Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-04-08

it was beyond her power of self-examination
to discover He doubly dazzled her by his
birth and by his celebrity. Not in England
only but throughout Europe, he was a rec
cgI:zed authority on his own subject. How
could she-how could any woman-resist
the influence of his steady mind, his
tirmness of purpose, his manly resolu-
ton to owe everything to himself and nothing
to his rank, set Off as these attractive quail
ties We're by the outward and personal adj
vantQges which exercise an ascendancy OF
their own. Isabel was fascinated, and vet
Isabel was not at ease. In her lonely mo.
ments she was troubled by regretful thoughts
of Moody which peIpexed and irritated her.
She had always behaved honestly to him; she
had never encouraged him to hope that his
love for her bad the faintest prospect of be.
ing returned Yet. knowing as she did that
her conduct was blameless so far, there were
nevertheless perverse sympathies in bel
which took MS part In the wakeful hours
of the night there were whispering voices
which SAID: Think of Moody! Had there
been growing kindness toward this good
friend III her heart, of which she was herself
not alvarez She tried to detect ito weigh
it f9c what it was really worth. But it la,
too deep to be discovered and estimated, if it
did really exist-if it had any sounder origin
than her own morbid fancy In the broad
light of day, in the little bustling duties of
life, she forgot it again. She could think of
what she ought TO wear on the wedding
day; she could even try privately
how her new signature, 'lsabel Hardy
man." would look when she had the
right to use it. On the whole, it may be said
that the time passed smoothly, with some
occasional checks and drawbacks, which
were the more easily endured seeing that
they took their rise in 1Sabefs own conduct
Compliant as she was in general, there were
two instances, among Others, i'll which her
resolution to take her own way was not to
be overcome. She refused to write either to
Moody or to Lady Lydiard informing them
of her engagement, and she steadily dis
approved of Miss Pink's policy of conceal
ment III the matter of the ropDery at Lady
Lydiards house. Her aunt could only secure
her as a passive accomplice by stating
family considerations in the strongest poss-
BILE terms. ''If the disgrace was confined to
you, my dear L might leave you to decide
But | am involved in it, as your nearest rea-
tive; and, what is more, even the sacred
memories of your father and mother might
feel the slur cast on them" This exaggerated
language-like all exaggerated language. a
mischevous weapon in the arsenal of weak
ness and prejudice-had its effect on Isabel
Reluctantly and sadly she consented to be
silent.
Miss Pink wrote word Of the engagement
to Moody first, reserving to a later day the
superior pleasure of informing Lady Lydl-
ard of the very event which that audacious
woman had declared to be impossible. To
her aunt's surprise, just as she was about Ia
close the envelope, Isabel stepped forward,
and inconsistently requested leave to add a
postscript to the very letter which she had
refused to write Miss Pink was not even
permitted to see the postscript. Isabel Sc
cured the envelope the moment she had laid
down her pen, and retired to her room with
a headache (which was heartache in dis
guise) for the rest of the day.
While the question of the marriage was
still in debate an event occurred which eX-
ercised a serious influence on Hardyman's fu-
ture plans.
He received a letter from the Continent
which claimed his immediate attention. One
of the soveregns of Europe had decided on
making some radical changes in the mount
ing and equipment of a cavalry regiment,
and he required the assistance of Hardyman
in that important part of the contemplated
reform which was connected with the choice
and purchase of horses. Setting his own in
terests out of the question, Hardyman owed
obligations to the kindness of his illustriOus
correspondent which made it impossible for
him to send an excuse. In fortnlghts
time, at the latest, it would be necessary for
him to leave England, and a month or more
might elapse before it would be possible for
him to return.
Under these circumstances he proposed, in
his own precipitate way, to hasten the date
of the marriage. The necessary legal delay
would permit the ceremony to be performed
on that day fortnight Isabel might then
accompany him on his journey and spend a
brilliant honeymoon at the foreign court
She at once refused not only to accept this
proposal, but even to take it into cOnsidera-
tion. While Miss Pink dwelt eloquently on
the shortness of the notice. Miss Pink's niece
based her resolution on far more important
grounds. Hardyman had not yet announced
the contemplated marriage to his parents and
friends, and Isabel was determined not to
become his wife until she could be first as
sured of courteous and tolerant reception
by the family, if she could hope for nc
warmer welcome at their hands.
Hardyman was not a man who yielded
easily, even in trifles. In the present case
his dearest interests were concerned in in
ducing Isabel to reconsider her decision. He
was still vainly trying to shake her resolu-
tiOn when the afternoon post brought letter
for Miss Pink, which introduced a new ele
ment of disturbance into the discussion. The
letter was nothing less than Lady Lydiard's
reply to the written announcement of Isabels
h.,
by Miss Pink.
Her ladyships answer was a surprisingly
short one. 1t only contained these lines:
Lady Lydiard begs to acknowledge the
receipt of Miss Pink's letter requesting that
she will say nothing to Mr.. Hardyman of the
loss of a bank note in her house, and assign.
ing as reason that Miss Isabel Miller is en-
gagged to be married to Mr.. Hardyman, and
might be prejudiced in his estimation if the
facts were made known. Miss Pink may
make her mind easy. Lady Lydiard has not
the slightest intention of taking Mr.. Hardy
man into her confidence on the subject of heI
domestic affairs. With regard to the pro
posed marriage Lady Lydiard casts nc
doubt on Miss Pink's perfect sincerity and
good faith; but, at the same time, she posi-
lively declines to believe that Mr.. Hardyman
means to make Miss Isabel Miller his wife
Lady l.. will yield to the evidence of prop
erly attested certificate-and to nothing
else"
A folded piece of paper: directed to Isabel,
dropped out of this characteristic letter as
Miss Pink turned from the first page to the
second Lady Lydiard addressed her adopted
daughter in these words:
Il was on the point of leaving home to
visit you again, when received your aunt's
letter. My poor, deluded child, no words
can tell how distressed am about you. You