The Morning herald., 1878-05-31

ly miserable she looked as 1 LETT her! Her
face haunts met shall never look like
that again if 7 can help ii" III !,
He had told the Temples, and they had
readily agreed to go with him without letting
ANYBODY else know. There were visitors In
the house, but neither Of the Misses Day
relI, for Milly was married, and Eva, on
finding that Godfrey was there, had refused
to come. He lad written note to the
clergyman asking him 10 be at the church
by eleven o'clock to perform the ceremony,
and q groom was going to take it over early
in the morning
AS he dressed himself with hands that
shook from excitement and cold, Geofrey in
vain tried to persuade himself that he was
one of the happiest men on earth. Before
his eyes the picture of francesca dl Rlm1ni
foated perpetually, and the sad upturned
face of the SHINING woman was like the
face he had left on the preceding night. 1t
was gray, gloomy day, few flakes OF
snow falling from the leaden clouds, and
Geofrey felt depressed as no looked out.
But Lady Temple greeted him with her
brightest smile when he Went downstairs,
and his spirits rose. Hl
sIt is not a very nice day, is it?" she re-
marked in low tone "But we shall take
our sunshine with US, and hope and trust
it will last your lifetime" I7a ~ .h"
"Ihank YOU" he said, pressing her hand;
and then he sat down and tried to eat some
breakfast. a.FE #&a
lie had eaten little or nothing on the day
before, for he was man on whom excite
ment told strongly, aud he was beginning to
feel exhausted But il was in vain he tried
first one thing and then another; he could
not eat, and was thankful that nobody OBJ
served it. He was glad to leave the room
and pace up and down the terrace outside
the windows alone, trying to map out the
life thNt Sibyl and he were going to lead
and wondering whittier she would like him
to take her. Presently, with a mischiSyous
smile on his face. Sir Henry Joined him.
Crying to work off the steam, Geof1?" he
said merrly. "Never mind. We've gone
through tho same thing ourselves, and can
enter into your feelings. But you look as
white as q ghost, man! Come and have
something TO warm you before you start,
and then you and will walk on, and Ade-
laide can pick us up in the wagonette. "
every well-but I must trust to Lady
Temple to bring my portmanteaq. L can't
90 through the ceremony OF wishing every
body goodbye. Tell them was called
away Unexpectedly" =.
"For the second timer" laughed Sir
Henry. "What an important man they VIII
think you! All, well, they will renew the
acquaintance next season, when you bring
YOUR lovely bride to town with you Lord
Howell is great connoisseur OF beauty,
and will be charmed with her. She will
make quite sensation qast.w E
Eyes. if we come to town, but she wishes
to 60 abroad, believe" he answered hastl-
ly "she is afraid of being talked about. :.
ooh, she'll soon get over that r returned
his friend. "We can't afford to let you
monopolize such beauty and sweetness.
You must come home for the season."
Godfrey did not answer, and they were
soon on their way along the snowy, lanes to
Sandbeach Sir Henrys words had caused
him twinge as they recalled to. him the
fact tllat after this day he could never show
his face in London, or rather take Sibyl
thither. She would be bigomst; aud he
knew nothing Of Fir. John LawrelIs noble
promise not to interfere. He shivered, and
his spirits sank lower than before, but still
he never wayered in his determination to go
on with the marriage. He would not give
I'D Sibyl and, eager to put it out Of his own
power, ho felt relieved when he heard the
wheels of the carriage behind them. SiE
Henry stopped short and waited
"By Jove, it is cold! he exclaimed,
STAMPING his feet on the hard ground.
Even tho lovely Mrs Elton will find it dit-
ficult to make pretty bride this morning,
rb NV hpvpH
A man who was passing by gave start
and quick glance at the speaker, and than
at Godfrey, as he heard the words-a short
man, with his face nearly hidden by black
beard and m0uStaclc and q wide-brimmod
felt hat; and Geoffrey noticed the start and
the look and remembered them afterwards.
But the carriage was by their side now, and
he had no time to think
Jump in quickly!" exclaimed Lady Tenn
pie gaily. "It is nearly eleven o'clock now,
and we must not be late
They drove Oh rapidly, Geoffreys heart
beating wildly as they neared the cottage.
The snow began to fall faster now, and the
horizon was of dark slate color, making
the sea look light against it, while the wind
whistled shrilly in their ears. Tho garden
gate stood open as they drew up, and Geof-
frey wondered whether he had misundor-
stood Sibyl and she had gone to the church; ;
but he hurried up the path and opened the
hall door. There were no boxes standing
ready, as he had hoped, no Cecil dancing
with delight, no pale, nervous Sibyl, as he
had pictured all was quiet.
"Sibyl!" he shouted, his heart beating
against his chest with an underlined dread.
''Here wo are Are you ready?"
Lady Temple had followed him, thinking,
with her usual tact and kindness, that it
would be pleasanter for Sibyl than coming
out alone to face the party, and stood by his
side.
At his shout, Jessie, the little maid, came
forward, her eyes red with crying, and a
note in her hand. IT, - =
'Please, sir, they're all gone !" she said,
her voice tremulous. ''Alrs Elton and