The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1881-06-16
rTHEESOsS LID V f.

had succeeded Ill LOOKING Queenly anu
a1ooont, and Mr.. Van Verst had shown all
Tis nri,le in his handsome eyes when he
looked at her.
She had not trembled nor. appeared in
.ho least nervous, but, as her first brides
n,aid said, behaved as though she were
IN the habit Of getting married every
day.
After the ceremony, she had gone
through the tedious reception, and stood,
rnt seri0us--grave, yet pleasant-While her
loor five hundred friends kissed her, and
tool her hand, and congratulated her
hor feminine friends who, in their secret
,ouIs were envious Of her good luck in
having HscCured' the handsome, stately
man besides her, who filled his position
and did the honors rs q prince Of the blood
royal might have done-whose name was
onowcr in social, financial and political
orioles. and who had contlescended from
his high estate to WOO lovely Isabel Lisle.
And now they ware married and a.
Ceremony, reception and breakfast were
aver. and we'll over, and Mrs. Van Verst
had retired to her Cressing-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 a little to the surprise of the viva
cous girls who were supposed to be indis-
~. T.
bel told them she really very much pre-
ferred attending upon herself; and, as
Isabel usually had her own way, Mable
and Maud left her, with a loving, saucy
little protest.
And she laughed, and turned them ont,
and then
Regardless Of the magnificence Of her
trailing bridal robes, unmerciful Of the
rare and costly white roses she crushed so
ruthessly, this bride of all hour, when she
had locked her door and dashed down the
curtains, flung herself on her knees beside
the lounge, in a perfect ecstacy Of grief
knet there, shvering and praying.
She could 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, un-
speakable, pent-ap agony she suffered, un-
til she wondered she did not die then and
there-untl she prayed God to let her die
az she was, or else remove the burden.
And the why and wherefore was, that
since the night and hour eighteen months
before, when she and Theo. Edmerton had
parted in proud, indignant eoldness-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
80 how could she have known that in his
pique, and stubbOrnness, and unyielding
pride, he had put the ocean, foreign coun-
tries, deserts, between them!
All she knew was, he made no sign; all
she realized was, he had gone SO far in his
lispleasure as to give heN no opportunity
i'll her penitent lelenting, to be reconeiled.
And now, this fair, blight day she was
Horace Van Verst's wife.
Some one raped softly on the door,
bringing Isabel to her senses. Had it been
aminute or an hour since she knelt there,
shvering, writhing with longing pain and
utter abandonment Of despair.
Maud St. Willis's cheerful voice called
out:
"a belated wedding present, Belle-a
check for IL 900, or a Government bond, |
dare say, seeing it is contained III an en-
yelope. Can't come in?'
"Not quite yet,. dear. I'll take The par
eel, 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 recog-
nized Theo. Edmerton's handwriting.
She did not once open it; she could not,
for the cold trembling Of her hands. She
sat there, her heart seeming to stop IL
beating, until girlish voice, as somebody
passed the door, speaking about the time Of
trains, reused her again into sort OF des-
perate defiance TO herself.
And then she tore open the envelope assd
read this:
without any doubt you will be sur
prised to receive my most elaborate con,
gatuations on the auspicious event thai
has given to yourhusband the sincere, uh'
divided love of your heart, and bestoWs 'lp.
Oh yourself the title that means, In your
case, that your affections are 50 surely, &C
sincerely placed upon . gentleman se
worthy"
Then the vein Of ice-bound sarcasm SUD.
denly ceased--even the correct, elegant
handwriting changed INTO hurried, half
lllegible scraWl:
Isabel, what have you done? My God
sohat have you done? Gould you not have
waited little while? You have ruined ~,
hopes, my happiness, my faith and trust i
woman. You have killed me--killed NE
May God forgive you, and, if ever ! pray
cd, pray now that may forget eve
Ioved--yes, that love you more madi,
than eyer.'
Such letter--such despair, and sucl
hopeless bitterness, such anguish O mis-
cry, such pain Of aDGnI-and Mrs. VA