, 1871-02-23

the kids, the slippers, the veil, and all.
Marian smiled, and shook her head.
sae" Nonsense, Oracle. Yet, to comfort
you, please notice I have not on the
wreath" ft.f
The young girl laughed joyously.
"Good'; there's hope yet, then. Hark
there comes Mr.. Grey, now. Shall Isepd
him up:"
A little blush few to- Marian's fair
face. 4r
= " Yes, I'd like his opinion" ....
A moment Liter, aud Winfield Grey
stood beside her.
My beautiful darling! almost my
bride! almost my darling wife ~
H. kissed her fondly, thea stepped
back to regard her toilette.
ga PERI, ct, little Marian. Pure as an
gels raiment, but none too fair for you,
darling. II YOU only were little less
serious"
He laughed as he spoke, but the young
girPs face grew grayer.
.1'' have had such strange feeling,
Winfield. Night after night l dream of a
barren spashOre where are rocks and crags
over which am constantly hpting to- find
you. And there is tall, dark, magnifi-
cent woman, who haunls my dreams
with eyes like very demoness, that seem
scorching my heart out of my body: Then,
when l waken, am so exhausted that
the flight follows me half the day" @
Her wistful blue eyes were lifted to his
face, but she Tad noticed the pallOr
that shifted across the proud, handsome
features as she mentioned the "tall, dark,
magnificent" woman.
He laughed, and smoothed her light
curls away from her forehead. ,.
p" If could but forget the sensation the
vision causes"
Perhaps you don't love me, Marian ~
he said, gravely.
" Oh. Winfield, you know Go; please
don't sly so, you hurt me-"
He kissed her sweet, quiyering mouth,
iusl as Oracle returned to assist Marian
to remove her bridal robes.
"We'll excuse you now, AR. Grey"
she said meirily. a.' I'll bring Marian
down presently, in more hugable form"
He threw the pretty bridemaid kiss,
and went whistling down stairs, happy,
and forgrlfnl Of the 'stall, dark, magnii-
cent woman" ---
III take them off, Graeie," said Ma
rian, as his, her betrothel's footsteps
sounded further away :" but, if 1 spoke
the truth from my heart, should say 1
think I'll never pat them on again."
Oracle glanced in uHappreciative Curl
ositv at the bride elect. ssT
's You talk so, and still are sure you
love Mr.. .Greys"a .i
A glorious light came into her blue
eyes. a D.. va
= Love him. Oracle You never can
know how much" -.-a-.
g Then there's no danger that you won't
wear this in old Trinity to>morrow at
midday" returned matter-of fact Oracle. +
3 = - vaF
It-was new grave, over which the
flowers Of but seven weeks had bloomed; at
its head stood costly tomb-stone, and a
wreath of immortelles was tWined about
il. '4
On its snowy white surface were carved
letters that were iinspeakably precious to
fond hearts aud the letters read thus:
"Sacred TO WINFIELD GREY,
Aged 2S." i- a'
On the high. swee, scented turf, knelt,
in pitiful abandon, a young, fair-haired.
girl, whose black robe swept the spot
where her darling lay at rest.
She did not moan or cry, but unspoken
agony wasmaking her frame culver with
deepest emotion. l.1r ao.sls-
A little away, standing defiant and
stormy, was a LOble, commanding woman,
h T sable garments trailing to the very
sides of Winfield Grey's grave.
Her had, bright eyes were watching
the fragile form that was kissing the sod
50 passionately, all unconscious of the
presence Of any one, till her own name,
spoken il clear, musical tones, startled
her. -t 5.
.'Marian Thorne -
She sprang to her feet, and gazed at
the.intruder.
:" spoke to you, Marian Thorne, be-
cause l have right to do so. You loved
him, but not half SO much as 1 did
there, don't scream, for 1 am telling the
truth. l wOrshipped him; he hated me.
You loved him; he worshipped you.
That's all the difference. You were 10 be
his wife; Twas cast off ! cast off, Oh,