The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1880-02-27
CHAPTER III. .

The wedding was over. The honey
moon was over also, and Mrs. Melville,
richly dressed and looking very lovely,
with Edward rs 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 well
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 wantedp
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.
They had all been arranged on one table,
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 PITT this blue vase here,
Gracie,o he unwittingly began, remov-
ing it, as he spoke, to another table.
There, it shews to advantage now!"
Grace, with heightened color. deliber-
ately walked to the table, and taking
up the vase, restored it to its former
position.
1T is quite out of the way there"
she said, stiff1y, this is where wish
it to be, Edward"
How great matter little fire kin
dlethr'
Edwards color also rose, yet he did
not look angry.
"And l wish that it should stand
here" he returned, once more taking
up the vase; and then he added, half
reproachfully, half playfully, You
promised to obey me, Oracle, did you
not?"
Don't be so ridiculous, Edward p
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
ticular spot she had chosen.
Edward looked panied, and Nellie
mused wonderfully over it all, as he in
moody silence escorted her home. Could
all this have happened in house where
love was lordP No, indeed.
"a woman" thought Nellie, j" vino
loves, loves also to obey"
But this proved TO be only the begin
ming of small discumforts and disagree,
ments. Many months passed. Grace
grew more imperious than ever, and Ed
wards face lost all 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, remarking
sometimes to Nellie as they went down
stairs for the evening:
| have not dressed, Nellie. OF
course, you don't mind, and there's no.
oody else but Edward"
| Nobody but Edward Love would
have made hin all the world to Nellie.
81 would wear my prettiest dresses
for my husband. Gracie," she said.
AS for other people, they might go.
What should I care for thempr
But Grace only frowned for reply.
Nellie had not been to see them for
some time, and various small circum-
stances caused her to suspect that they
had had a serious quarrel. Grace had
gone out for fortnight-all alone and
Nellie's father, taking pity upon soli-
tary. sorrowful- looking Edward, had in
vited him to spend an evening with
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 suEamer
again now 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 MUIR
muir in low, moaning tone:
6 wish. oh! [ wish"
The rest was indistinct, and his long,
ing, whatever it might be, was still his
own secret. And Nellie passed softly
on out and indoors.
r. y
Grace hal little daughter, but in
stead Of rejoicing in Edwards house,
: there was bitter sorrow, and as the young