Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-11-17
THEO'S LOVE.

Isabel had managed to get through
with the ceremony very creditably IN
deed. She had succeeded i'll looking
queenly and elegant, and Mr.. Van Nerst
had shown all his pride in his handsome
ewes when he looked at her.
She had not trembled nor appeared in
the least nervous, but, as her first brides
maid said, behaved as though she We're
in the habit of getting married every
day.
After the ceremony, she had gone
through the tedious reception, and stood,
yet serious-graye, yet pleasant-while
her dear five hundred friends kissed her,
and took her hand, and congratulated
her-her feminine friends, who, in their
secret souls, were env:ous of her good
luck in having secured" the handsome,
stately man beside her, who filled his
position and did the honors as a prince
of the blood royal might have done
whose name was o power in social p,
financial and political circles, and who
had condescended from his high estate
to WOO lovely Isabel Lisle.
And now they were married and a. "
Ceremony, reception and breakfast were
over, and well over, and Mrs. Van Verst
had retired to her dressing-room to
change her toilet of white satin and lace,
pearls and diamonds, and white roses,
for the charming travelling costume of
ecru silk and Persian embroidered garnet
cashmere.
Just little to the surprise of the
vivacious girls who were supposed to be
indispensable on the momentous occa-
sion, Isabel told them she really very
much preferred attending upon herself;
and, as Isabel usually had her own way,
Mabel and Maude left her, with loving,
saucy little protest.
And she laughed, and turned them
out and then
Regardless of the magnifcence of her
trailing bridal robes, unmerciful of the
rare and costly white roses she crushed
so ruthlessly, this bride of an hour, when
she had locked her door and dashed
down the curtains, flung herself on her
knees beside the lounge, in a perfect
ecstasy of grief -knelt there, shivering
and praying.
She ceuld not cry; it seemed as if all
her tears had ''forever left her eyes to
curdle around her heart" She did not
even make the slightest sound, but, oh!
the awful, unspeakable, pent-up agony
she suffered, until she wondered she did
not die then and there-until she pray
ed God to let her die as she was, or else
remove the burden.
And the why and wherefore was, that
since the night and hour eigteen months
before, when she and Theo. Edmerton
had parted in proud, indignant coldness
they two who had worshiped each
other as even fond lovers not often
worship-Isabel Lisle had never spent
one happy moment. Not once had she
heard of him or from him. He had
disappeared as thoroughly from society
as though he were dead, and so how
could she have known that in his pique,
and stab ornness, and unyielding pride,
he had put the ocean, foreign countries,
deserts, between them!
All she knew was, he made no sign; all
he realized was, he had gone so far in
his displeasure as to give her no oppor-
tunity in her penitent relenting, to be
reconciled. And now, this fair, bright
day she was Horace Van Verst's wife
Some one raped softly on the door,
bringing Isabel to her senses. Had it
been minute or an hour since she knelt
there, shivering, writhing with longing
pain and utter abandonment of despair
Maud ST. Willis's cheerful voice call
ed out:
GA belated wedding present, Bella
check for 81 900, or Government bond
[ dare say, seeing it is contained in an
envelope. Can't come in?"
''Not quite yet, dear. I'll take the
parcel, please"
She unlocked the door and received
it; then with the first sob of pain that
had passed her lips yet, she sank faint
and weak upon the nearest chair, as she
recognized Theo. Edmerton's hand
writing. She did not at once open it;
she could not, for the cold trembling of
her hands. She sat there, her heart
seeming to stop it's beating, until girl
dish voice, as somebody passed the door,
speaking about the time of trains, reused
her again into sort of desperate de-
fiance to herself.
And then she tore open the envelope
and read this:
"Without any doubt you will be sur
prised to receive my most ella bona con-
gratulations on the auspicious event
that has oiyan tO VOIIF husband the