The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-03-28
A WEDDING GIFT,
BY LUCY ". HOOPER.

A private parlor on the first floor of
the Hoffman House, we'll warmed and
brilliantly lighted, is the scene on which
our story opens. 1t has two occupants
on the particular evening of which we
write. One is Frank Seabright, the
rising young lawyer, tall, strikingly
handsome man, blue-eyed. fair-haired
and blonde-mustached with the figure
of Hercules and the head of an Apollo.
He is doing well in the world, is "'hand-
some Frank" as his friends call him,
and though only a year OF so over thirty,
he is already counted amongst the shin
ing lights of the New York Bar. A little
given to dabbling in literature, too, if
rumor is to be believed, and it is whis-
pered that Remarkably brilliant comedy
of native origin, but recently produced
at the Madison Square Theatre, owes its
wit and sparkle to his pen. Altogether
parsonage of note is Mr.. Seabright,
and a far different individual from the
poor, unknown student who, some six
years ago, was very sincerely and pas
sionately in love with the lady, his
hostess as well as companion, who sits
opposite to him, serene and superb in
Partisan toilette of silver gray silk, en-
broidered with steel, and set off by
parure of black pearls and diamonds.
She was Miss Celeste Rivarde at that
time, a New Orleans belle, famous for
the camellia leaf smoothness and white
ness of her complexion, and for the size
and slumberous languor of her great
Oriental eyes, darker than all else on
earth except the lashes that shaded
them. Now she is Mrs. Wilmington
Weir, widow after three years of matri-
mony, and sole heiress to her millionaire
husbands fortune
She was engaged to Frank Seabright
when she went to Europe to spend Il
winter on the Riviera. There she met
Mr.. Weir, who had gone abroad for his
health. The elderly invalid speedily
became her wooer, and she had not
scrupled to break off her engagement to
her young and ardent, but alas also
penniless, lover, to accept the dazzling
offer of her old aud wealthy adorer. Her
married life had been spent in Europe,
moving about from one health-resort to
another as the sufferings or caprices of
Mr.. Weir had dictated. His death, some
eighteen months before, had left her
free, and rich and independent as we'll
She had fingered in Paris and Rome till
the period had arrived when her mourn
ing had become merely nominal, so far
as her dress was concerned, for evil
minded takers had declared that such
had always been the case in regard to
her feelings.
She had arrived in New York but two
days before. And then, under pretext
OF wishing to consult Mr.. seabright re-
specting some law business, she had sent
Tor MN TO come ana uIrle WIN ner at
her sumptuous apartments at the Hoff-
man House. The invitation had been
accepted, tho repast had been discussed
and the legal questions satisfactorily
settled. And now Mrs. Weir leaned
back in her chair on the opposite side of
the fire place from that where her lawyer
and guest was seated. Asshe toyed with
her fan of dark tortoise.shell and gray
marabout feathers, casting glances at her
quondam lover from under her long,
dusky eyelashes, she felt that the bust
ness of the evening was only just begin
ming, for she realized, in the uttermost
depths of her passionate, undisciplined
nature, that she still loved, with all the
fervor of which her soul was capable,
this superb-looking young man whose
attractions and whose attachment she
had wantonly thrown aside in exchange
for riches and loveless marriage
"Can I bring him to my feet again2'
she thought to herself. The mirror above
the mantel-piece gave answer: "You
can if you will
She was looking wonderful ly beauti-
full under the shaded gas-light, with the
sparkle of diamonds amongt the pearls
at her throat and in her ears rivaled bv
the brilliancy of her great, dazzling eyes.
The velvety whiteness and warm rose
tint of her complexion, the vivid scarlet
of her lips, the blue black masses of her
glossy hair, made up "a glow of color
that might have tempted the pencil of
Benjamin Constant. Still, Frank Sea-
bright, as he observed her critically, saw
but few traces, in this gorgeous woman,
of the young girl that he had once
adored. The keen glance of the man OF
the world detected the wan, callous ex-
preston that urked under the rich pink
of the cheek and the bright-red of the
curved and dainty mouth, and was hidden
In the lustrous depths of the dark eyes
that he remembered as so soft and so ap-
pealing. Celeste Rivarde had been a
most winning girl. Celeste Weir was a
splendid looking woman of the world,
and no more like her former self than a
crimson peony resembles Jacoueminot
rose. Her nature had hardened and
coarsened under the influence exercised
upon it by the events of the past few
years And Frank Seabright, as he
gazed upon her, wondered at his own
former infatuation, and secretly re DICED
that it had so entirely passed away. HIS
acceptance of the invitation to dine with
his former love had been, in truth, an
experiment as to the state of his OWL
feelings, and one which he had tried not
without some unconfessed misgivings
so it was with intense satisfaction that
he felt himself to be entirely heart
whoe as far as this dazzling creature
was concerned.
She looked at him with that smile
which had been found irresistible in tn,
drawing-rooms of Nice and of Florence
"You are very silent this evening, Mr.
Seabright," she said, playfully. 81
penny for the thoughts that you find S,
Absorbing"
He reused himself with start from
his meditations.
"They are worth much more thai
that, Mrs. Weir, 2" he answered, gallantly
"for was thinking of you"
Every prettily said quite equal il
its way to some of the compliments tina
were paid me in Paris And pray, il
what guise did figure in your mus
ings?'
''That which you were years ago.
had called up the spectre of Celest
Rivarde."
The rich color deepened on he
cheeks.
SIS it only as phantom that Celest
hivarde lives in your memory? Can 20
not resuscitate her in the form of Celest
Weir"
She bent forward, with a world {
witchery in the dangerous softness {
her eyes, III the low tones of her melod
Gus voice. .--.t
''And if the first is dead and gone, {
your words seem to insinuate, may NJ
the second take her place. We are bot