The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-04
MISS M0NKTON'S MAR
RIAGE.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "a FRENCH HEIRBS
IN HER OWN CHATEAU"
CHAPTER XII.
LADY rfzpArR1cK.


which shall be called Gaytown-by-the-
Sea. London people who had any reason
for disliking Brighton, and yet liked sea
air combined with dancing and card
playing, went there good deal. There
were Assembly Rooms, a high prom
enade overlooking the sea, few good
shops, and a comfortable hotel. The
climate Was supposed to be very mild,
and SO It was in the first fortnight of
Letitia's married life, which she spent
there. She and her husband, however,
did not take much part in the gaieties of
the place, neither did they walk up and
down the promenade. They spent most
of their days away on the shore, enjoying
the green tumbling sea and the fantastic
forms of the yellow cliffs, picking up
shells and sea-weed like two happy chill
dren. Crosby sketched. and Letitia sug-
gested and admired. People at Gaytown
wondered who they were, and what they
were doing, this young couple who some-
how looked more fitted for society than
for roughing it as they did, making
friends with the fishermen and venturing
out in boats on this winter sea with most
surprising boldpess. Yet nobody who
thought the thing strange knew how
strange 1t really was, and that the young
bride herself often, wondered Who she
and her husband were. She had mar
ried him in full faith and trust. At the
moment when the mystery might have
been cleared up TO her by glance at the
register, her mind had been confused
and her eyes blinded by tears. Since
then Crosby had told her nothing, and
she had not chosen to ask him; yet at
times, now that the first excitement was
over, she felt quite wild with curiosity.
Nobody knew where they were for Cros-
would not let her write. KiUty's revela-
tions had been quite enough, he thought,
to set Sir Georges and everydody's mind
at rest. He told Letitia that they knew
everything, and were quite happy about
Der. Letitia smiled as she thought:
"lhen you can't be tailor's SOM" but
she asked no questions, though she won
dered how they knew. Crosby saw the
wonder in her eyes and answered it:
"Molly O'Brien was a traitor, and told
Kitty all sorts Of thugs" nee
"If they all know, why shouldn't Ip'
thought Lefty, but she did not say it.
One evening, as they walked back
along the sands, Crosby said to her..
"This is rather an important day to
me, and it is our last but one at Gay
town, unless you wish to stay longer.
But you shall decide this tomorrow be-
fore | order the horses"
Gas you please" said Letitia. "I like
the place amazingly. Perhaps we may
be here again some day." .f
ayes; for certainly no place can be
associated with more charming recollec-
tiOus."
"No, indeed. But what is it that
makes this an important day to voup
'lt is three years tonight since | laid
a wager, which l have won. And after
all it was not such, a foolish one," said
Crosby.
sE(ls - #aa-
The morning of the next day broke
with furious showers of hail, and Letitia,
who had been looking forward to last
walk, stood at the window rather disap-
pointed. Her husband, however, was in
the highest spirits He had not told her
anything yet, and, now that the suspense
was just over, it is sad to say that Lett
tia's happy faith began to flag little
She was tired, perhaps; at any rate, she
thought that secrets and wagers and all
such things were tlresome and ridiculous,
and that it did not much signify, after
all, whether her father-in- -law-he was
dead, too-had been an Irish tailor or an
Irish squire. But she was ashamed of
heIill-temper all the time, and looked
up smiling when her husband pointed
out ray of sunshine shooting from un-
der flying cloud, and said that the
weather was clearing off, and they might
as we'll take turn on the promenade.
'To tell you the truth, my dear Let
ty," he said, 'Ipromised to meet friend
there. So pray put your bonnet en-, and
let us go at once" .. tmvt or'i'.,.
20 yes! What friend is it?" asked
Letitia. ~ had no notion thatyou knew
any one here" ~,
"He arrived from town last night"
said Crosby; and with this Letitia had
to be satisfied e'
By the time they reached the prom
enade the sun had fairly chased the
clouds away, and was shining out quite
warmly and pleasantly. The sea was
covered with white horses frisking. and
made great noise as it came laundering
on the rocks down below. There was a
a fresh wind still blowing, and people
who ventured on the promenade could
hardly keep their feet at first. In conse-
of this it was almost deserted.
But at the farther end Of it there was a
quiet place sheltered by wall of cliff;
and here, long before they reached it,
Letitia saw lady and gentleman stand
ing. .rs a.lglf..-.
care those your friends, Geraldf" she
eyes, dearest" he answered, pressing
her arm, and looking down with bright
triumphant smile. t
The rude wind had disarranged his
wife's bonnet a, little, and had blown
some curls over her face. But he thought