The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-05-23

Wnen ne graduates Shall see still less, for
he will be married to Leila Murray. And l
must have some one near me to love and
care for. And you must acknowledge, Isra-
ell that your prejudices against Leonie are
entirely without foundation
Mr.. Liddell hesitated. He was not a
superstitious man, and yet, that dream
If only it had not been for that dream
LeOnie was certainly very sweet and gen.
tle-she had winning ways, and seemed
devoutedly attached and grateful to both
himself and his wife. And yet, when
Leonie was softest and most docile, the
sudden vision would come up before him,
of the spotted adder with the jeweled
skin, the sinuous beauty of motion, and
-Leonie Bellows face
az don't know" he would reason within
himself, "but that it's rather unreasonable
to hold the girl responsible for the caprices
of my dream fancy! But we can none Of
us control our impressions"
In June, Bruce Liddell came home for
good, having graduated from his Alma Ma
ter-a tall, handsome, dark-eyed young man,
with Deep sweet voice, and passionate
love of all that was beautiful in art or
nature. He, too, approved his mothers de-
cision.
" The little mother is always right" he
said. "And never more so than now t"
Leila Murray herself had espoused the
cause of the young stranger, and praised hey
enthusiastically.
Isn't she pretty, Bruce ?" she cried
" And what delicious voice she has! How
should like to hear her sing the Three
Fishers = Why couldn't she help me with
my dresses and things2 am sure she has
the soul of an artist I"
81 should be so glad to be OF use," said
Leonie, dropping her lovely white eyelids--
and Leila was captivated like the rest.
You'll have to give in. father" said Mrs.
Liddell, laughing, "about Leonie!"
=" / don't know but that I shall I" admit
ted the old man.
Miss Murray's prediction was accurate,
Leonie Bellows taste was excellent. She
hoiped with the wedding dresses, gathered
MOSES and trailing vines to decorate the
great saloon parlor at Mr.. Murray's, even
wove scarlet berries into background of
gray lichen in Leila's monogram, intertwined
with that of Bruce. And the bride-elect
could scarcely be grateful enough to the
sweet-voiced, Madonna-faced young stran,
ger.
The wedding-day arrived at last-a radi-
ant September morning, the blue sky dap
pied with floating clouds, the late roses all in
bloom. The guests were hidden for noon,
and every preparation was complete,
when Mrs. Liddell came over to the Murray
mansion, with pale, frightened face.
"My DEAR" she said TO Leila, 1T was
very thoughtless of Bruce to come over here
without telling mel You can't think what a
shock ii gave me to look into his room and
see it all empty and desertedp
"Dear Mrs. Liddell, he isn't here !" cried
Leila. "And haven't seen him since last
night"
"Then where is he ?" said Mrs. Liddell,
and in the sudden shock she looked SO pale
that Leila called aloud to Leonie Bellew to
come and sprinkle eau de- Cologne on her
forehead And then, for the first time, in
the general confusion, it was discovered thai
Leone Bellew, too, was gone. The lock OF
her door (she had slept at the Murray house
for several weeks now),-was forced, and II
was ascertained that the bed had not been
slept in. And a telegram, arriving at that
moment, contained the following brief mes
sage from Bruce:
81 was married, half an hour ago. to Leo.
ME Bellew 1 can't ask Leila to forgive me
but should have been falser still to give
her my hand when my heart has long been
Leonie's.
II. b. LIDDELL."
at was all true, fathers dream I" cried
poor Mrs. Liddell with hysterical sobs.
"She was writhing adder, after all Father
was right !"
While the deserted bride sat pale and
silent, with cheeks whittier than any alabaster
and an appalled, look in her eyes.
If Bruce is false" she kept repeating,
piteously, "how can 1 believe in any one p
The wedding guests were sent away, with
what excuses might be most readily con-
cocted-the fowery garlands were taken
down, and the pretty confectionery temples
carried away one by one. There was no
marriage service read under the horseshoe
of white flowers and smilax vines which the
5ridemaids had SO skillfully hung in tho bay
window of the rectory saloon parlor.
at the end of year Bruce Liddell came
home, pale, gaunt and haggard, looking
like man who has struggled through the
lgonies of some mortal fever.
How could TELL" he said, in harsh,
strident voice, singularly unlike his own,
that Leonie had billiard-marking hus-
band in Paris That she had merely used
ne as tool to take her back therel That,
when we were once across the sea, she
would laugh at me, and fling me off like a
wretched worn out glovel If ever woman
had fiend within her bosom, it is Leonie
Bellewl She has ruined me-ruined me
hut, after ALL" he added, wistfully, "the
marriage Is no marriage, because the woman
nhu huopahu hFluB-unu IL LSlh Souiu
only understand how pitiably 1 have been
led away-how dearly love her still"
But Leila shook her head, when poor Mrs.
Liddell ventured to hint the question to her
sons former betrothed wife.
mo" she said, quietly. az shall always
wish your son well-but I never can wed
the man who has forfeited my respect"
She never married, but lived a quiet,
serene, and not altogether unhappy exist
ence at home. But Robert Bruce Liddell
was never the same man again. His past
was blurred, his future blighted, and he
seemed to have lost all heart and hope in
Efel
And when his mothers troubled eyes
would rest upon him, she would murmur
almost unconsciously to herself:
Gathers dream fathers dreaml 1t
did come true, after alll"-Shirley Bronze.
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