Mississippi Democrat., 1876-06-10

y
proposals as Il bad been 90 trace the
workings Of Gwenda's conflicting In.
Clinations.
Sir Gore read the acceptance"
With the calm complacency OF fnlhll-
ed expectations, and pennsd q brief
note 10 his lawyer, requesting his
presence about settlements, etc.
pending hIs approaching marriage.
But Earnest Covers bitter agony
is not 80 rapidly dispatched, nor 30
easily comprehended. There was
one who witnessed the eonvulsive
spasm that passed over HE face
when the letter was delivered, and
the hrs, glance nj the returned envel.
ope revealed the tell-tale owner Of
the returned bsthral rug.
Lily Arnold, his young cousin who
had been brought up with him till
he rcgarded her as q sister, watched
him, as only loving woman's heart
can hang upon the expression Of ev.
cry ieature- every gesture Of the be
loved. She guessed the truth and
ifa passing feeling Of selfish thank.
filness did mingle with her sympa-
thIes, she hated and crushed back
the unworthy impulse.
"Earnest--dear Earnest, will you
not tell mey May not at least
mourn with you, II | cannot console
your g1sf~ she murmered, placing
her hand on the arms, on which the
stricken mans head had failed.
lie raised his face, haggard and
with the shock and looking up In
her sweet, tender, fearful eyes.
HIS arms involuntarily encircled her
waist his head fell on her shoulder;
and as she stood, flushed aud embar.
rRs~ed, bot unable TO repel the un.
conscious clnging of his desolate
heart for sympathy and cherishing,
he murmerrd, sadly:
"Lily-Lily, she never loved me,
have only you now. Would that I
had never seen her, for, alas - alas
cannot tear her from my souls q
brcs; even though scOrn and
lOathc the mcr,enary cOquette, | eau.
not cease 10 love the GwCnda VI my
dreams"
Three months afterward, Gwenda
Vaughan stood at the alter IN oil the
glittering pomp Of satin. lace, Jewels
bridesmaids, and a troop o. friends
Beautiful, but cold as the diamonds
she wore, she gave her troth TO q
man she despised and hated.
But a. be led her down the aisle,
after the ccTemonials in the yestry,
she precclvcd that another pair were
Occupying the place before the alter
which she aud her husband had but
now vacated
A halt idle, half-omuious curiosity
seized her, aud she turned to exam.
inc the persons who were plighting
the same VOWS that they had recent
ly taken.
Even her self control could not
prevent a quick, sudden pressure Of
Eer bridegroom's arm, as she recog.
nlzed the features aud form Of Earn
est Cover and Lilly Arnold She
could hear hIs well-known tones
promising before Heaven 10 love aud
cherish her innocent rival
Her very blood chilled in her
VEINS, aud the splcndor which sur.
rounded her looked as gari~h mock.
cry to her tortured. Jealous soul. She
could bear to give him up, but not 10
think of him a. the loving husband
oi n iair aud happy bride.
Ten years had passed away, and
Gwenda, Lady Huutley. was child.
le-s widow Perhaps she was even
more beautiful nj twenty eight than
she had been NJ eighteen, tor her lOy.
illness, that only m,lloWs, not iA,lcs,
as time goes On.
And hen she threw oh her weeds
and once moro appeared IA the world.
there was every belief she would
make a second aud even more bril-
liant marriage.
''She might be- n dutChess, If she
likes with her beauty and handsome
dover" said q bachelor Aabiiae of
clubs and saloons. whose WOrd was
a. a jicium among ms less experl.
cnced votaraes. ''only, perhaps, she
has had enough OF that sort Of
thing"
"Nhat do You mean Moore r ask
ed young aspirnnt 10 Gwenda's
smiles. "She surely has not had
straw berry leaves, nor q ooronet IN
her fret marriage. That, at any
rate, Is novelty Ia come"
Yes But she had a cold cheer.
less, ohildless, hfe with that pom
pous icicle, Huntlcy; and | would
wager she'll either keep her liberty
or 60 Ia tor love IL she can. But her
old lover, young Cover, is, | fancy,
dying Of broken heart"
"NhAt! Tor herr and after all
these years." asked the young man,
incredulOusly.
"No, not exactly; but more pro-
sale griets,r Was the half-scornful re
ply. "Poor fellow hls career has
been blighted In every way. The
only time be had any chance TO dis
tinguishtng himself at the bar, bis
wife ien III, and he had 10 throw up
the bret aud hasten TO her death.
bed. And now I bear, he 10 In
pitAble state Of sickness and sorrow,
and with don't know how many
'mAll heirs Of those uncomfortable
gossessl0ns to But, hush. Here n