Lucknow Sentinel, 1888-03-30, Page 2too
etereee,r
.0 "7 r • • ""... •••?•`: • 4.. r ...
Their Diaraond Wedding. •so he bent over Rome closely -written eheete
ay the bee the old men, walt4g, set itti
e vgil Pad of writlnil-PaPer, Whloll'"w130 sPread open
•
'and tender
"vitEhi9404.7sofe-14,03444,, ,44 041, ,
. thS PeAlor. Ladt.,Vairholislo and
- „
before
the wall aed windoW elmeed the Pelt, PlaY Ootel were chettleg over their °rev/de
mete t shadowe bievia. •
sot' golden eelendere • . work; and -.0eWeld'•Fairhoime ceasing
- se t,eeented. to hover, • ei to h4eaSelf e song whioh Shirley had sung
Lost -between the next vierld'o PuuriPe, and the the night liefere-
- °Ong own' ' " • briskly'aWeY ?rein' the, etehles 'With' hie
lets it, ight?" she •whiseereilewaid-hg' (n 'her .benae in his Pockets, was hemming oettiY
• And the oldinen, Week une tomtit, eremblieg as Oh. Stibyt my' earling, the small evlettetaid
li
Which th her b
bedtime came oi thie), • ' • • • •
,gemeele becteeoee her, „ ' gathered e e eli was never mine
, own,. • .
. -eaewests06 and Shirleyewas thinkint how 'newly. the
''''' • . Answered " Yea,.
. tv, • um her e. An the tremeres ' her true love • ' .
, But her heart was vtith thera tieing tJack among ering over eVairliohne Court. Ati fast as
her tone and Measures. .. • ateare coal bring hint, Gny Stuart was
Long e.go. . • • • . coming to claim his bride; and, little more
Glyor was travelling•over the same ground.
"where is little Osexley, fe.ther ? , Vre.nk and
• ,„,-, children are together, . 4 '' (esti:term- g ansle tilled thean'rettY roem and
Pale at borne • '
•04.40 the eendren ?" the &god blei, Coule minutes, went by While 0 was Wetting for
• gof their household lay etiolate WilIPY 7000
notthe • a re th
And.only e Buoura on Es we , ga .
beeeath th.e snow ;
And even .elie nate& at dew -fan in the aunnY than twelve bourse behind him, Sir Hugh
"Theta.° sateeethe IA men faltered. all the eley the bye, Alice." said Ru.by,. as the
summer weather.
rid rettiness into the shade, Why, how white you are, Shirley You • " I donot think that I have had wish
G " she adde breaking off'
that it was quite a relief. te 'ready must not faint away, or I ahall elope with liberty to West Of since I canee toeSoot-
itieheinee's maternal anxiety'. that, her t rt u the inetent; and how land," FAle answered, BrBiling ; 44 flina bafOra
husband40 nieBe was going to tXt 'thlten'
delicate Igo p
Rebert-hase Mel come?" epee ee to, aim his wife 1 , • ,
• • enlY •the firelight Made arkness visible,
grhel? 140 murratitedentio goothIngs,butbis grief " ehall we 'have the. pleasure. of seeing
. p.m strong and itrong .er, Adonis toentorrow .
Till -it choked -and nva as lie hold ,her
tilL
eerrowel bitter mereiwas, fancy, or did Shirley start under
-hider preI pretty. clor
the pale lips' stanimered ettestionseiullitbles short?' seidwhnuley, liftinb
• anti broken verses, • . brows. om s ou Mean,
Nursery prattle, alt the language of metherb of °here, • but Sir Hugh Glynn Of. Max-
, loving deeds. • • ft to wen ,
whilethe midnight round the mourner, le _ „t
her halide. , • • •
Shirley, looking beWn4eringlY 1)1,0
quaint Owe of the verY, Peleet, softest shade
of blue; was just trifle silent and grave,
but net more so than befitted her 'position
eon bride -elect.; while Guy 'Stuart, who
looked aStremely happy, although; hie
appearance was a little worn and haggard
from, his attendance on his uncle and his
long journey, was radiant, end talked with
enimation which Wits untemalto him, now
and then bending, towards 'Shirley witb.
some- low -spoken words under cover of the
general conversation, which brought the
color into the fair Pale cheeks and made the
long lashes droop over, thelevely hazel elm.
It would have Been difficult to recognize
Shirley Ross to -night e on the ' eve
of • her wedding -day, as the weary sad.
eyed' girl• wive had, crouched, „ before the
school -mom fire on the day on 'which Sir
Hugh Glynn and Major Stuart came over
to the Court. •
• Oswald; from hie: seat beside Ruby -a
plagehe filled to his, own and that young
lady's complete satisfaction -glanced' cocoa,
sionally. at his cousin, and her face that
night. -perhaps, because it. was ,the last
tine he ever saw it bright and 'Esrailing-e
Heed lona in his memory, Neither Gay nor
_Shirley was a Ldeinonetrativeelover, for,
Major Was the last, man in the
*odd to wear his heart on his Coat -sleeve,
and, Shirley was far too delicate-Mindeato
make's -parade of -a love whieh _seemed to ,
her so sacred and -beautiful; but, when
G ' gray e es went to her face, there was
stilled ea hand, • mew,. • "Adonis, Adonis ?" Alice questioned,
Vor her mu „lax out ot hearing, could hisfeneest very languidly, ' Whom do you mean,
words no 'eager • • 4' Ruby?"
Understand. "Is your menferyt . so exeseedingl
• 'V
e.,-eeeee ee..1,eese
• ,
• r•-:. -,-NrritiVed„teeereee . tRiney'eliandeP VIM, sneke Mtn*?
•0 eleane..., sorry. iii-Erar not," "Alice
There ente-atilleesit on. the .pillow-ahd theteld ' ...AO
.., „men Ibtenedlonely-- . , uswere' d. " Of wire% as Gl-nc 6 Iriend,he
ITU they led hint from the choral:lee, with the' would heVe been 'beat man.. ut he went q
_ '' burden On hiS bre__..9.44t, ,s. ....k..,.,. A ., c,....tP to, Cannes to see hhemother, who was very no mistaking the look in them, and evening
ro thiegewite elecdet/V 1°1'1' nin""‘"'"'" --- ill and strangely enough, we have heard voioe softened 'whenhe spoke to her,so that
..........- ---„, - . . 9.. • 9 • • . • SI
Lily at rest. ' nothing Pi nun since." over Y Word seemed like a cares% BO tender,
i
YOU
"Does he know that the - marriage was itii intonation. • - •
ef Fere you well le he sobbed, e myes Place to -morrow?" inquired • Miss It weer e. pleasant eleuer.table, utterly
wilt meet the babes balm me;Sarab' . -tali
Tie a little while, for neither or the Parting Capel. • , • „ serene and cloudless; • and the. nex.t day,
- - teng abide, ' . e "1 presume Guy has, writtbn to him," when the storm -clouds broke with violence,
.2%r you will come and call me soon, 1 im
- -mi 834.' said Alice languidly. , 4 those present looked back at it with long-
° '‘' `'Iteaevegillyourreesitteree'•ele . '' ' eL - ' "And he. has sent you no present, Shie- ing wishes that the by -gone hours could
' • `...- , • leyr exClaamed Miss -Capel. ' I should come seam. , • •
It was even °°• . The 1313ring-time' in del" di have expected him to give rin, e. diamond: The only shadow which/ell, and that but
Seareely shed its oroharahlossoms ore the ofd, bracelet at the least, : Shirleyf, why. don't lightly, on Shirley's face that night was
. men closed his oyes;- • • - you (Mower?" she added in e few minutes. viten She thought of Jack, on is way
winter treading, ,
And they buried him .ey Sarah, and they had "What do you mein by sitting there as teorose the "deep, deep sea" to his new
/ their, i43treeskiudelve.vaing7,,, ,. silent as a mouse ? Do you think Sir H. ugh *brit and hie hew home; but her sorrow
is wearing the Willow? Good gramme, for Jack's absence was almost completely
child how you shivereal e.-1.,Wleat"sathemett,7 ted b the thonght of the letter he
_
wOlild„70U 'Jae that,' ShirlOY, dear," added
the gal penitently, seeing that her light
wOrde had given far more pain, than she
thought, 44 forgive me; I ,am so, sorry."
Shirley put her little fingers softly into
Ruby's haled and smiled her pardon; and
then Miss Catel ,sauntered away to the
piano and began to play softly and sweetly.
She was still playing when the 'gentlemen
came in and coffee was served; and fithir;
ley's fair face grew perfectly serenn as Gay,
after a few words with Ruby at the piano
and exchanging a few senten.eeswith lady
Fairholme by the. fire, made his way to
her side and set down, with an air of per.
feat content, in, agreat erm.chair by her
elbew. • • e
• e_
," At last!" he said softly, under ,eover of
one of Illendelssohn's "Stings Without
Words." 61.1 thought I should never get you
to myself for nalf an hour, and I have been
positively hungering to hear your voice,
Shirley."
thS• r
eitaadAiy; 6.6 it '04a4aa baPP,)•er now to,
think that My deer; Mother' •Bete. aleff,
"Have yon? You hem borneeip pretty
well, all things oonEddered;" ShO returned
"on seemed in excellent spirits
all through dinner."
' "It was no seeming,' pretty one, he de.
()Wed, smiling. "The good spirits were
perfectly genuine, I assure you. Happy, my
own? I should think I am happy 1 There is
no happier- man in the three kingdoind
than I am to -night." • • •
Shirley/a sweet eyes, with a bright tender
light, in their depths, were raised to his,
and 'Guyemeeting.them, mailed, and, under
cover of her fare -which lay ellen on her
knee, took herlittle fingers fondly in his.
"And you, my dearest, are you happy ?"
So happy," she anewered softly, that
it seems as if my happiness were too great
to last." ,
that elm* her last words to me were, it -
message of thanksto you for your kindness
to her 1"
"1 am glad of that," he mid' gently, "1 •
think, if elieknows how deeply I love you,
rdy dearest, she will he glad that You are
to be mine. What, is bedtime already
"It is getting late," answered Lady'
Fairholme, " and I can't have pale
cheeks to -morrow ; 06,. as we have no range •
in the house, I am going to send all these
rtleg Pent° to bed." •
tore.
. . • . - ,
'
Av.
—
A. Story of Womttn.'il • Faitl4ulness.
is,. it hitter night, and we are going 'to
hem itiOW, I .am'-'etire;", Mies Fairhohne
mead, with.te ain convnieed that
,A0BiVala WOUla B.Cpt takBott, Shir' evenif
° Ruby asked him to do so."
46 Cannot you _imagine a fall ,;,of snow
Iteavy enough to biook up the lines„Shir-
lay?" ("eked Ruby, pulling the pretty pink
ase,near, her hand in playhir revenge for
Per -n9 bride -groom, no wedding !"
eThirley!s little speech. "No song, no'sup.
"Met imagination is not so vivid as
" Good -night,' my own, unti10-morrow:. -
Guy said,With it long close pressure of the
little hand and a long last look at the levely
face -a last look indeed, for he ;leiter ;saw ,
it again as it was then. And Shirle "s1
nothing, but only lifted her eye!! to nd
then tinnedlaway.
As she ssid good -night to her. , uncle, he •
gee° her the letter which he took from his
pocket.,
"1• ane, obeying your mother's§ wish in
giving you this, Shirley," he said, gently,
"1 should have•kept its contents it secret
from you, nal., but • ishe wished it." • .
Thank you, Uncle Gilbert," the girl
answered, a little: mrprised ; and thank
you with all iny heart for all your goodness
to the," she 'added, so earnestly' that the
team rose in the beautiful eyes; and Sir
Gilbert kissed her kindly on the forehead,
and bade Heaven bless 'in a time of
gentleness very unusual, to him.
• "Now,girls don't get -chatting and site
ting up late," Lady Fairhelme said, bruiting_
as she took • her bedroom candlestick and
went her way; and -the girls laughed and
promised, but went nevertheless into
Shirley's room to gee the weddinge,
which had been unpacked. and which
in all its bridal fiseery upon the,Couoh
in
When they had admired it to theic heart's
ocintent; and stroked with gentle white
fingerEi theglossy satin and filmy ince,Alice
and Ruby 'went lway leaving Shirley in •
solitude at last. ' ••
• There was it bright fire burning, in the
grate, and Shirley Istood looking' etit with
&Only thoughtful eyes for a few moments;
then she turned away and began hastily to /
Undress. .As she removed the pretty blue
dress; the letter which her uncle had, given,
llafellstreleTitifklaweardelleletrrepedpitiltl,
AielieReOeIgefieelleileyeeenleeteMfgag-
becauseRiliflittleertheitgleireihednelegiven
her -mother's coneraueication'-lier dean'
dead mothert -
•
She threw the blue dress carelessly amide •
and hastily . el pped on a dreseing- gown :;
then, „mating herself hefere the fire, she
took out the letter. For it few Minutes she,: •
examined. it gently, touching it with tender
reverentfingers and looking at it With eyed
into which great team rose as she'gazed.
She knew the handwriting well; the pretty
graceful handwriting which had been as "
familiar to her. How clearly it brought
her mother beck to her now -the deer ,
gentle Mother who had never given her a
dregs word, ivhe had always Eiympathized•
•
•
"Don't say that, love,' he said quiekly.
"Why 6hould it not last? Shirley, it
shall be the object of my life to keep yon
haPPY2' '
..
"An '.object not difficult to attain, Guy,
while, I have yon."
"'Thank you, My own," he. said fondly;
and there was, a brief happy pause. Then he
asked her gently whether, she hita •miesea
him a little dining his absence. • .
"A little 1". Shirley repeated softly, with
it midden 'tremor in his sweet tones.. "Oh,
0 V Guy, there was not a =mut in the day in
to 1 4teee‘yeatesentiVe,. e•-e-eeetee 1ee'eeeel to oatteiigio-ker 32aore he sailed -the which I did not miss you and long for you,
42mion3hivadairrlittdiLSZ.VirVPaztt easeee.oeteleedieeetnrieleadsiegneeeraineelePie 'eseettleeluelenteart,setelle."
N.twii .
the aoor. 'oil lihitaffyiB-emathowatathd lap; ctdaqtesottztitivianomouvoirra ' 0A-ZeTiMe'c',CheY.tamodereVAVON3
better inane() • Stuart to take her for o heart:felt words which had brought the a e bliditedglatifitieeaingstgeMetileeni;
wedding trip to Calcutta and bade." ' •happe,eteaeseto_ .Shieley'e eyes,' that 'she his etreeg palm,, .
.` "It is not warm in here, Oswald," Mould never again have • comae to -be " Ohe-how I Malta you sometiines 1"
-
declared Alice, in her soft 'languid voice. ashamed- of brother. And Shirley felt Shirley 7coettinued • treniulously. "But I
"1 suppose yen have been out, BO that _You that he would. keep -hie word. tithe Was was never be lonely . SS I was before,
feel the sudden Ohange. Of teroperature."_ thinking Of Jack now tenderly and thank- Guy, .because I had your 'love, and the
"1 did not my. it was warm, ray.' dear f fillet, when her attention was caught by thought of :it made. •me happy, and so
girl," Oesiald Faitholnie answered, laugh- it ,'nanie uttered by Guy's deep rich voice, a proud!" .. .
ing, as he came up to the fire. "It is not mime - which Made Shirley's • heart throb "Proud, deer One ?" he said, "mailing. '
Warm by any 'Means, but frightfully hot. tast and euriously. "Yirs-so7prond that you who areta.good
Mimi Capel, how can you endure it ?" he . • ,,Ry. the way, Sir Gilbert," he Was say- and generous and noble --no, I will 'peek,
added, bending down to have it ' glinipse of Mg, "can yon tell nte anything about air. -I have not promised to obey yet, • you
Ituby'Ef pretty blushing 'face, which she was Glynn? ' I wrote to him at Maxwell; but know-ethat you should have for
concealingoognettislilywith a greet feather I have received no andwer; an1. k should:be such a foolish girl; With nothing to• realm-
• extremely sorry if he is no present to- m nd but -
,
'you give -it eredite-forP--Shirley-said_
• "Is it not ?" langhed Alice. "1 believe
the more euggestion has made'yOu. as White
an it ghost, only I cannot see your face.
hope it will not snow," she
tinned • preetically. "11! it does, it Will
.spoil the whole 'effect of our wedding
"It not Mattereto: as," Ruby' said
merrily.' " The snow will make those
' §renat velvet dresses of ours kook delightful,
however . dettimental it may be to
Shirley's • satin and leioe. And it does
snit " in the least matter how 612e looks,
• :groom!". t • • ,
now that she is preiided. with a bride.
Shirley langlied, as r thoughts went
with a little ihnocent vanity to the wetly
'Arose of satin and lace which had come
...front Paris on the preview day. It did not
matter her how `shelooked in any eyes
but Guy's, and she felt Pretty sure of :what
he would think of her. '
"1 wonder you did not blioose to be mar-
ried in a trave.11ing-dress, Shirley. Itis get-
ting very =Soli the fashion," Ruby remarked
after it pause.•
"1 should have liked „it," /dhiriey, said
.gently, "but Unole-GilbeiteVatikindendugh
M wish me to have •it' real . wedding -dress e
and now I am Very glad, *awe I shalllike
to have it." e • •
•. "And it will be verYeiseful to you when
you; pin, Ruby remarked. You COO Wear
it it all the balls the regiment will give for
• • • •
on't-endine Reel enjoy Rel. said morrow." Rut What 2" Guy asked softly; smili4g.
Ruby demurely, glancing up at •him V71 e -d7with Lady :• Glyim," et-her-prettyeeonfusion. '
IiiiiTsWetalia-rkenyee:-"-Are---yori-goifigjeto- -answered.Sir Gilbert_quiettge " He won't " lent my !eve for You," she vriiispered.
9" be resent, Stuart, althii-lig.Fore'sdrse Lady: —,i-Mr7darling," Gny said...tenderly,
• " straining with SOMO difficulty his inelina-
tion to take her in his arms and kiss the
sweet lips which made snoh pleasifig can-
Ifeseions, 44 how cat I thank yen for such
pretty word's ? They are so pleasant; Shir-
ley, and they make me so happy." ,
"Do they Guy?' De they really make you
happy?, I like to think that."
• " Then you may think so, sweet."
"Gu y," she mid with sudden ,earnest -
tees; her face paling withintense feelitg tie
she turned to him, " I think, :if anything
came between us now, I Could. not bear Jt.
I should die, : . I,-
" Thank heaven that nothing can," he he
turned earnestly; and Shirley experienced
bit pleasant feeling of being loved and
Protected that every shadow fell away; and
the perfect pelmet Guy's face was reflected
on her oWn. ;
• Meanwhile the rest of tne -party were
amusing' themselvei asthey thought best.
Oewald had replaced Ruby at the piano,
the station, Captain Fairho me .
"Yes. jnet 'imagine the long dark
lonely drive," he said ruefully. "Shir-
ley, you ought be deeply obliged, to me."
• "So I am, OsWald," Shirley answered.
.
"It is veryeessy to say so. • I say, Miss
Capel, don't you call it unparallelied devo-
tion? I had gra° made up my mindto
marry Shirley myself, qua she throws Me
over in the most unfeeling manner, and
aotualiy.expeots me to go, and meet my for-
tunate rival." • ,
"Poor. fellow !" Itnby ' • said in
hei pretty soft voice. " He molly is to
be Pitied l' :
" There is Only one person when pity I
care to, hive," 'he answered softly; and
then he added' in his usual voice, "Any
commands for Guy,Shirleytekhadebetter
be off:" • '
• "Shirley will say What she has to say to
Guy herself," Ruby, said Merrily. "Be nff ;
and, if you are going to drive,. mina ")ou
don't pitch Major Stuart out under a jeal-
ous inspiration." "
"A happy thought! I will ad Upon it,"
said Oswald, gayly as he left the mem
For sonie little time longer thegirls at
men the fire, Ruby Merrilyteasing Shirley,
about her abstraction, and holding. with,
mocking sympathy her little iewelled
watch within an inch 'of the bride-eleot's.
p'retty eyes. ,
Dahomey be Corning yet;
' Though he len% coming now.• ,
For what I thought a swinging gate
Is but it swinging bough,
sung Capel gayly as the dressing -bell
rang, and the • girls etarted up from
their lounging attitudes and prepared to
take flight. •
.; "Don't you intend to dress for dinner,
Shirley.?" asked Alice inerrily, as Eine
'reached. the door and, turning, saw her
cousin •standing 1,7 the fire, ,a slim
graceful ifigure ' bleak velveteen, ,
with it silver dovsollat claiming her white
throat:
"01 courie ''does,"' laughed Ruby;
following. Mists Fairhelrae. Leave lier
alone; she wants a minute to prepare her-
self for the 'startling newa that the line is
blocshed at'. Weldon that; unless Bleier
Stuart travels by balloon; he can't be herb
to -morrow," •
• The girls disappeared; their gay ErWeet
voices and little high , heels sounding
merrily in the picture -gallery without"; but
131firley !toed where theyhad left her, look-
ing into the Are as if elle saw it pleaeint
picture there. • • '
minutes pawed; then the room
lode opened softly, and the intruder came
forward quietly arid "noiselessly. • 'There
came' gentletouch Shirleoe's shoulder,
and when she turned round she found lune
self the entbrace of two strong arms;
which folded. hor so tenderly, yet eo
closely„that 'it 'teemed if they would
Fairholme sent him an invitation.
"Lady Cilynn,hie beert very ill for some
menthe, 'Lady. Fairholme said; "and she
became alariningly worse early in Janu-
ary; . and Sir Hugh, who is a Very
devoted 'wont at once. to Cannes,
Where he has been; We conclude, ever
"It is so strange 'he has not written to
Me," Major Stilart remarked thoughtfully.
"But he never was it good correspondent,
Med I suppose he &ea not improve in that
respect. Perhaps we may come ?areas him
in out travels." , • , ••
"What an ettremely, handsome and
agreeable man he is!" said Lady Capel,
it her 'mania high -bred voice. I think
there is no doubt that he will remain
longer abroad than is absolutely nenesserY.
He is not a man to neglect ouch an
estate as Maxwell; and there are other
attractions, I fancy,: in this Part of the
world:"
"But guy has pent in bis papers," Shir:
• ley mid, smiling. "I 'am not to be an
•officer'6 wife at all, Ruby. Sir Jasper
wished it so much that Guy was ,obliged to
eps Ye in. I am sure he felt it very .keenly
though, for he was greatly attached. to
onto.' " • • '
"Oh; I did not know! And you -aro
yen glad or , Shirley?" inquired
• "1. think am sorry," • Shirley
=said. "But of course it does not nutter
oi Of course pot," Ruby, retiiined,
Iaugh-
ing. ,c3roti will be happy anywhere with
•e Shirley entiled, and, althotigh her face
toes in the shadow, lovely rose -pink col.
ore, it from chin to brow for it montent.
RAW bentforwardon her chair, and, look-
• ing down at her With a little meaning
stalk, drew her slim white fingers over the
hot cheek.
44., Answered,' " ehe quoted gayly,. ", in
red letters.1, Aliee, will you have some more
Thank riu, uby. Iteally it is* a shame
to trouble yea; but ani so. delightfully
, aomfortable," answered Miss Fairlioline
aPologeticielty from her sofa. "Shirley, you
• are a 'toff gieir ,
" Writ:5Y is'privileged on this mat day of
' her liberty," said Ruby, tut olio poured \ out
aoriteleaand,took it to Alioe'e Elide. Wtell
let her be happy as long as she can, poor
• girl. She has not much longer. to be eolik,
eho added; he elm returned to her mat and
, again drew -Shirley'e dainty' head to its
resting -place. Stroking it fondly with her
little jewelled hand.
After that there • was it short 'silence ifl
the pretty Arent 'room.. Outside the snow-
clouclo, Were gathering dark and heavy and
threatening but within all was bright and•
Warne and :Olieerful. Tho household were
tilt busy and ,Ististling; the maids; as they
-went about their tasks, were Wondering
What St. Valentine Would 'bring them on
the 1310frOW. • -
11• rbfar Sir Gilbert !WW1 at 1119
Miss Fairholme blushed, and her niother,
glancing at leer, *trailed a little, encouraging
smile. Shirley, bending over her plate, was
white even to the lips. ' It was strange how
Sir HugheGlynn's naine always affected
her; but she could not forget his last words
to and the kiwi he had left .•Eipon her
cheek when they had parted.' She 'felt
bitterly ashamed and . humiliated when
she thought of it but she had decided
not to tell (lig y.et. Later on, when
they were, old married people, she would
tell him, when Jack should have proved
'himself truly penitent and fully retrieved
his error. • ' ' • .
Wh'en she looked up again, the comer-
sation•.had drifted away from Sir Hugh
so perfaitly-with-"-ter-jorand-with-her
girlish sorrows! .A.h,,how Joyful shelwould
have been Co:Eight -teithink-that -her-little •
daughter was so happy 1 How pleaded she
would have felt! . How proud. and fond ' of
Guy she would ham. been, end what it
devoted son he would have been to her!
Ah, darling Mother 1 • ' .
\Looking et the 'letter, with its tender
superscription," To my dear little daugh,
ter," 'brought back clearly. that last sad
-Journey and the anxiety she had shown to
.„ ,
tell Shirley something. What was it?
she would, know now! These broken
piteous sentences would soon be explained. •
Tenderly, with fingers'which. Were a little,
unsteady in their eagerness, Shirley broke
the see' of the letter,. and, drawing the
lamp nearer, her, spread out the closely -
written ehe s.
(To be continneee, • •
anal had wandered to other topics; •and
preEiently Lady r airliolme looked. at Lady
Cepa, and the ladies left the dining -mom,
and went into the great drawing-room,which
was brilliantly lighted to display :the wed.
ding gifts which had been laidont upon
table, and which very numerous and
costly.
itt .writIng.table his face grave and satenea
neiter let her go,.
CHATTER,
A .itery pleasant 'party withered round
thedinner-table Fairhohne &art on the
evening of Guy's eppetteance, and the 'con,
Venetia,* Was ,cheerful Batumi:tate& Even
Sir: Gilbert throve •off hie netted reserve in
his wish that Shirley's het tight at Veie-
Wale should be it spleasent, ono:Iran& Lady
,Fairhohne %Seconded 'hint adinirably; 712the
bereell was thoroughly glad that Shirley
tvenld so Mon totted:Who an Inmate of the
sienet. •I'slot tha1. eh° disliked her -oh, 'no!
and was playing the, " Wedding -March,"
with smile upon his , epee, and his dark
eyes full .ef fan and tenderness, fixed 'on
Ruley'i Pretty brunette face,. as she steed,
resting her elbow against the piano, with
an expression of amusement and some other
feeling fighting for the maetery upon her
mobile features. Alice was at the other end
a the reom,.•playing bezique with. one of
Oswald'e . friends, who had already fallen
desperately in love with her and who, at -
though not such a desirable role as She
Hugh Glynn, wag by, no incans a
" detrimental." '
Sir Gilbert, from his • arm -chair, , was
glancing,. occasionally at his piece,, and
seemed in doubt or hesitation as he did so,
for his face woe° a slightly troubled look,
and therevas a very 'anemia expression of
Magdalen in his blue °yea'. Ile lig not like
the idea of ,clouding the happiness on Shir-
ley's fade; but in his breast -pocket lay.the
letter which his shit& had been anxious
about during her last hours-ethe letter she
had intrusted to Shirley for her uncle, and
Which Contained, written by herself for her
daughter's.perusalthe story of her life:.
Seiddenly the loud triumphant notes of
Oswaltr's music Ceased,. .ancl his fingers
wandered into it soft' quaint melody, and,
after a Minute's prelude, his rich tenor
voice rose softly and clearly, singing these '
words-
'
Linger. oe gentle time . •
Linger, (Yradiant grace of bright to -day!
Let not the hour's chime . •
Call thee away.
Thit linger near inc still with fond delay; •
The two elder ladieEi epeedily, composed
themselves in attitudes.of repose on either
nide of the tire ; Shirley set down in' a Jew
chat, a little 'apart, and felted her hands
in her lap, Peeking very sweet and thought-
ful and. happy e Alice and Ruby stood by
the ttible, admiring, the beautiful parure
of diamonds which old Sir jasper
Stuart had sent his embryo niece, and
which was a royal gift in the way of beauty
and value: •
44 Afters% Madam Shirley," Baby said
gayly; coming to Shirley's with it
laugh in her sweet dark oyee, • "yon ,htvve
not married a poor youth with tottlY his
love , for , a dower: • It is all very fine being
disintereeted in ming, but I felt quite eine
that you wain itwarethat Major Stuart had
e very wealthy, Uncle, whose favorite
hePheW he is and whose heir no doubt he
will bo."
Shirley looked up and smiled, but there
was a ehadow Of path in her beautiful eyes
whioh Ruby did not see.. '
. "Do you, remember hove you odd you
woad thrtity-liemeeverlereeriebeeemitor, if
you got the (Silence?" continued Ruby mer-
rily. "You have"not forgotten it, Alice,
dare say." ,
"Don't remind me of that to -night,
Ruby," Shirley entreated, with it quick
tone of pain in het hive Voice which 'Iteby
heard. • ,
'
"Doer forgive rot l" she Said,softly. "1
oke in jest -I au not:mean to hurt ph.
1
. • crhe Corspt,ancl tim3
The corset threatens -to -follow the bustke,
nto oblivion. Many ladies are abandoning. •
it, In Order to do this all such things as
waist bands of skirts must go also, as part
of the business of the corset is to prevent ,
said battle from cutting into the body.
Ii2 order to dispense with bands' frooke
must be Made on it princesse foundation, ,
so that "their Weight ie heng upon the ,
shedders and not the hips.. Many, ladies
have greedy adopted that style of:dreee, •
but nobody wOurd suspect them, JO they
drape and trim to look qttite
'breaking, mind -weakening veva'
--Dress Reformer. •- • • .1'
Some fusseenlinded male his taken the
trouble to compile statistics of-theeizeseif
New York ladies' corsets,with thee remit
that lie has discovered the average dimen-
dolls' of stays around the waist' to be
twenty-three niche% Or *just feur inches
smaller than the natural waiet of the
average women is oupp?:?sed to. be. Upon
this fact he. comments with groat serious-
ness, . and even goesthe length of attrihut-
ineto this•compeession a thousand deaths
per annum. -Albany (AT: Y) -Journal.
Linger -for thou art mine.
What dearer treasures can the Future bold?
What sweeter ilow'rs than thine
Can, she unfold --
What seceptis tell my heart thciu haat not told?
Linger: I ask no Mere ; .
Thou art enough forever -thou alone.
What future can restore, •
When thou art flown,
All that I hold from,thee' and call my own ?,
That is it dreary. little song,' Guy said
Softly. That future will tot take Way
our joys, my darling, and it may hold' aeaver
treasures' for Me° ,
." It would he difficult for it to do that,
'dear," Shirley softly returned: "Oh, Gest,
I can iinagine no happinese greater thee
°I'l‘risiIn°cWani'''' said liajor. Stnart.: "1 can
imagine you and alene together, sweet
and that gonna a ranch pleasanter state of
things to me even than the present. Do
you think you will egret your ,
-hat oho was so pretty, so dangeroU y •
pretty, and her levelineee go threw Alice's I Weald not have grieved you for anything. shidey, 2,0
. ,
The Ideal DlOyvapaper.
'\ Making of newspapers is it lousiness, and
Why should not newspaper men be allowed
to manage their occupation in 0. business •
way? They cater to public tastes; -they,
bid for public patronage, and to do this
they must furnish what the pit vvante.
If the public does not watt i 1 new's-
paper, so much the v.terse for the public., •
The saine public that, rejects theideal boot ^
and the ideal bonnet has time and again
spurned the ideal paper from it and would
have none of it. Stogit in an „ideal Irene -
paper usually is worth all the way frora 15
cents to it dollar downward.
•
The Servant of the Future.
• Madare-Can you cook chloral 'cro-
quettes ? • '
Cook -Yes, wedeln. '
Madam -Can , you make 'a hasheesh •
omelette? '
Cook -Yes madame.'
Madame -bo you apes& 'Volipuk
Cook -Fluently. ' „
, Madam -Well, I think you will do.
"Whet inade you .hesitate and oturrible
so?"asked,the bride who haa abandoned
Wide -1410d to beeome the wife .of it young':
travelling man. "1 titildret help 110 • r
preaaed,Vile never had any petiotical
experience." And there was it -family quar-
rel right therenild. -thew
„ , ,