The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-12-03

was out of bed, for the wedding was not
to take place until afternoon.
"Prettier than ever, but so pale" said
Miss Lascelles, as she took the wistful
young face between her hands and kissed
it tendcrly. "And married, too. Mar
ried at seventeen, to husband who hides
himself, and will not let her bear his
name, and is afraid or ashamed to claim
you openlyI Oh, Minnie, dearl you were
always just such romantic, confiding
little thing-wNs this marriage wise or
well? confess it frigbtens mel
Minnie's pale cheeks flushed rosy red
under her friends soft touch. Her blue
eyes deepened and frightened, and her
lips parted excitedly.
II love him sol love him SOL she
sighed. "And you must not blame him
for my having to work, Helen! He would
have gtven me splendid home, but l
could not-until be could acknowlede
me his wife"
She stopped, in sbamed confusion,
Helen took up the sentence half indig-
nantly-
n should think not, indeed And
the thought passed through her mind" "
"What if this innocent creature has
been wtonged2"
minnie darling" she went on, after a
minutes's pause, Il wish you had not
married him. 1t would hive been so
pleasant, now, to have you live with me" i"
Minnie smiled.
You have your lover" she said, 'soon
to be your hus band; what can you want
of me- having him?'
"Must confess that my marriage is
not, like yours, love affair?' said she.
"We we're poor in the old days, as you
know, and my mothers health WAS fail
ing fast, when distant relative died,
and left a largo fortune to my cousin
Walter and myself, on condition that we
should wed. The one who refuses for
feits all. 1t is a marriage of convenience,
you see, and with no love on either side.
My bridegroom regards me as an encum-
brance on his fortune, aud Heaven is
my witness that, but for my mothers
sake, would rather die than become the
wife of Walter Gray"
She had spoken vehemently. and
looking sternly before her at vacancy, as
if she saw dreary and loveless future
tbere-failed to note Minnie's whitening
lips, and the sudden terror Of her lovely
eyes.
walter Gray!' the girl gasped family,
rising as she spoke. walter Grayl Oh
Helen" She checked and controlled
herself suddenly. Il am silly" she
said. "Of course it is not an uncom.
mon name, but the fortune-my Walter
Gray inherited fortune lately, and
there has been something so strange
why is he so anxious to conceal our mar
riage?" Then, realizing what she hat
said, as Helen Uttered cry of comrre
hension "Oh, have betrayed him!
T have broken my promise! Oh, Helen
you will keep my secrtt--my husband il
, named Walter Gray"
o For answer Helen Lascelles snatcheC
q u jewel case from her table, and tool
! from it costly jeweled bracelet.
"His wedding gift to me-" she cried
exeitedly, land contains his portrait
+ Here!" she pressed the spring and hel,
It the picture to Minnie.
n do you know that facep'
o The girls face answered her. Minnie
;, blue eyes dilated with horror, her lip
s. grew ashen pale. "My husband, my hus
'e band!' she moane'. "Oh, Walter! an
If this is why you could not claim you
d wife! And you are fnlse-you woul
te abandon me-"
r. And with those words all the enormit
III of her husbands guilt rushed over hei
ar she 81 rang up suddenly, uttered on
piercing cry, and fell faintipg at Helen
ID feet.