The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-03-05
MADE OR MARRIED.
BY JESSIE FoTHERGILL,
Author Of zone Of Three" Probation" "Tho
Heufelds," Etc.
CHAPTER Xv.-CoNTINuEp.


Forgive me, Mabelle!" she cried,
on n sudden impulse. ~ love my
brotherhood anil myself only know
how much and your sister is bad,
unprincipled woman, who will have
gone near to break his heart by what
she has done; but you are innocent,
sec, and it has shaken you terribly.
Here, sit down, and do not think of GO
ing back yet. D."
"No, don't touch me!' said Mabelle,
with difficulty getting her words out.
al knew-I-she--"
"You knew--you kneU" cried
Grace, recoiling, and flashing terrible
look upon her.
"No:-I mean--I did not know This.
knew she had seen Mr.. Fordyce. /
thought she had seen him often, but L
did not know / began to think she
would not marry Philip, and that
ought to speak TO you--I didn't
know. l am nearly mad, think"
concluded Mabelle, with strange and
haggard look around as she put her
hand to her head.
Il
begun, when the silence outside was
suddenly broken by the sound of wheels,
and, strange though it might seem in
the intensity of their present feelings.
both the girls looked eagerly out of the
window, for, deep in the foreground
of both minds, lurked the unspoken
fear: "What If Philip, by any chance,
were to arrive to-day--nowT And
Grace, seeing a cab drive up, and the
driver thereof scanning the numbers on
the house-doors, uttered the fear which
paralyzed Mabelle's lips.
''lf it should be Philip! Good heav-
ens-I believe it is Phillip"
Still no answer from Mabelle, while
Grace rushed TO the window and found
that her fear was right-the cab stopped
there; that was he, bronzed and tanned,
and looking like foreigner-much
changed-a man TO attract notice now
wherever he went; but Philip, her very
brother Philip, casting impatient glances
toward the house, throwing some coin
to the cabman, and striding up the
steps. 1t was then that the full force of
the situation burst upon both girls.
"He has not been to London at all
he has come by Liverpool. The letter
why, he can never have got the let
tor. He does not know"
Grace hurried forth the words, and,
losing her presence of mind, began to
walk hurriedly about, wringing her
hands and mutterng:
"What SHALL | dop Oh, heavens, what
shall lido? What a welcome homel My
poor Philipp'
Mabelle had sunk upon the chair, un-
able any longer to stand up-her limbs
would not support her, and then-a
step, q stride, and the door was burst
open, and Philip had Grace in his
arms, and was laughing with delight,
and kissing her, aud saying: "Now,
my child, don't die Of sErprise-don't t
for my sakep'
In the bitterness Of her heart Grace
could almost have been angry with him
for his blind, joyful haste, his oblivion,
his utter inattention to everything but
the Joy OF returning and seeing his be-
loved ones again.
"Philip," she said, releasing herself
and speaking solemnly, ''you don't
seem to see that have visitor-and
visitor who has come on q bad er-
rand"
"Why-what! Mabellel You look Ill.
What ails youp There's nothing the
matter with Angela, is therep Speak di-
rectly!' he added, almost angrily. "Is
she iilP"
"Philip-it is very sad,r began
Grace. angela has--has-oh, she
has done what Is very wrong She has
treated you very badly. y
"What do you meanP How dare you
say anything against herp / had let
ter from her the day left Hong Kong,
bidding me welcome. T."
His confident words came TO an end
rs he looked from one to the other Of
them; saw Grace's pale, stern face,
and the terrible overwrought expression
of anguish upon MabSlle's. 4,
"If could have stopped it." be-
gan this little maiden, In q tremulous
voice.
"Mabelle, you ought to have told
me, "said Grace, when Philips strong
voice drowning their accents, broke I'M
'Stopped whatp / desire TO know
what has happened. Where Is Angela,
and what has she donew
"She hasIeloped with Mr.. Fordyce,
and got married TO him. said Grace,
facing him, pale, with dilated eyes and
fingers neryously entwined--ready, II
her fright, TO make rush for her life