The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-05-27
THE BRIDE ELECT.

icttlly uOll SEE, hdIt, uOW yOH
can reconcile it to your conscience to
put up with all his actions and
whims." said old Miss Thorne, with a
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 i have to
say"
And we are to be married next
week." added Kate Thorne, her
cheeks flushing as she spoke.
Then hope marriage will work
the miracle of "a change in him." said
Aunt Penelope, tartly. For, to
speak the honest truth, unless he does
his way don't see much chance for
solid happiness for you, my child"
And Aunt Penelope added to the
general Observation-Disclosures of matters
by shaking here wise old head, and
"only wishing Kate had had the
good sense to choose Lionel instead
of that other fellow"
He isn't SO handsome and fancied,
perhaps" added Aunt Penelope, "but
as all know, that beauty is only skin
deep, and i do believe that if any
man made a good husband, Lionel
Wilson will! IIeigho! l hope fate
has got nice wife in store for him
sOmewhere!'
You had Letter marry him your.
self, Aunt Pen," said Kate mischiev-
OuSly.
MARRY my grandson - quoth
Aunt Penelope. 1--WE lived fifty
odd years without husband, and l
guess can make out a few more of
'em. But l can't help feeling sorry
for Lionel all the same"
"Well, Aunt Penelope. you know
that like him-ho. ever 80 much !"
"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 already eliciting the comments
of the two dimpled young brides
maids, Hates youngest sisters.
Harold Grenfell was not in the hap
piest of humOrs that night, when he
came us usual to spend the evening
with his bride-elect. He criticised
Kate's dress-her hair-the very
twinkling ornaments she wore in her
ears.
And, of course, you are the best
Judge of your own affairs, Gather
ine,' he added. Kate especially dis.
liked the stately full name" to
which she was by baptism entitled.
L" But don't think it exactly the
correct thing for you to be walking
out with Lionel Wilson the very week
before your wedding"
Dear me, Harold!" cried Kate.
making doubled arches Of her pretty
pencilled brOws, " had to 60 out to
get two more yards of white quilted
ribbon for my sleeves, and as Lionel
CHANGED to be walking in the same
direction, couldn't very we'll 60 on
the other side of the street."
"A bride-elect has no business with
attentions Of any man except him
who is to be her husband"
"Dcar Harold, would you trans.
form the future husband into a tyran.
meal jailer! Would you wish to
show that you have neither confidence
nor trust in the woman you have
chosen for your wife!'
I" am much obliged to yOu,' said
Harold, bitterly, while disagree.
able curve came to his lips. Per-
haps plain speaking is best under all
circumstances, but it is not agree.
able to hear that l am considered a
tyrannical jailer."
Now, Harold" coaxed Kate,
coming close to him, and putting her
little plump hand on his shoulder, be
good humOred once again and put
away all these disagreeable suspicious.
for"
Thanks, once more. Perhaps l
had better take my leave, since, in
addition to tyranny have become
disagreeable."
He rose, and Kate for once, fairly
driven beyond the bonds of patience,
did not oppose his departure.
She had let Harold depart without
a word to restrain him.
Mr.. Grenfell's own meditatiOns, as
he walked homeward, were not of
the most exhilarating description.
He liked to torment Kate. 1t was q
sort of earnest Of the power he held
over her, in his own opinion. but yet
he wanted to see the arrow rankle.
Anything like calm indifference on
her part defeated all his intentions.
And yet, impossible as it may seem
to those of pleasanter and more So
rene temperament, Harold Grenfell
loved Kate ThOrne dearly and truly.
But I'll find means to bring down
her pride and teach her lessen yet. u
he thought vindictively. "She shall
not defy me In that cool, off.hand
sort of manner without repenting it."
And when three days afterward he
called to take Kate out for a drive, he
was greatly incensed by seeing Lionel
Wilson in the drawing room helping
Dora, his youngest sister.in-law that
was to be, wind worsted, while Kate
sat by, evidently enjoying the con
| versation.
He froze into naughty rigidity al
once, but Kate, prOvOkingly good hu
mOred, took no notice Of his cool
ness.
Well, the day Of the wedding came
and Kate Thorne, like all Other
brides, looked bewitchingly pretty in
her white dress and veil, with jus,
enough color to make her cheek like
blush roses. 1t was to be a home
wedding, and the guests already
thronged the parlors Of Aunt Pene
lOpe's spacious, old.fashioned house
kate! Kate! it's five minutes tC
twelve!" whispered Aunt Pen, put
ting her head into the boudoir where
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