep their
wheal they wore talkilpg; oma not 0veu many things m general, but Georgia's
that must inveterate of gossips, old Mrs. unaccountable franks iu particular, when
Tolcluso, would have been 'hardy enough
hold, and the tall, stately aknosen step sounded t n1 ofon thethres.
to put the question to the hauglety, re-
served girl. Therefore, though Emily, mond Wildair stood before her.
and
and Richmond, and Miss Jeruslia, , Mies Jeruaha was always pleased to
every one over the imloeoub age of three have the rich young squire visit her, bo.
years old in Burnfield, know all about cause it added to hor importance in tho
the current: report, Georgia, the most oyes of the pillagers so sho got up With
intoroated of all, never &roamed a brisk, doligbted Trow cl ye do, 'aur(
deeply:
of its existenceplaced a chair for her visitor.
radiant, lighted, leellliant;"her oyes liato
stars, !tor , oawoke .glOWin. ; sho fawned
to have Mina the -fabled o lair of yeah,and life, and hope, and happiness.
"Why, Georgey 1 Myy conscience 1"
exclaimed Miss Jerusha, with a perfect
filmic()on the pronoun in hot surpriee.
But Georgia laughed. Miss Jerusha
could not remember when she Lacs
hoard her laugh before, and tho rosy
sober lighted up beautifully her beans.
ing face.
"What on airUh has 001115 to you,
Georgey?" exclaimed Miss Jorusha,
more completely bewildered than she
had ever boon before in the whole course
of her life. "Why, ono would think you
was enchanted, or something."
Again Georgia laughed. It was perfect
music to hear her, and fairly gladdened
Miss Jorusha's old heart. She did nob
say what had "come to hor," but it
was evidently something pleasant, for no
face had changed so in ono hour as hors
had,
"Never mina, Miss Jotrusha ; shall 1
sot the table for tea? Here, Betsey,
get out of the way. Conte, Fly, mako
haste, Misr( Jorusha wants her boa, I
know."
"Well, gracious!" was Miss Jcrusha's
ejaculation, as she watched the graceful
form flitting airily hither and thither,
like am embodied sunbeam, "if that gal
ain't got as many streaks as a tulip!What will be the next, I wonder?"
At tea -time Georgia was another be-
ing ; and when it was over, instead of
going straight to hor room, as was her
fashion, she took some needle -work that
Miss Jerusha could not sow on after
candle -light, and sat clown to sow and
talk, while Miss ,Terusha sub ab her work,
still digesting her astonishment, and not
quite corbain whether she bad not gond
out of her mind.
Tho clock struck nine. Miss Jcrushu,
who, from time immemorial, had made
it a point of conscience never to sit up
a moment later, began folding up her
work. Georgia, who wale standing with
her elbow resting on the mantol-piece,
hor forehead dropped upon it, and hor
luminous eves, filled with a deep joy too
intense fee smiles, fixed en the green
boughs on the .hearth, now came over,
and, to the great sunrise of the vener-
able spinster, knelt down before her, and
put her arms caressingly around hor
waist.
"Miss .Jerhusa," she said, sof bly, lifting
her dark, beautiful oyes to her wrinkled
face.
"Well, Georgia," said Miss Jerusha, in
a subdued tone of wonder.
"It is nearly six years since you firsb
took me here to live, is it nob ?" sho
asked. Je
"Nearly six—yes," said Miss rusha.
"And since then I have been a Tory
wild, wayward, disobedient girl; repay-
ing all your kindness with ingratitude,
have I not?"
Why, Goorgoy 1"
"I have been passionate, stubborn,
and wilful; saucy, nuportinent, and un-
grateful ; I know I have, 1 fool it now.You were very good to take the per
little orphan girl, who might have :tree:-
ed
t r•v-
ed but for you, and this was your reward.
Ohl Miss Jerusha, dear, best friend that
ever was in the world, can you over for-
give me ?"
"Oh, Georgey 1" said Miss Jerusha,
fairly sobbing.
"I am sorry for what I have done; say
you forgive mo, Miss Jerusha;' e& 1
Georgia, sweetly.
"011, °corgey! my dear little (1oorgey, 1
Ido forgive you," and, quite moltedt
, o1!s 1
Jerusha sobbed outright.
"Dear Miss Jerusha, bow I thank you.
Gay your hand on my head and say
'Heaven bless you 1' I have no mother
nor father to blocs mo now."
"May the Lord in Heaven bless then,
Georgey 1" and Miss Jorusha's handl,
trembling with uuwontecl emotion, fell
on the young stead bent so meekly now,
and: two bright drops fell shining there,
too.
Georgia's beautiful arms encircled her
nook, and hor lips touched those of her
old friend for the first time, and thou
she was gone. And Miss Jerusha found
that there was something now under tiro
SUM
But Miss Terusha discovered, whou
the next morning dawned, that still
another surprise &waited hor.
CHAPTER NIL.
t:rclzttoxu'e NNOnel9 BEETS A MISTRESS:"lOric'le, upon thy wedding-01WDid the fluttering of thy breath
Spook of joy or woo beneath?
And the hue that went and cargo
On thy cheek, lite lines of tains,
k leworl its crimson from the unrest
Or the gladness of thy breast?"
Breakfast was over. Georgia, blush-
ing and smiling beneath Miss Joruslla's
curious scrutiny, had gong back to hor
room, and Miss Jerusha, sitting in hor
low rocking -chair, was left alone with
the bright morning sunshine that lay in
broad patches on the Hoer to the special
Aia sa matters worn getting most de- "Ml alone, Miss ameba, 1" said Mr.
lightftilly complioatod, and Mess ,Taro. Wildair, taking tip Betsey Periwinkle
she's dreams were ggrowing small by the s000nd, who mono pueeing:politely
degrees and beautifully leas, when one around him, and stroking her enabled
evening, about a fortinglit Oa her CO" ,all, not (exactly," said bliss Jam
visit, Georgia, who had boon out fora 011a "Georgia's u stairs, for a wonder,
walk- as very unusual thing for her of g
late days—came suddenly fu, so chin°, I% call her down if you like,"
ed so transfigured that Miss Jerusha, "No—savor mind, said Mr. Wildair.
deOlened her tatting and (moiled her "Miss Georgia dootn't alwaya seem so
•
glad to sactno1:11E4 elle should
bo 111x•
tushed now o0 my account."
"Wall, Mr. Wildair, you see Georgey's
qqiegr; there's never no tellin' what
slle"!l do; if you'epoct her to do ono
thing you may be pretty oerbain she'll
do'xaotly t'otllee. Now, yesterday af-
tecnoon she want out glum as a porky-
piuc"—Miss ,Jorneha's ideas of porcu-
pines were rather vague—.'rand, bless
my stars I if site didn't! coma in a smilin'
like a basket of chips. My 'pinion is,"
said Miss Jorusba, firmly, "that some-
thing's pnum to her ; you needn't believe
it if yon don't like to, but I do."
A smile full of curious moaning broke
over Mr. Wildair's face.
"On the contrary, iny dear madam, I
do believe it most firmly. Not only do
I think soulothiug mune to her yoster.
clay, but I knew ib from positive obeer.
vation."
"Hey ?" said Miss ,Jorusha, looking
up sharply.
Mr. Wildair put down little Betsey
Periwinkle, got up, and leaning his arm
on the mantel, with that same strange
smile on hie face, stood looking down o0
Miss Jerusha.
"What is it 2" said the old lady, with
a puzzled look answering that smile as
if he had spokes.
"My doar Miss Jorusha, 'Imam a favot
to ask of you this nlurniug, agree, favor,
a very groat favor indeed," he soul, with
a light sho had never semi before shining
m his handsome cycs.
1 "Wall," said Mie•: .1eruslla, looking
most doiighxluily pergiusuu, "what i.,
it 2"
"I want you to give mo something."
"You do 1 Why, my eracions 1 1 ain'b
got nuthin' to give you."
"Yes, you have; a treasure beyond all
price."
"Good gracious 1 where ?" said Miss
Jorusha, gazing round with a bewilder.
eel look.
mean—Georgia,"
"Hoy 1"
Richmond laughed. Miss Jerusha had
jumPed as if she had suddenly sat down
on an upturned tin tack.
"Miss Jerusha, Richmond House wants
a mistress, and I want Miss Georgia Dar-
rell to bo that mistress."
"011, my gracious !" cried the over-
whelmed Miss Jerusha, sinking back iu
hor chair.
"Yon have no objections, I hope, my
dear madam."
"011, my gracious I did you ever 2" ex-
claimed Miss Jorusha, appealing to so-
ciety at large. "Marry my Georgey!
M y-ybous0ience alive!"
Richmond steed smilingly before her,
running his fingers through his glossy
dark hair, waiting for her astonishment
to evaporate.
"You ain't in airuest, now," said Niiss
•Jerusha, resting her chin on her hand,
and peering up in bis face with a look
of mingled incredulity and delight, as the
faded vision of the brown silk and the
now straw bonnet began again to loom
up in the distance.
'Never was so much so in my life.
Come, friss Jorusha, say I may have
her,"
"W'hy, my stars and garters ! 'tain't
mo you eaglet for to ask, it's Georgey.
Why didn't you ask hor e"
"Halve already done so. I asked her
last evening."
"Oh -h -h I" said Miss Jerusha, drawing
in her breath, and sending out the ejacu-
lation in a perfect whistle of astonish.
meat at the new light that dawned upon
her. "1 gee now. That's what did it I
Wolf, I never 1 And what did she say?"
"Sho said what I want you to say—
yes."
Bub, look horo," said Miss Jorusba,
to whom tho news seemed a great deal
too good to be true, "how about that
thorn heiress, you know—hey?"
"What heiress 2" said Richmond, with
a smile.
"Why, you know—that one everybody,
said you was a-goin' to bo married to—
that one from the city."
"Don't know the lady at all—never
had the pleasure of seeing her in my life,
Miss Jernsba."
"Wall, now, it 500015 to me there's
suthin' wrong somewhere," said Miss
Jerusha, doubtfully; "why, you told
inc yourself, Mr. Wildair, you were go-
ing to marry an heiress—'mensely rich,
you said. I rocommombor your very
words."
" 4nd so I am ; but Georgia was the
heiress .T• meant—immensely rich in
beauty, and a noble, generous heart."
"humphl poor sort o' riches to gob
along in the world with," said Miss
Jeruslia, rather cynically. "If you
meant (leorgoy all along, what mato
you lot folks think it was to somebody
else—that there young woman from tl.ro
city?"
1`tiehmonalaughod, and shook back his
dark clustering hair.
"From a rather unworthy motive, I
must own, Miss Jorusha, I wanted to
make Georgia jealous, and so bo euro she
liked mo."
"Wall, I novae 1 that tolls the whole
story. She was jealous, and that is
what made her as cross as two sticks.
Well, to bo sure 1 if it alu't funny 1 ho 1
hof ho!"
And Miss Jorusha indulged in Sr sego. '
bar caolliunation for the first time that
Iiiobmond ever remembered to hoar
her.
"I am, glad it seems ;to please you.
Then wo have your consent?"
"Wby, niy gracious, yes! I hamgt the
least objection. I guess not. What do'
your folks say about it?'
"My Telles will nob object. i am my
own mastor, Miss Jorusha, 1lrave
written to toll my mother, and I know
she will not disapprove of any stop 1 see
fit to take," said Richmond, eonlposedly.
"Well, raiily 1 And when is it agora'
to come off 1"
"What?"
'W1 y, the w eddin'; to be :sure." I
"011, there is no use for unnecessary
elolay. 1 apoko to Georgia on bbe sub•
jaeab, and proposed Tuesday fortnight;
but she seems to think that too soon—
in feet, was preposterous enough to pro.
pose waiting, nutilooxb year. Of course,
] wouldn't listen a moment to any such
proposition."
"Of course uot, said Miss Jerusha,
decidedly, thinking of hor brown silk,
which she had no notion of waiting for
so long.
"Do you think Tuesday fortuigllt too
soon ?"
"Gracious, no I 1: canet the two
dressmakers, and have everything ready
before that, quite easy."
" Thank you, Miss Jerusha," said
Richmond, gratefully ; "and as suitable
things cannot he obtained here, 0120 of
the clrossmalcers you mention will go
with MTs. Hanim to the city and pro.
euro a bridal outfit for my peerless
Georgia. Neither shall you, my clear,
kind friend, bo forgotten; and, believe
me, 1 shall endeavor to reward you for
all your kindness to my future bride.
And now for my plans. Immediately
after we are married we depart for New
York, and reinain for some time with
my mother there. Wo will return hero
and remain until the fall, when we will
depart for Washington, and there spend
the winter. Next year we will prcaably
travel on the Coutineut, and after that
—sufficient unto tho day is the evil
thereof;" ho said, breasting off •wibh a
smile. "And now, if you like, you may
call Georgia ; wo must reason her out of
this absurd notion of postponing the
luarriagu. I count upon your help, Miss
Jorusha."
So Georgia was called, and came clown,
lookiug a good deal more lovely, if loss
brilliant, ite hor girlish blushes, and
iles, and shy timidity than sho had
o . 0r boon when arrayed in her haughty
pride. And Miss Jorusha attacked and
ovorwholniod her with a perfect storm
of uoutompbuous speeches at the notion
of putting off her marriage, quite sneer-
ing at the idea of such a thing, and
liichmond looked so pleading that'
Georgia, half laughing and half crying,
and wbolly against her will, was forced,
in self-defence, to strike 11 .colors and
surrender. She was so happy now, so
deeply, intensely happy, that she shrank
from the idea of disturbing it by the
bustle and fuss that must come, and she
looked forward shrinkingly, almost in
terror, to the time when she should be a
wife, oven though it were his. But the
promise was given, and Georgia's pro.
raises were never retracted, and so the
matter was setbled.
That afternoon the stately little
house -keeper at Richmond House was
told that she was to have a mistress.
Mrs. Hamm was altogether too well
bred, and too much of a lady to be sur-
prised at anything in this world ; yet,
when she heard her young master was
going to marry a village girl, a slight, a
very slight, smile of contempt was con •
coaled behind her delicate, lace -bordered
handkerchief, but she quietly bowed and
professed her willingness to start for
New York at any moment. And the
very next morning, accompanied by tho
dressmaker Miss Jorusha had spoken of,
she took her departure, with orders to
spare no capons° in procuring the bridal
outfit.
Never was there a Moro restless, ec-
centric, tormenting bride -elect than our
Georgia. From being positively wild,
she became superlatively wildest, and
drove Miss Jerusha and Mr. Wildair
daily to the verge of desperation for the
next two weeks. Sho laughed at him,
fled from bion, refused to take a walk
with him, or sing to him, and made her.
self generally so provoking, that Rich•
mond vowed she was wearing him to a
skeleton, and threatened awful ven-
geance at some period fast forthcoming.
And Georgia would laugh tho shrill,
elfish laugh of her childhood, and fly up
to her room, and look herself in, and .be
invisible until he had °one.
Georgia wanted Emilytobeher brides-
maid, but when Emily hoard that the
Rev. Mr. Barebones was to officiate on
the occasion, she refused. Georgia, who
was not particular who performed the
ceremony of "enslaving her,•' as she
called ib, asked Richmond to allow
Father Murray to unite them • but, to
hor surprise, Richmond's brow darkened,
and ho positively refused. Georgia was
inclined to resent this at first,- bat then
sho considered it might arise from con-
scientious scruples, and though site hacl
none of hor own, yet sho respected doom
in others, and so she yielded, and Miss
Becky Boreholes, a gaunt damsel,
whose looks were faintly ,hadowecl
forth in bar name, gladly consented to
"stand up" with her ; while a young
gentleman from the pity, a brother
lawyer of R.iclnlloud's, was to perform
Um same officio for him.
And so old Father Time, who jogs on
uurostiugly and never hurries for wed.
dings or femorals, kept on his old road,
and brought tho bridal morning at last.
A lovely morning it was—a gorgeous,
gallon September day, with hills, and
river, and valleys all bathed in golden
haze; just tho sort of a clay our tropi-
cal, wijd•oyod bride liked.
At early morning all Burnfield was
astir, and crowding toward the little
son-sicle cot, to catch a glimpse of the
elegant bridal carriage and gayly decked
Horses, and, perhaps, bo fortunate
enough to obtain a peep a e 1
g 1 ]. t the taPPY.
pair. .
Inside the cottage ail was bustle aril
excitement, Out m tbo kibehen (to bo -
ttin et the beginning, like the writes of
he "House • that Jack Build") Fly had
boon ignominiously cloposod to make
way for the aocompliehodcook front Rich.
mond house; who for the past week had
been concentrating his stupendous in-
tone* on the bridal breakfast, and heel
brought that clgjmluaer to a state of per-
fection such as the eye, nor heart,1101
palate of man had over conceived before,
Theme were also the two fascinating
young footmen, malting themselves
gotieraliy useful with a sort of :lofty con-
desecllsian and dignified contempt for
ovorytliing about them, except whop
they met the withering eye of Miss
Jorusha, and then they 10.1ted down,
and felt themselves dwindling down to
about five inches high. Thergwas Mrs.
Hamm, in bfaok velvet, nothing less„aud
ao state]y;Jana so politely aigi nfied, that
the English language is utterly unable
to do justice to her grandeur. There
was Miss Jorusha,in rustling brown satin,
her wildest dreams realized,perf octly aw-
ful in its glittering folds, enough to strike
terror into the heart of a Zouave, with
a flashing ruby brooch, and a miraculous
combination of lace aid ribbons on her
head, all broke Out in a flay eruption of
flaring red flowers, which were in violent
contrast to her complexion—that being,
as the reader is alreadyaward, decided-
ly, and without compromise, yellow.
And, lastly, there were our two friends,
the Betsey. Periwinkles, lookiug very
much astonished, as well they might, at
the sudden change that had taken place
around them; and, evidently consider-
ing themselves just as good as anybody
there, they kept poking themselves in
the way, and tripping up the company
generally, and the two fascinating foot.
men in particular, invoking from those
individuals "curses, not loud but deep."
There was the Rev. Mr. Barobones,
gaunt and grim in his piety ; and the
Rev. Mrs. Barebouos, a severe female,
with a hard jaw and stony eye; and
there was Mrs, Tolduso, whom Miss
,Terusha admitted just to dazzle with her
brown satin; and there were ever so
many other people, until ib became a
matter of doubt whether the bridal
party Ioulcl have room to squeeze
through.
In the hall stood Richmond Wildair,
loolcing very handsome and very happy
indeed, while he waited for Georgia to
descend. 11:r. Curtis, his friend, so-
splonclont in white vest and kids, loung-
a(l against the staircase, caressing Ins
mustache, and inwardly raging that that
flagstaff of a Beaky Barobones was to be
Ins ris•a-ria, instead of sweet, blooming
little Emily Murray.
Up stairs in her "maiden bower" was
our Georgia, under rho hands of Emily,
and Becky, and one of the spruce dress-
makers, being"arrayed for the sacrifice,"
as she persisted in calling it. And if
Georgia Darrell, in her plain cottage
dress, was boantiful, the same Georgia
in white silk, frosted with seed pearls,
enveloped in a mist -like lace veil, and
bearing an orange wroath of flashing
jewels on her regal head, was bewilder
ingly dazzling! There was a will, glit-
tering light iu hor splendid oriental eyes,
and a crimson pulse kept boating in and
out like an inward flame on hor dark
cheek, that bespoke anything but the
calm, perfect peace and joy of a "blessed
bride."
Was it a vague, shadowy terror of the
mow life before her ? Was it distrust of
him, distrust of herself, or a nameless
fear of the changes time must bring?
She did not know, she could not tell;
but there was a dread, a horror of she
know not what overshadowing her like a
cloud. She tried to shake it off, lo:t iu
vain; sho strove to strangle it at ice
birth, bub it evaded her grasp, alai
loomed up a huge misshapen thing be-
tween her mirror and the shining l,ean-
tiful image in its snowy robes there re-
vealed.
Little Emily Murray, quite enchanting
in a cloud of white muslin, and no end
of blue ribbons, kept fleeting about,
hardly knowing whether to laugh or cry,
and alternately doing both. She was so
glad Georgia was going to be a, groat
lady, and so sorry for losing the friend
she loved, that ib was hard to say
whether 111e laughing or crying had rho
best of it. Aud ihore,.on the other side,
sat Mies Barobones, as stiff and upright
as a stovepipe, hi a crisp rattling white
dross and frozen -looking white lilies and
petrified rosebuds in her wiry yellow
hair, with all the piety ma grimucss of
many generations of Barobones concen-
trated in her.
And now all is ready, and, "with a
smile on her lip and a tsar in her eye,"
Emily pubs her arm around Georgia's
waist and turns to lead hor down
stairs, where her lover so impatiently
awaits tbo rising of his day star, and
Miss Barobones and the trim little
dressmaker follow. And Georgia invol.
untarily holds her breath, and lays her
hand 011 bar breast to stop her high
heart -boating tllab can almost be heard.
mud goes down and finds herself face to
face with the future lord. of her destiny.
And then Emily kisses and relinquishes
her, and sho soaks up with the old deft.
ant look ho knows ea well in his hand-
some young face, and ho smiles and
whispers something, and draws her arm
within his and Hunts to do in. Aud then
Mr.Curhis swallows a grimace, and offers
his aril to hiss 13arebonoe, and that
wise maiden gingerly lays filo tips of
her white laid glove 00 his broadcloth
sleeve, and with a face of awful solem-
nity is lccl in, and the ceremony cool.
mentos, And all through it Georgia
stands with her oyes burning into the
floor, and tho red spot coming and going
with every breath on her cheek, and
1irrdll re Bees that it hes commenced
until it is all over, and sho hears, 'What
God hath joineil together let no man
put, .asuudor,'..lend then there is crowd-
ing around and a great deal of unneces-
spry kissing done, and Emily and Miss
,Jeruslia aro orying, and b,Ir. Curtis and
Mv. Barobonos, and the rest, are shalc-
inghands and calling her "Mrs.Wildair,"
and than, with a ehook and n thrill,
Georgia roalizes,she is metaled.
Georgia Darrell is no •rnoie ; the -free,
wild, tuifettored Georgia Darrell has
passsd away'foteaor, cudGeor ia'\\'ild•
air is tnfetbored no Rigger ; sho rias a
master, for elm baa just vowvod to MAY
Richmond Wildair until "death doth
them part." And her heart `gives a
51001 bound, and then is still, as she
TO BE CONTINiDeIr(.
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