The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-09-06
TWO BRIDES.

TWO BRIDES. #
"iou think, then, it will be for my hap
pincss to give Edward back his freedom 2
\ "ics, dear friend, l do. Your nature il
50 sensitive that with the peculiar DISPOSE
ton Of Edward you would never be hap
py."
I az think you arc right, but then It Is o
little difficult, because ! think l UNI or wa.
fond OF him."
"a mere grlish fancy, Phoebe, l assure
YOU" ,,.s li'
at is SO nice to have friend such as
you are, Amelie. You know always de-
pendupon others for everything, and there
ARE many who would take advantage Of
my weakness, and render me miserable,
but YOU" aN Re-
~ have tried to be indeed Il friend to
you, in fact to both Of you. knew Edward
SO much longer than you that l considered
him in the light Of II brother, and have
talked to him us such; but it is useless
only yesterday, when / was demonstrating
with him in regard to Misconduct to your.
self, his reply was that you were too irivo.
lous and childish TO contribute to aught
but the discomfort Of Il selfish man.
then made up my mind that you should
not throw yourself away, and it Is for that
reason, dear Phoebe, that l speak to you.
Forgive, me love?'
oil are Il treasure, Amelic, and il
there is aught to forgive, | will prove MY
forgiveness by telling Edward l don't
want TO marry him. There he is now;
can see him out OF the window; he looks
melancholy enough, ut the thought, sup
pose, OF marrying me Let inc run now
and tell him lie is quite free. hate to see
him look unhappy" @
when you have told him, come to me and
tell me the result OF the interview, darling.
Come, let us hasten"
Hand in hand Amclic Sainthcn and
Phoebe Rouen quilted the cozy little sit
tins-room Of the latter, to put an end to
the happiness Of one who, as II man, was
rs near perfection as exists in the world.
Phoebe had lost her mother when quite a
buby-being the only child, her father
would never suffer her out OF sight. She
was educated at home, surrounded BY
every conceivable comfort and luxury;
she had never been permitted to even
think OF hersclf-a mistake which Mon
sieur lipaen Tas nov reaNing the benefit
Of, seeing the child he would have every
one ido!ize often ridiculed, and her verv
innocence and artlessness designated as al.
lection, All, however, courtcd her for
her wealth, and many wete tho persons as
sembled at her country residence from the
commencement OF the summer until its
close. 5,a' 1f5G
Phoebe cared for none OF them, except
Amelle, who had, though some seven
years her senior, been her playmate and
companion since childhood.
So necessary had Amclic become to
Phoebe that she insisted she would never
leave her. Monsieur sK9ncn saw iilat the
presence Of .imclie, WHO was q thorough
woman Of the world, would he Of great
valle 10 rhMhe, consented, and fqr three
years she had been ~ ilmase Qihis house.
hold. Some two months before they had
left town for the country, Amelie had
begged to introduce her friend Edward
Leland; OF couree her request was granted,
and from the moment Edward saw Rhnbe
he loved, which fact Amelic instantly
saw, though PAehe WAS unconscious Of it.
Two months passed, and .lmelle, with
rage and hatred, learned that the man for
whom she would have laid her life down,
had prop,sel and hcaH accented by
Phoebe. Such result had never been
Imagined by her; she felt secure of Ed.
ward, and had INTRODUCED him for, the
9ouen to his country residence.
That such brainless fool as Phoebe
silupli w~iiH hin; or even attract his no.
ticc, except to show respect due TO her as
hostess, Amelia took as an insult to her
self. She was benz on revenge, and her
plans were quickly formed, She smiled
her brightest smile, und congratulated
both her "dcer friends" when told OF the
coming event; mentally she vowed it
should never be. She had influence
enough with both to disgust one with the
other. AS the accepted suitQr Of Phmhe,
Edward was, OF course, ono OF Monsieur
Rouen's guests, which afforded Amclie
good opportunities TO point out to him all
| Phnbe'a dciects-her awkwartlness and
her inability to comprehend his deep ma
ture, and her constant avoidance OF him.
Edward was crcdulous; ho had always
found Amelic true and faithful friend,
and her apparently genuine pleasure at
the success OF his suit with Phoebe, went
to confirm him in the belief that ali Ame-
lie said was out OF pure platonic affection
ior him. Little did he know that Phoebe
was always monorolizcd by Amolie pur-
posely, and that ull she did awkward or
undigniiied WIS dictated by Amclie, :
AS time went by he did not cease to love
Phoebe; but he regrettclh he had loved
her. He was too honorable to break the
engagement, and the thought OF scpara-
ton was moro than no could stand; but
to deny that naught but misery would
spring from union with her was impossi-
bic. :, 81. 5.3i5S0gA t.I.
Amelie watched MI with eagcrncss, con-
stantly irritating Phoebe against Edward,
until-she had 50 blinded her that the rest
vas easy and great was her ieclin: OF ex-
ultation when Phoebe declared tllat she
would give Edward up. 1t was with a
light heart and fond, reassurins words
that she led Phoebe to the spot where her
lover was, and kissing her, whispered in
her car: -. n. .sIa rs'sif5'
slave courage; it Is only few words,
and the worthless man will have his free.
dom. ". Isl s, e b.. y 81 a 49,
Leitalo within few yards Of Edward,
| PhGbe's courage almost iorsook her; In
/ al. ~ IL 4