The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-06-27


with her long eyes, deep ears and broad
tongue. Oh, no! Mrs. Woodcock would
have scorned herself with contemptuous
scorning il such an unworthy jealousy mad
crossed her self-assured mind.
So she sat, and sat, and sat, WINE MIS-;
Seacrest sewed and sewed and sewed and
sewed.
Miriam evidently unable to bear the slow
torture, soon found an errand 10 her cham-
Der and found no reason iof returning.
ssWasn't youI sons marriage little sudden
to YOU ?' asked Mrs. Woodcock as soon as
she had collected her ideas. @
Somewhat. But it is SO much better for
young man to settle upon some one young
lady rather than fall into the habit of firt-
ing.'' replied Mrs. Seacrest,- cheerful
satisfaction. rsAnd l have always been in
favor OF early marriages. When people wait
till their habits are crystalzed it is much
harder adapting themselves -"
Mrs. Seacrests sentence was brought to an
untimely end by the stopping of a carriage at
the gate-the doctors carriage, too, with the
doctor himself to drive. E
$50 it seems she knew all the time they
were coming this very day, though she made
it SO vague. Aud there was, as my good
fortune would have it, right in the midst Of
home coming" said Mrs. Woodcock, after
wards, in relating the story to Mademoiselle
Widger. v
Mademoiselle Widger was the milliner who
lived only three doors from Mrs. Woodcock's,
and said ''mon dIeu," to appear like French
woman. She was equally fond of a cup of
tea and dish of gossip, and made all Mrs.
Woodcock's bonnets for nothing.
$50 there l sat and saw it ALL" pursued
Mrs. Woodcock. sand what do you think,
Mademoiselle, but Earnest came in with
lady ON his arm older than his mother"
'.My wife," said he, and you might have
knocked me over with one of your feather
peoples. There was never such surprise
in Throckmorton before"
"Mon dieuP' said Mademoiselle, with
little foreign scream, ''Did you learn how it
happened?"
mo more than the Dead" replied Mrs.
Woodcock, solemnly. Mrs. Seacrest tried
to pass it off with her smooth-it-away maui
mel, but she couldn't deceive me. Icould see
she had hard work to keep her feelings in.
But there she poured the tea and passed the
cake to that old thing as smiling as a moon.
She is such a hand to cover up, and make as
everything is just right that happens to her"
$50 you staid to lunch ?" queried Made
moiselle, helping herself to third cup Of
that beverage from Mrs. WOodcock's found
black pot as she spoke.
Eyes, they asked me and didn't wait to
be denied. l tho usht it would be a good
chance to see the bride, how she looked, and
how she appeared" -,,+-.
'sWell how was ?'' asked the milliner be-
tween her sips of tea.
''She appeared well enough, as far as that
went, il she hadn't seemed old enough to be
grandmother. You know Earnest is master
young looking for his years, and don't sup.
pose he is day over twenty"
'But didnt you have any surmise how it
happened to take placer pursued Mademoi-
selle. 80
''Well, suppose she must have been worth
property" returned Mrs. Woodcock, who
like wise general never acknowledged de-
feat. "But tor all that, don't commend it
in him, and had as lief tell him SO at his
dirner table," r-i
While thus the hidden affairs of the doc
tors family were being discussed and stirred
up in the Hollow, as hen stirs among dead
leaves, on the hill they were being covered
over like the lost Babes in the Wood. 1t was
never the Seacrest fashion to parade the
family skeletons like the family jewels. So
they ate and drank and laughed, and tried 10
look at the elderly bride without shuddering.
But the age was not the worst of it. She
was homely. And her LONELINESS was not
the worst; she was stiff and unattractive in
person. And it was hardly the consolation
that perhaps it should have been to perceive
tuC lOuuDcSS tudI tuC UOy UlluC-
groom had for his aged companion. For it is
really a comfort though a small one, to see
our friends chate under degradation. Ac-
cepting slavery with contentment makes the
captive twice slave.
However, the less the family felt like say
ing sweet things, the more they pressed the
sugared cake, the ice cream and strawberries,
upon their new member. But all this time
there was something in the background wait
I'M tn no hpn1 fs,ru, ord o,o6 fha
bride who had the courage first to couch it.
Earnest" she began, with the dominant
air OF an elderly aunt, ''an explanation is due
your father and mother-and sister," she
added, glancing sharply at Miriam, who was
fairly seasick with disgust. and sorrow and
modification. .. -,-aass4 .H
''Yes, Lily, tell them,'' answered Earnest,
looking at her as though she were sugar
candy.
The idea of calling that old, black, greasy
thing "Lilyr,-
''The truth is, them said Lily, turning
her withered face away from Earnest as
though it cost her an effort, "by the will of
the uncle from whom 1 had my money, UNI
less married before certain date lost it
all. And as kinsman, who was heir-at-law,
was very anxious 10 inherit it,"
'sThe old cur wanted Lily himself" inter
posed Earnest, ''and he thought if he got her
money he would be sure to get her. At any
rate, he was resolved to have that. This was
why we had to be so secret"
Miriam fairly groaned; and even fairy
hearted Mrs. Seacrest dropped her napkin-ring
on the floor, and came up from STOPPING for
it with wet eyelashes. To think that Earnest
had sold himself for this womans gold! So
Mrs. Woodcock down in the hollow, was
right, after all.
But as though she suspected the nature of
their thoughts, Lily went on: 4
81 had some trouble in persuading Ear
nest" she said, looking at him fondly through
her blue glasses, while she patted her gray
carls and settled her cap. (.I knew You
had!' calculated Miriam, inaudibly.) HE
had Abolish notion of waiting till after had
lost my property. But I had a right to it,
and l wanted to keep it."
1--WE had jolly time. though, lodging old
Drymar. He is about discovering nov, Lily,
that he isn't so smart as he thought he was.'
said Earnest, bursting into a joyous laugh
an ! nobody felt the heart to join in.
Then he took from his pocket the marriage
he hal telegraphed to his father to meet him
and his wife at the station not more than
five minutes after she had become his wife.
I'VE had to turn pretty sharp corners to
keep out of Drymar's way" continued Ear
nest, still chucklng. HE thought he had
Lily safely locked in her room, while he sent
fora justice, thinking he would frighten her
into marriage with him, or, at any rate,
keep her away f. ON other men till the day
had gone by. But Lily was better at picking
locks than he thought; and she came to
me, poor thing, so out of breath and fright
ened!"
Earnests voice grew tender, and pitiful at
the thought, and he took Lily's hand in his
with a carpSSinU opSfura ..asft.rI.
Il loved her ever since have been IN col
lege, and she knew it, but we had to keen it
to ourselves on old Drymar's acc punt. And
was dying to marry her, but didn't like
the idea of marrying for money exactly.
However, there wasn't any help Tor it then,
mother, you see. Dryr.Iar was her legal
guardian until she married, or was of GER
tain age. So chun and I fixed her up in her
bridal dress, and here we are ?''
Upon that the irrepressible bridegroom cot
up and kissed his bride, then led her from the
room, saying over his shoulder:
''We will be back directly"
When they were gone a sorrowful Sigh
dubbed out of the mothers soul.
Poor boyp' said she; ''his heart is all
right and cannot blame him ,,