Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-05-31
The Bride Elect.

The Bride Elect.
II really don't see, Kate, how you can
reconcile it to your conscience to put up
with all his actions and whims," said
old Miss Thorne, with troubled cloud
on her usually rosy and serene face.
But, Aunt Penelope, he loves me"
He has queer way of showing his
love then, that's all have to say !"
"And we are to be married next
week" added Kate Thorne, her cheeks
flushing as she spoke.
s'Then I hope marriage will work the
miracle of a change in him." said Aunt
Penelope, tartly- "For to speak the
honest truth, unless he does alter his
happiness for you my child"
And Aunt Penelope added to the gen
eral uncomfortableness of matters by
shaking her wise old head, and ''only
wishing Kate had had the good sense to
choose Lionel instead of that other fel
low"
He isn't so handsome and fancified,
perhaps" added Aunt Penelope, ''buf
as all know. beauty is only skin deep.
and do believe that if any man will
make good husband. Lionel Wilson
will. Heigho! 1 hope fate has got a nice
wife in store for him, somewhere!"
"You had better marry him yourself,
Aunt Pen 7" said Kate mischievously.
Marry my grandson ?" quoth Aunt
Penelope. 1--WE lived tifty-odd years
without husband, and guess I can
make out a few more of 'em. But /
can't help feeling sorry for Lionel all the
same"
"Well, Aunt Penelope, you know that
I like him-Oh, ever so much 2"
.Ah !" said Aunt Penelope, "but that
is exactly what he don't want"
And Kate, to avoid the coming dis
cussion. stole up to her own room, where
the wedding wreath and veil were al
ready elici.ing the admiring comments
Of the two dimpled young trademarks,
Kate's youngest sisters.
Harold Grenfell was not in the hap
piest of humors that night, when ht
his bride elect He criticized Hates
dress, her hair. the very twinkle orna.
ment she wore in her ears.
"And of course you are the best judge
of your own affairs, Katherine" ht
added. Ka'e especially disliked thu
"full name" to which she was by hap
tism entitled. But don't think it ex
actiy the right thing for you to be walk
ing out with Lionel Wilson the very
week before the wedding"
"Dear me, Harold !" cried Kate, max
ing doubled arches of her prettily pencil
ed brows II had to go out to get two
more yards Of white quilted ribbon fol
my sleeves, and as Lionel CHANGED to be
walking in the same direction, I.could
not very well go on the other side of the
street."
"A bride elect has no business with
the attention of any man except him
who is to be her husband"
Dear Harold, would you transform
the future husband into q tyrannica
jailor? Would you wish to show that
you have heither confidence nor trust in
the woman you have chosen for your
wife?"
"I'm much obliged to you," said Har-
old bitterly, while disagreeable curve
came to his lips Perhaps plain speak
ing il best under all circumstances, but
1t is not agreeable to hear that am con-
sidered atyrapnical jailor.."
"NOW, Harold, - cOaxed Kate, coming
close to him aud putting her little plump
hand to his shoulder, "be good humor-
ed once again and put away all these
disagreeable suspicious for"
Thanks, once more. Perhaps had
better take my leave, since, in addition
to tyranny, have become disagree
able"
He rose, and Kate for once, fairly
driven beyond the bounds of patience,
did not oppose his departure.
She had let Harold depart without q
word to restrain him.
Mr.. Grenfelrs own meditations, as he
walked homeward, were not of the most
exhilaratiEg description. He liked to
torment Kate, it was sort of earnest of
the power he held over her, in his opin-
ion, but yet he wanted to see the arrow
rankle. Anything like celm indiffer
ence on her part defeated all his inten
tons. And yet, impossible as it may
seem to those of pleasanter and more
serene temperament, Harold Grenfell
loved Kate Thorne dearly and truly.
"But I'll find means to bring down
her pride and teach her lesson yet"
he thought vindictively. 'She shall
manner without repenting it."
called to take Kate out for q drive, he
was greatly incensed by seeing Lionel
Wilson in the drawing room helping
y
was to be, wind worsted, while Kate sat
by, evidently enjoying their converse
ton.
Hefroze into naughty rigidity at once,
but Kate, provokingly good humored,
took no notice of his GOODNESS.
swell, the day of the wedding came,
and Kate Thorne like, all other brides,
looked bewitchingly pretty in her white
dress and veil, with just enough color to
make her cheeks look like blush roses
It was to be home wedding, and the
guests already thronged the parlOrs of
Aunt Penelope's spacious old-fashion-
ed house.
"Kate Kate it is five minutes to
twelve !" whispered Aunt Pen, putting
her head into the boudoir, where bride
and bridesmaids. like rose and rosebuds
on q stem, awaited the stroke Of the
eventful hour, which, in this special
case, happened to be IL o'clock" Hasn't
he come yet 2"
By way ofanswer to the old lady's
rather nervously put question, servant
entered at that instant with note.
"For Miss Kate" he said.
And Kate tore it open with flushed
cheeks, as she recognized the handw ritz
Ing of Harold Grenfell on the superscrip-
ton:
my dear Kate, it read briefly, "since
you have studied my wishes 30 little
during the past week, you can scarcely
expect me to make special point OF