The Monmouth inquirer., 1889-08-08

asked with passionate anxiety, as he
gazed at the lovely downcast form.
eyes, did love you once"
Carmen, Carmen, is that all that you
can sayY and he seized her hands and
made her look up, and in the impid
depths of those brown eyes he saw that he
was still loved. In a moment his arms
clasped her, and there was no more fear,
no more estrangement; tout comprendre
c'est tout pardonneri
The band of the -th struck up an old
English air, "Haste to the Wedding.
The breeze brought it to the myrtle
bower with great distinctness.
"Love, do you hear those strains?'
"The band, you mean? Yes"
''They are playing Haste to the We'd
ding They have done it on purpose,
and what day is ours to be?"
"Oh, Geoffry, time enough for that by
and by"
Pardon me, my liege lady; I wish to
be back at Estcourt place for the shoot
ing; your father is coming, and Lady
Estcourt must be there to receive her
guests ia person"
"This is August now," said Carmen
with very rosy flush on her face.
"Exactlyp'
"But / have nothing to be married in,
no trousseau, or anything"
"Be married in the gown you have on
Can anything look more pure or sweet?
Do, dear! We can supplement every
thing in Paris or London; only let us be
married, that is the main thing"
"But dear old dad. What will he say?"
"He said, go in and win, Geoff.'"
However, we must conclude he got
his own way, for a society paper
stated that ga marriage had been
solemnized between Sir Geoffry Est
court, of Estcourt Place, and the only
daughter and heiress of Col. Massing-
bird, c. B., late M. p, etc." (within the
specified month of August.
Again September has come round, so
fresh and fragrant that it brings deli
cate tinge Of color to Miss Estcourt's face
as she stands on the threshold Of the hall
door, looking down the shady avenue Of
stately lime trees.
"Herbertl"
"Here, Marcial'
"There is the train, it is five miles off,
it is just entering Thurston tunnel, now
it has disappeared. It is time for you to
start The carriage has already gone. !"
"Then will go at once" And as he
spoke his horse was brought round.
Waving his hat gayly to Marcia he dis
appeared down the avenue. She watched
him with gentle eyes, and then turned to
see that every detail was perfect for her
brother and his brides home coming.
She was very satisfied, for Geofry was
at last-after long probation-completely
happy. The shadow uplifted, the wan
derings over, he had reached the haven
where he would be.
The Dover house had been made COM
pletely comfortable; it had been prettily
refurnished under Marcia's own super
intendence. 1t was such little way,
too, from the Dene, through the Est
court grounds. Was there not little
pathway that brought one straight into
the Dene garden, shady, mossy, lovers
walk? And no doubt it had been used
for that purpose, many a time and oft.
"Come down to the Lady's Glen, Car
men, that I may realize my happiness,
and feel how much owe to your for
giveness."
Hardly required, Geof., since all my
happiness is centered in you, and indeed
Love is, or ought to be, our greatest bliss.
Since every other JOY how dear soever.
Gives way to that"
"Well, dear, give way as much as you
like, as far as am concerned. put no
limit to it.
"Geoffry, darling, can you believe it is
two years, nearly three, since you and I
met, met here-and"
"And had our misunderstanding? Yes, J"
said he, comfortably seating himself on
the lovers seat and drawing his wife be-
side him.
"Ah, Geofry, how well I remember
this glenl Just such weather, the brook
tumbling and tossing, the trees whisper
ing, the birds fitting in and out. Then,
then was heartbroken. Now, I am SO
happy hardly know how to bear it. I"
And her eyes had limpid look as she
turned them on her husband. "Do you re-
member what the Prince and Elsie say
when they stand on the terrace after
their marriage2
I'm life's delight, In deaths dismay
In storm and sunshine, night and day
In health and sickness, In decay,
Here and hereafter, I am.thine."
Sir Geofry took his wife's hand in his
own and tenderly kissed it. And slowly,
with their great happiness, they re-