The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-06-21

that Gilbert should have obeyed her iniunc-
ton: to see him only once more would have
been such great comfort. But then it
might have made her lot even harder vet to
bear
Gerald Bayne was constant and open in
his devotion, and before Il week the change
III Phebe' prospects was known all over the
village or course everybody pitied Gil
bert and blamed Phebe, except a few ambi-
tious young ladies who did not see how any
body could be expected to resist the temp
tation of being mistress of Gerald Bayne's
fine house, and being considered the grand
est lady in Rockport.
Two weeks passed and Phebe had not
seen Gilbert except once at church, when
his stern, set face, and the cold, contemptu-
GUS glance lie gave her made her shrink
The Lapwing was to sail on the next day,
and as it happened the Winged Rover was
to be ready then TO proceed on her voyage,
and Rockport lads and lassies, eager to i'm
prove every opportunity to have good
time, determined to give them little par
ty by way Of farewell. 1t was to be in the
town hall, and the Rocliport band had been
practicing vigorously for week past in
preparation for the event.
Gerald Bayne was very anxious that Phe
be should go, it would be such a fine oppor-
tunity to parade bis triumph before Gilbert
Drew's eyes; but Phebe at first refused, de-
cidedly. But as the time drew near. sucb
an impatient longing grew over her to see
Gilbert's face once more, that she consent
ed to go. 1t would be more pain than
pleasure to see him unde such circumstau-
ces, she said to herself over and over AGAIN
but the longing remained too strong to he
resisted.
And if she went she must be the gayest
OF the gay; she must not wear her heart up-
on her sleeve. There were two who would
be there who must never know how GREAT
her pain was Gilbert Drew, because if he
knew it he would insist upon an exphna-
ton which she could not give him, and be-
cause he would forget her more easily and
so suffer less pain himself if he believed her
tickle and heartless, and Captain Matthews
for another reason
Aunt Jane brought out the white India
muslin that was to have been her bridal
dress, and insisted strongly upon her wear
ing that.
You viii have finer wedding dress than
that, now OF course, and it will be Just
the thing exactly to wear to the great par
ty--"
''No, no, | can't wear that I never will
wear that!' and great sob shook her
voice. Aunt Jane looked at her in wonder
and perpleXity, then put the dress away
without word.
A week before the party Gerald Bayne
sent as present to his betrothed dress of
pink Canton Grape, the loyeliest thing that
ever was seen, which he had bought out of
a ship that had just come into port. There
never was prettier picture than Phebe
made in that dress; the bright pink was lust
what she needed to brighten her pale cheel,
and in the making Of the dress, Miss Simp-
kins, the village dressmaker, had achieved
wonder, having gone to the city to get
patterns; 1t was be-bowed and be-pufIed
and be-panniered like any city bellies ; and
Aunt Jane, surveying Phebe with admiring
eyes, after she was dressed for the party.
said to herself that in the whole State Mr..
Gerald Bayne could not have found q fairer
or sweeter bride. And for her was it not
better that her beauty should be splendidly
set off, than that it should be half hidden
by its commonplace surroundings as the
wife of Gilbert Drew.
When Phebe entered the hall that night
leaning on Gerald Bayne's arm, the first
eyes she met were Gilberts, neither stern
nor reproachful, but merely coldly con-
temptuous.
lie had driven her out of his heart utter
ly, she thought, with numb pain at her
heart that was like despair. After that she
was gay with scarcely an effort, so wildly,
recklessly gay that everybody stared at her