The Newtown bee., 1880-03-10
CHAPTER III.


 The wedding was over The honey moon was over also, and Mrs. Melville, richly dressed and looking very lovely, with Edward as an attentive and de- voted husband beside her, was receiving her guests.
 Nellie was among them. She was paler than usual, and her free, happy, girlish laugh was gone forever. Yet she, too, looked lovely this afternoon, in her pretty blue silk dress and cottage bonnet, and there was a sweetness and beauty in the expression of her gentle young face that went far beyond any mere beauty of feature.
 The house was handsome and we'll appointed, the servants were models of attentive respect. All seemed as it should be. Nellie stayed the remainder of the day, and saw nothing that she did not like. Edward was forever on the watch to please Grace, and she, for her part, took it all as her due, and so far gave him her sweetest smiles in re- turn. What more could be wanted?
 Only few weeks passed. Nellie was invited to dine with them. After din ner they were moving about the draw ing-room, and Grace was exhibiting to Nellie some choice bouquets of flowers which had been sent her that morning.
  in accordance with whim of the young wife, who declared that the effect of their richness and color was lost when they were scattered.
 But Edward had'not heard her say this.
 "Let me put this blue vase here, Gracie," he unwittingly began, remov- ing it, as he spoke, to another table. ''There, it shows to advantage now"
 Grace, with heightened color. deliber ,T,1,, lrol fn fbn fahl aYNH toly Irlfr up the vase, restored it to, it's former position.
 Ut is quite out of the way there" she said, stiffiy, this is where I wish it to be, Edward"
 "How great matter little fire kin dlethr'
 Edwards color also rose, yet he did not look angry.
 And I wish that 1t should stand here," he returned, once more taking up the vase; and then he added, half responsibility, half playfully, You promised to obey me, Oracle, did you | notp"
 Don't be so ridiculous, Edwardr r' And her eyes flashed. and she looked as if she would have dashed the flowers from his hand, and before he could set them down she had taken them from him, and finally placed them in the par | ticuar spot she had chosen. | Edward looked pained. and Nellie unused wonderfully over it all, as he in moody silence escorted her home. Could all this have happened in a house where love was lord? No, indeed.
 "A woman," thought Nellie, who loves, loves also to obey"
 But this proved to be only the begin ming of small discomforts and disagree | ofo Grace grew more imperious than ever, and Ed wards face lost ali the brightness, and he seemed day by day to grow old and silent and sad. And when Nellie went to see them now she found that unless Grace expected visitors she took but small pains with herself, remarkine sometimes to Nellie as they went down stairs for the evening:
 "I have not dressed, Nellie. O1 course, you don't mind, and there's no body else but Edward"
 Nobody but Edward. Love wouic have made him all the world to Nellie
 "I would wear my prettiest dresses for my husband, Grac;e," she said "As for other people, they might go What should l care for themp'
 But Grace only drowned for reply.
 Nellie had not been to see them fol some time, and various small circum stances caused her to suspect that they had had a serious quarrel. Grace hac gone out for a fortnight all alone ant i Nellie's father, taking pity upon soli tary, sorrowful-looking Edward, had in vited him to spend an evening witt them.
 After tea he sauntered into the gar den, and he was gone so long that Nellie went to look for him. She glanced un der the shady trees-it was sur me- again now-but he was not 10 be seen ! Then she came to the summer-house { Ah, there he was, leaning forward ol !, the little green-painted table, his hea' in his hands, and Nellie heard him mur ; mur in q low, moaning tone: , II wish. oh! I wish" The rest was indistinct, and his long 2 ing, whatever it might be, was still hi own secret And Nellie passed softl ' on out and indoors.
 : Grace had little daughter, but il stead of rejoicing in Edwards hous there was bitter sorrow, and as the youn l. husband knelt by the bedside of his III Q conscious wife, he felt all the old loy O for her filling his heart once more.
 But what will even the tenderest lo1 3 avail in hours like these? Grace's la d moments were mum bered, and she passt l away, leaving her little one to Nellie. # Aid Edward, when"the first benuml
 ing influence of his grief was over, so V his practicable had no need of it now r. and went abroad.