The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1882-04-08
THEO'S LOVE.


and elegant, and Mr. Van Verst had
shown all his pride in his handsome
eyes when he looked at her.
She had not trembled nor appeared
In the least nervous, but, as as her first
bridesmaid said behaved as though
she was in the habit of getting married
every day
After the cermony, she had gone
through the tedious reception, aud
stood, yet serious-grave, yet pleasant
while her dear five hundred friends
kissed her, and took her hand, and
congratulated her-her femme friends
who, in their secret souls, were envi-
Gus of her good luck in having "secur-
ed' the handsome, stately man be-
side her, who filled his position and
did the honors as a prince Of the blood
royal might have dene-whose name
was power in social, financial and
political circles, who had condescend-
ed from his high estate to lovely Isa-
bel Lisle.
And now they were married and
a" Ceremony, reception and break
fast 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 oc-
casion, Isabel told them she really pre-
ferred attending upon herself and, as
Isabel usually had her own way, Ma
bic and Maud left her, with a lughing,
saucy little protest.
And she laughed, and turned them
out, and then
Regardless of the magniicence 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 the door
and dashed down the curtains, flung
herself on her knees beside the lounge,
in perfect ecstacy Of greif-knelt
there, shivering and praying.
She could not cry ; it seemed as il
all her tears had forever left her ewes
to curdle around her heart" She did
not even make the slightest sound, but
oh , the awful, unspcakablc, pent-up
agony she suffered, until she wondered
she did not die then an there-until
she prayed God to let her die as she
was, or else remove the burden.
And the why and the wherefore was
that since the night eighteen months
before, when she and Theo. Edmerton
had parted in proud, indignant cold
ness-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 stubbornness, and un-
yielding pride, he had put the ocean
foreign countries and deserts, between
them?
All she knew was, he made no sign;
all she realized was, he had gone so
far in his displeasure as to give her no
opportunity in her penitent relenting,
to be reconciled. And now, this fair,
bright day she was Horace Van Verst's
wife.
Some one wrapped softly on the
door, bringing Isabel to her senses.
Had it been a minute or an hour since
she knelt there, shivering, writhing
with longing pain and utter abandon
ment of dispair.
Maud St. Willis cheerful voice call
ed out
"a belated wedding present, Bella
a check for a 81 900 for a government
bond, | dare say, seeing it is contain
ed in an envelope, Can't | come in ?"
Not quite yet, dear. III take the
parole, please"
She unlocked the door and received
it then with the first sob of pain that
had passed her lips yet, she sank faint
upon the nearest chair, as she recogniz-
ed Theo. Edmerton's handwriting.
She did not once open it; she conld
not, for the cold trembling of her
hands. She sat there, her heart seem
ed to stop its beating, until a girlish
voice, as somebody passed the door,
speaking about the trains, reused her
again into sort of desperate deSance
10 herself.