The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-01-26
META'S MARRIAGE.
BY SHIRLEY BROWNE.

Did you ever see Metella Vail looking
ds lovely as she does to-night?" said Mrs
Livingstone, lifting heavy gold-rimmed
glass to her eyes.
Old Doctor Wynne knit his shaggy brows
together as he regarded the young girl to
whom Mrs. Livingstone had directed his at
tsntion.
"She is very beautiful" said he, slowly.
"But there is look about her that do not
exactly like. Her eyes sparkle too brilliant
ly; her cheeks are too scarlet They are
letting her drink too recklessly of the cup of
continued excitement, fear!"
Mrs. Wallis rooms were crowded upon this
cold, dazzling December night. She had
taken a sort ofpride in collecting around her
the elite of the fashionable world, for she was
q woman whose ambitions were vast, and
her beautiful niece, Metolla, was the unds
puted belle of the occasion. "But," as old
Mrs. Livingstone said, shrewdly, "there
was something unaceountable about the
Vailsp'
Rollo Vail was Wall street broker who
had risen as suddenly into wealth and dis
tinction as Aladdin's Genii had started out
of darkness. One day, no one had ever
heard of the name; the next, Mr.. Wallis car
riage was the handsomest in Central Park,
and Mrs. Vail was sending out her cards
from a Fifth avenue palace, to receptions,
German's-no one knew what! and all the
gay world was hocliing around her. Nobody
knew anything about them, yet everyone
accepted their invitations"
"Ther suppers are gotten up in real Par
isan STYLE" said Mrs. Livingstone, who was
an epicure, "and their champagne is genuine
yellow seal. Mrs. Vail has pair grandc, and
the rich man himself looks like Napoleon
the First. OF course shall go where am
well treated. And as for their antecedents,
what business are they of mine?"
Mrs. Vail wore black velvet and emeralds
that night, with spray of silver-grecn
French ferns in her hair, which fell trailing
to her waist. Metella was in the palest blue
silk, trimmed with festoons of thread lace,
and wore, fastened into her curls, cluster
of blue cornhowers, dotted with diamond
dew.
She had been Waiting when Harry Fame
led her, all smiling and breathless into the
cool and shadowy conservatory that opened
from the dining-room.
"Get me q lemon ice" said Miss Vail,
with the imperious air of princess. Nor
did she look unlike one, standing there with
blue eyes a-glitter, lips like scarlet rose
cleft apart and golden hair floating lightly
from under The clasp Of the diamond-stud-
ded flowers.
Mr.. Fame bcckoned 10 q waiter, and gave
the order. Then he sat down and looked
calmly at Miss Vail.
"Now, Mctclla," said he, al am ready for
your answer"
"What answer?"
She was busy in disengaging fold of lace
from the handle of her pearl fan.
"The answer you promised me night
when I told you that loved you"
al did not promise you any answer"
"Not in so many words, perhaps but We
fully understood each other. You compre-
hend that wish you to be my wifeg"
"Thats all nonsense, Harry" !"
His brows slightly contracted.
"Do you think it is, Meta?"
Let US be frank" said the young beauty,
shipping at the leaves of a camelia tree. ~
do like you, Harry. have always liked
you; but"
"Well?"
lie listened with bated breath, and lips
firmly set together.
al am engaged to be married to Mr..
Julian. lie proposed formally to my uncle
this morning"
go" said Harry Fame, coldly, "you sre
willing to barter yourself for an old mans
gold?"
She started as if some noxious insect had
stung her.
Harry" said she, you forget yourselfj
Mr.. Julian is not yet fiftyp
He smiled bitterly.
And you love himw
al respect and esteem him I" hesitated
Metella, turning alternately red and white.
"Metal Meta! think again" pleaded
Harry Fame. ado not let yourself be bar
gained away-do not let love, and life and
hope be laid on the altar Of a grasping am
bition. I cannot get you diamonds; and
horses, and eamel's hair shawls, like Isaac
Julian-but love your
"Now, Harry-os if could marry an
artistw
Not even fyou l0vea him, Meta?"
"It's house arguing, said the young lady
with toss of the head, 81 am to be married
to Mr.. Julian in January. Fate is iatc-and
now give ME yourarm back to the ballroom
Aunt Cecilia will wonder what has become
| Of me-"
hetella Vail was ezultant in the brilliant
match she was about to make. Aunt Cecilia
drove with her from mlliner to modiste, and
back again, with the complacent air of Q
chaperon well pleased-the eight brides
! maids were duly snleotad and the day oftlt