Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-01-14

BY ALICE DALE.

with point lace point lace veil to match
and parure Of diamonds Of the first
water even diamond buckles TO the white
satin thoes 1t will be the grandest
wedding that ever took place In Center
Vile church TO be beautifully decorated
q bishop to perform the ceremony, and q
dozen bridemsid Afterward, a trip
to Europe then return to q
palace home What more
could any reasonable woman desire
Ruby Stirling, what a'e you laugh ny
at ~
smoothed away the refractory smile
that had vexed Aunt Vavasour. IL was
not a mirthful smile-rather q mockiDg
one.
Surely, 1t is nothing to laugh at ~ l
retorted, TO think of girl Xix. me-onlv
be sacrificed TO old Jenkinson
and his two taillions -
Aunt VAvasour flashed about like an
iDcarnate fury. Her gray eyes glittered
like ste. mirrors she grew pale, ever
under her rouge, and trembled with
wrath
" Ungrateful girl !" she cried, -" there
isn't woman In Centcrviile that wouldn't
jump at the chance Of marrying Edward
JeDkinson -
/" wish they would do It, then =" I
pant.d, angrily Aunt Vavasour, /
have consented TO this marriage, to please
you, since you are supporting me. and
papa and n ANNA have so many mouths
TO feed ut home, have allowed you TO
rule me, and decide for me In this matter,
which firmly believe no one In the world
has any right to decide for another, simply
because you have been good and kind ~
me In the past. But when l am alone
with you, need | keep on the mask which
covers the truth from the world You
know that despise this old man, and
that my heart WAS given long ago TO an
mother ~
81 wouldn't refer to that, Ruby ~
sneered Aunt VavAsour, cuttingly. AL.
ian Ross Is unworthy place In your
memory even II he could not remain
true to you, for the short space Of years
absence, do not think you have sustain
ed severe loss ~
eome impulse prompted me &; | went
Straight up to my aunt, and laying my
hand upon her arm, glanced up into hei
cold face.
"Tell me" painted, as you hope fol
mercy hereafter-tell me, Aunt Vavasoul
is It all true' This story that you told
me-of his perfidy-and that he has wed
dcd another, demand of you and hon
est answer Is there no mistakeF'
Mistake I OF course mott" she crie(
shrilly; have told you all that know
about it; and then-you have his letter Il
you, Ruby"
Tue, | had forgotten that for tho mo
ment. His letter All, Heaven ever,
word had burned itself into my brain
| How could have forgotten IL for tn
briefest time! The cold, cruel, tiers
announcement that he no longer love-
me, and had married another woman
Was 1t any wonder that my heart ha
fallen dead In my bosom, when the ma
whom had promised To marry had sei
such words to me! Can any woman wondt
that my reply had been simply 10 retur
his letters, photograph, and ring, withol
one written word inS return Right
wrong, think It was but human--ani-
womsnlike.
Then old Jcnklnton had come 10 Il
tore, right when my heart Cor was II on
the ghost of hearth was smarting, al
crushed within me, and had begged Il
honor Of my hand In marriage. Me-Rul
Stirling, eldest daughter OF large iau
ly, my parents 70 poor that They la
gladly awaited themselves OF Aunt Nav
sour's fer to take care OF mt
And the only incentive with which II
! aunt had finally ovcrruled my horror al
| aversion 10 old Jenkinson's proposal hl
| been the TACT that, once the wlie OF u
millionaire, would be In position
mat erially assist my parents aud the =
brothers and sisters at home, all OF who
| must he fed, clothed, aud educated.
When she arrived at that point In h
pcrsuasions she h. d found the vulnerab
spot in my armor, and In An evil momen
! yielded a reluctant consent.
! went TO my own room now, with
firm step, and closing the door behind III
tn ned the key in the lock. Then
march,d straight to the mirror on Il
marble dressing table, and resting n
chin on my hand, took long survey
my own face. Nota pretty woman II
features were far from faultless, and II
compile xion defective.
Still, this rich man had taken fan
to me. caught my breath like one
. pain, at the thought he had chosen /
as he would any other adjunct Of
handsome home. A lay figure up
a which to hang silks and satins, and d
play his jewels. | tore the cluster
: diamonds from my finger, and tossi
= the ring, his ring, into drawer, on
> more breathed freely.
Tomorrow would be my wedding -ds
felt like a criminal on the eve OF exec
Q ton. Outside, the wind tore abu
among the naked branches of the TIRE
, with mad fury, and chill rain and sl'
: made night hideous.
laughed TO myself as night clos
down upon the dreary earth 1t was a
type of my own liie-mv sunless, storI
future. paced the floor of my roc
until morning dawned, full OF stran
unrest, and feeling of sulfocation
net was closing down upon me, and 80
escape would be impossible. All, u
night tnviei the poorest, mean
creature In existence-who was free
Morning dawned the rain had ceas'
but the day was dreary--a day to viii
the night before had been fit prelu'
Aunt Vavasour, and my troop of gid
bridesmaids were in despair over
unpropitious weather. THE brid'
alone laughed. The girls stared ut
with eyes full of wonder, but dare v
ture no comments-not In my presence
least. For was not the prospective NJ
Jenkinson, who would room cont
millions and upon who're ipse di
their own position in my select 81
would depend
l was arrayed at last, like the III
=. OF the field who toll not, neither do Il
spin," all in gIimmer of white satin, ,
frosty lace, and diamond sparkles-pa
ed out, to enter the first OF the long
of waiting carriages. On the pavemt
as swept along upon the rich car
n spread for the bridal party to pass oS
the cynosure of crowd of the "Gr
Unwashed," l CHANGED to raise my E
Tor an instant. Only an instant, but
was long enough to alter my en