The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-03-23

rather you were dressing me for my
coffin than for my bridalr
The sad words struck with pro-
phetic knell on her mothers heart,
but it was too late to draw back
now.
/ She looked older than her bride
groom as they stood together at the
altar. His JOY had made him young;
her grief had aged her.
His patience had never tired, his
tenderness never lessened, in the
long weeks, he strove, in new scenes
and amid new faces, to bring a little
look of gladness into her own.
She never murmured, never COM
planned. She no longer shrank from
him. That was something gained.
Indeed, when they were quite
alone together, she seemed quite con-
tented, more restful than in their
wanderings.
Next week we will go home, Lii
ian,' he said to her one day.
oh, | shall be so glad, she an
swered. L am so tired
Tired, liutle one? You have want
ed to go before? Why have you not
spoken p
I waited for your wish she re-
piled.
But my wish is yours. VIII you
not learn that lesson p
You are very good to me- she
answered, wistfully, 'too good. / do
not deserve so much
He drew her to him and kissed
her many times.
Too good? he echoed. Oh, my
little pure snowflake, if ever you can
love me for one little hour, it would
be worth lifetimel'
Always she shrank from meeting
strangers. Each face she scanned
with almost painful intentness then
the old look of utter Indifference
would sweep across her own.
But here in the home where her
husband had brought her she would
be subjected to less of this. Its grand
old beauty could not fail to delight
her senses.
Her own rooms were fitted up like
the bower of some fairy princess
servants waited upon her every
wish; all day she might stroll alone
through the shaded avenues of SUI
purb old oaks, save when her hus-
band joined her.
But day by day he watched the
sweet face grow paler and the slight
figure more frail. One day he came
to her with an open letter in his
hand, a happy light in his face.
Harold has written me, darling
the friend whom have told you |
love so well-he is coming to visit
me. He will be here tomorrow
Harold she gasped, and her face
grew CHASTITY.
He threw his arm about her, fear
ing she would faint
You know him?' he asked in
surprise.
No, no. she tremblingly answer
ed. Il was faint for a moment.
That is all l am glad for you. |
will be ready to receive your friend.
Harold she murmured to her
self, when alone again. Am | so
weak that the simple utterance of
the old name thus moves me? As
though there were not thousand
Harolds in this great world. On,
heaven, thou wilt grant my prayer.
Thou wilt never let me see his face
again.
The next afternoon Lillian was
alone among the trees, when sud
denly she heard the sound of voices.
1t was her husband speaking.
you will think her beautiful, Har-
old. She will be to you sister. OF
YOU | will not be jealous.
The next moment turn in the
path brought the two men to view.
One instant-her glance rested on
them both: then she sprang to her
feet pressing both hands to her
heart, awaited their approach in 81
lence, her face colorless as her dress,
her figure swaying as the Gly-bell
on its stem.
Harold, my wife, said Sir HUI
bert, then looked from one to anoth-
er in amaze.
The young man made no motion
to outstretch his hand. He bowed
low. Lillian neither stirred nor
spoke.
you have met before p Sir HUI
bert went on.
'We have met before, replied
Harold Courtney.
Lillian still spoke no word. Once
she passed her hand across her eyes,
as if blinded then turned and
walked swiftly toward the house.
The two men left alone, looked in
each others eyes.
What does it all mean? asked
Sir Hubert, and his question was
both stern and pleading.
ASK your wife, answered his
friend. Only bid me goodbye, and
let me leave your roof
wait until tomorrow replied the
host. Lillian has never deceived
me-she will not do so now,'
But just then came the summons
to dinner.
The young mistress, pleading sud
den indisposition, begged to be ex-
cused. The two men sat down in
silence. 1t was a wretched meal,
and an evening yet more wretched.
At an early hour Sir Hubert con-
Quoted his guest to the rooms APP
portioned to him, and withdrew to
his own.
Restlessly he paced their length
for half an hour, when he resolved
to seek his wife and have the mys-
terry explained.
She might not love him, but at
least she had no cause to fear him !;
she would withhold nothing.
In slippered feet he crossed the
corridor.
His way led him past Lilian's
boudoir; the door was half open !;
within he heard voices. His very
blood froze in his veins, it was his
wife speaking.