The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-10-10
CHAPTER II.

When Mr.. Orde really did return,
then, Miss Leonie accorded him a
jealously cool reception, vastly anus
ing to those accustomed to her natural
warm-hearted frankness but, fully oc-
cupied in attention to his foneee, the
gentleman appeared perfectly callous
to this ungracious treatment. So per-
ceiving to her amazement that she was
receding into the unusual position of
nonenity, the younger Miss Temple
was piqued into becoming her own
self, letting fall her droll mask of GER
emony, and slipping again into the old
bright ways that made her what
Agatha called 'the sunshine of The
Beeches. Hating her sisters future
husband was Improbable work; now
in fit of repentant amiability, she re-
solved to please him.
BY the time this happy transforma-
tion was effected, Mr.. Orde had been
back month, and had discovered the
value of the prize he had come home
to fetch.
Five years had changed the girl
friend he had left into beautiful wo-
man, whom he was bound to love, not
by promise only, but by keen apprecia-
ton OF her worth, grown now and
ripened even as she herself. And for
weeks his task seemed very easy,
while to Agatha, increasing knowledge
of her betrothed increased her happi-
ness. OF surety the course of their
love promised to run smooth. Proud
Mrs. Orde's air of dignified graduation
over her sons excellent match grew
day by day; the village grew deeply
interested in the coming wedding, and
the bride-elect began TO be busy, ex-
ceedingly over plans for her wide Cir
Gle of humble friends well-doing while
she should be away. Jestingly, Geof.
frey Orde would tell her he grudged
the time she spent in confabulations
with Aunt Helen over the many trusts
to be left in her or the rector's hands,
but the eager confidence with which
she would seek to draw him into her
projects, and her delight in his approx
al, disarmed him of any passing chag-
rim and left him no shadow of excuse
for complaint.
They were all of them certainly very
happy--perfectly content. And yet
How cloud rose on this fair sky,
none knew exactly. Those whom it
overshadowed most acknowledged it
last of all. For it was so easy, so
right of Leonie to glide into treating
her almost brother with the free win
someness that kept her childish spite
of her nineteen years. He was of
necessity almost as often her compan-
ion as Agatha's. She had been fond
of him long ago, and-was it not her
duty to be fond of him now? To
what precise depths this duty led her
she didn't stop to measure, until, alas !!
they were unfathomable.
And Geoffrey Orde, his word and
honor pledged to Agatha, felt himself
safe to bask, pleasantly amused, in the
animated presence of her younger sis
ter, never finding out, till Mays warm
weeks were entered, and his wedding
fixed for the first day of June, that he
was turning traitor to his troth; that
the charm of Leonie's gay nature was
stronger than the sweet gravity of that
to which he owed allegiance. But not
to himself would he allow this possible
at first.
81 think, urged his mother anx-
iously one night as they were leaving
The Beeches, II do think, Geoffrey, as
Agatha sings no duets with you, you
would be wiser to sing fewer with
Leonie."
Sand why7" said her son shortly.
swell, Agatha--may not like it.
Other people may-at lleast, they do
notice it,
"Agatha is entirely above any
wretched jealousy" said Mr.. Orde i'm
patiently.
"Still, should he sorry his mother
ventured on, ''that you should even
seem to slight your wife that will be.
People might say you were marrying
for money, and Agatha doesn't de-
serve that, Geoifrey."
"With or without money, she de-
serves the best any human creature
can give her." returned Geoffrey warm
ly. "Don't fancy | underrate her,
mother And with that Mrs, Orde
had to be satisfied, though the ambig-
uous speech left her disquieted
Still he meant TO be--nay, he vowed
he would be--loyal and, strong in
self trust, went next day to The Beech
es, and found himself listening for
Leonie's step, watching for Leonio's
coming, made infinitely glad by the