The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-03-03
CHAPTER Ill.

CHAPTER Ill.
The wedding was over. The honeymoon
was over also, and Mrs. Melville, richly
dressed, and looking very lovely, with Ed
ward as an attentive and devoted 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 love-
" this afternoon, in her pretty blue silk dress
and cottage bonnet, and there was a sweet
ness and beauty in the expression of her
gentle young face that went far beyond any
mere beauty Of feature.
The house was handsome and well appoint
ed, the servants were models of attentive re-
spect All seemed ms il 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 Oracle, and she, for her part, took it
all as her due, and so far gave him her
sweetest smiles in return. What more could
be wanted?
Only few weeks passed. Nellie was
invited to dine with them. After dinner
they were moving about the drawing-room,
and Oracle was exhibiting to Nellie some
choice bouquets of flowers which had been
sent her that morning. They had all been
arranged on one table, in accordance with a
within 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 Oracle"
he unwittingly began, removing it as he
spoke to another table. "There it shows to
advantage nowP
Grace, with heightened color, deliberately
walked to the table, and taking the vase re-
stored it to its former position.
at is quite out of the way there" she
said, stifily, .and this is where | wish it to
be, Edward"
"How great matter a little fire kin
dlethl''
Edwards color also rose, yet he did not
look angry
'And L wish it should stand here" ne re-
turned, once more taking up the vase; and
then he added, half reproachfully, half play
fully, lyon promised to obey me, Oracle,
did you not?"
"Don't be so ridiculous, Edwardp 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 particular spot she had chosen.
Edward looked panied, and Nellie unused
wonderingly over it all, as he in moody
silence escorted her home. Could all this
have happened in a house where love was
lOrd2 No, indeed.
"A woman" thought Nellie, "who loves,
loves also to obey
But this proved to be only the beginning
of small discomforts and disagreements.
Many months passed. Grace grew more inn
10 nj Il "A . 1oof
the brightness, and he seemed day by day 20
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, remarking some
times to Nellie as they went down stairs for
the evening:
81 have not dressed, Nellie. OF course,
you don't mind, and there's nobody else but
Edward.
Nobody but Edwardl Love would have
made him all the world to Nellie.
Il would wear my pretties and best dresses
for my husband, Grace" she said. "As for
other people, they might go. What should
1 care for them?"
But Grace only frowned for reply.
Nellie had not been to see them for some
time, AID various small circumstances
caused her to suspect that Aey had had seri-
Gus quarrel. Grace had gone out for II fort
night-all alone-and Nellie's father, taking
pity upon solitary, sorrowful-looking Ed.
ward, had invited him to spend an evening
with them.
After tea he sauntered into the garden
and he was gone SO long that Nellie went to
look for him. She glanced under the shady
trees-it was summer again-but he was not
TO be seen. Then she came to the summer.
house. All, there he was, leaning forward
on the little green-painted table, his head in
his hands, and Nellie heard him murmur il
a low, moaning tone:
I al wish, OH / wish"
The rest was indistinct, and his lOngine
whatever it might be, was still his own Sc
eret.. Ana Nellie passed softly on out and in
doors.
Grace had little daughter, but instead o
rejoicing in Edwards house, there was bit
ter sorrow, and rs the young husband knel
by the bedside of his unconscious wife, h
felt all his old love for her filing his hear
once more.
But what will even the tenderest low
! avail lR hours like these2 Grace's last mo
ments were numbered, and she passed ava,
leaving her little one to Nellie.
And Edward, when the hrst benumoint
influence Of his grief was over, sold his prac
tice--he had no need of it now-and wen
abroad
Eighteen months passed away. a mar
bronzed and bearded stood at the gate of tn
old farm house. A little toddling creature
ran down the path, her fair curls flying In
the wind. The stranger caught her up.
whats your name, little one7'
And in q baby-voice she told him "Graci'
Melville" and he covered her little face ans