Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-04-18

XXlI.-CoNTTNUED.
While he walked and fretted, Carol was
sleeping the sweet and peaceful sleep Of
care-free girlhood. Whatever burdens had
pressed upon her, whatever fears oppressed
her, were all gone now. TIL cold winter
daylight was streaming in at the windows
when she awoke, flushed and smiling, from
some pleasant dream. She sprang up at
once, alert aud eager.
h day ut last. Oh, | am glad, SO glad,
that it will all soon be over"
She dressed herself and ran down to Ly-
mans den. He was not there, but a slip of
paper bearing the words twill be in timen
lay upon his desk.
"Dear BROTHER the girl murmured, as
she bent over it. 81 am glad for his sake
as we'll as my own that it is nearly over"
Very fresh and fair looked Carol in the
simple white dress she had chosen. There
were white roses in her belt and at her
throat, but they failed to make her look
bride-hke to the eyes of Mr.. Ingot when he
appeared. a full half-hour before his time,
making his way to the den, where Carol
was still waiting.
"Roses, eh.n as he looked her over.
GWhy, 1 sent you orange blossoms. I
thought brides always wore them, and a vail
or something of that kind fiimsy and cloud
like, you know. One wouldn't suspect by
the look of you that you were all ready to
be married"
Carol moved away from the arm with
which he encircied her.
I" Thought l b card Lyman come in with
you,'' she said, kurriedly. Where is hes"
you heard a more important person, my
dear-the clergyman who is to unite US.
He is In the par OF, and if you are all ready,
we may as weL do up the business at once.
What do you ssy?''
'Oh, no. 1t Is not time yet, and, besides,
we must wait Tor Lyman. He will be here
In time"
"Weli, I give you fair warning if he isn't
that thereL be no waiting. Just twenty.
five minutes by the clock, and then
Carol moved further away from him.
Ingot did not finish the sentence. He was
nervous under the triumph and exultation
Of the houI, and he studied his bride-elect
furtively while the moments wore on.
SHOW stall she keeps herself" he thought.
half IN rage, half admiringly. "How will if
be when the time comes, when Lyman
comes, and fails to stop the ceremony, as
she fully expects him to do. 1t would be
bad If shs should make a stand for herself
at the last minute, but no! it isn't in her.
She'll be mine fast enough, before she fair.
ly understands that he has failed her, poor
little thilgi and 1 VOW I'll be good to her to
make up for it all"
The minutes licked on. Carol had growa
very pale. The roses of the morning had
deserted her cheeks, her eyes were prefer
naturally large and solemn. her hearing
was strained to catch the first sound OF
Lyman's coming He had promised to save
har-hn tr-nrl6 Sara hor thor1nh ut tho WORT
last moment. Size believed in him utterly
but this anxiety and suspense were very
hard to bear.
b had been sverSe to this sensational
plan OF having Ingot's defeat come a
The very moment when he would be ex
-pecting the crown of his happiness, but
having yielded TO Lyman in the one thing
she yielded in every thing.
Five minutes of the hour! Suppose, after
all, Lyman should not be in time; she would
refuse TO be married, of course, until he
came; but, suppose, again, he should mo-
come at alIl
In the midst of her anxious thoughts, the
clock struck, and almost the same instant
the door~bel rang.
"Tin9s up, and Lyman's here. Come
cried Ingot, with il[repressed excitement
drawing her hand within his arm and lead
ing her into the hall.
There was some confusion at the Ell
trance door which a servan. held open. In
got's attsntiOn was all concentrated on hi:
bride. He did not see the sight which
caused her face, pale as it was, to turn ever
paler, In time to shield her from it.
A group of men were on the steps, bear
ing q burden IN between them, and tina
burden vas the senseless form of Lyman
Childer, bis upturued face CHASTITY and sci
rs II the zeal of death were already upon it