The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-23
CHAPTER XI.
THE LADY IN WHITE.

per and insisted On all possible festivities
He gave her a magnificent trousseau and a
very fair dowry; and Mrs. Helmont's eager
face soon regained all the cheerfulness
which had been absent from it during the
time of her anxiety about Diana's future.
Francis Helmont came down frown town to
assist fashionable bishop in tying the nup-
thai knot, and a host of Lord Hexham's
friends assembled to do honor to the bride,
whose dresses and wedding presents were
chronicled in newspapers for the benefit of
the world at large. There were eight
bridesmaids in pink, all wearing gold brace
let's set with pearls and diamonds, "the
gift of the bridegroom" and the bridal
train that swept up the church aisle was
said to be an exceedingly pretty sight.
Lord Hexham's step-sister, SyDil Lorimer,
sweet-Iooking child of IL, was perhaps
the most charming bridesmaid of the
eight.
But brilliant as the scene appeared to
| outsiders, there was one point on which, to
Col Eastwood at least, it seemed lamenta-
bly, deficient. The bridegroom was most
decidedly the wrong man. Lord Hexham,
handsome, worthy, wealthy as he was,
/ should have been replaced by George
Eastwood, if the pageant were to afford
| Col. Eastwood any satisfaction. And
George was not even present.; he had de-
clared himself under promise to go yacht
/ ing in the Northern seas, and his absence
| was, of course, set down TO grief at Diana's
| choice, and did not, therefore, excite re-
sentiment Francis Helmont looked little
| grave and uneasy when his friends expedi-
| tion was mentioned, but, as he told himself,
| he had no reason to think that George was
behaving unaccountably or improperly,
and therefore he had no reason for his I'M
eAsineSs.
On the day before the wedding. he had
few words with Diana on the subject. She
| was describing to him what George had
sent her as a wedding present; very hand
some diamond pendant, which, TO tell the
| truth, Francis was rather vexed to hear of,
as he did not think that George was able to
afford the money which he must have spent
upon it; and she took the opportunity of
asking one or two questions.
George went away with friends, did he
notW
81 believe So"
"Bertie Milward, 1 suppose, and Lord
II do not know; he did not tell me about
his plans"
| ing which she had been lingering the PEN
| dant with more nervousness than she gem
orally showed, do you know anything OF
Francis turned his sightless ACE toward
her.
1.-THE colonel says that he loves you, Di-
anan
"But you know we'll enough, Frank, that
that was never true.
IBID he acknowledge to you, then, that
he cared for some one elseg'
Eyes. And if it is not breaking a conf
dence, l should very much like to know who
that somebody is"
Her brother sighed
s'There has been no confidence, DIANA
nothing more than suspicion on my part,
and do not like to tell you what | only
suspect"
DO YOU mean that there is anything un-
desirable or wrongP
Eyes. You had better inquire no further,
Diana. could tell you nothing certainly
Il can but surmise."
George Eastwood is surely an honorable
man." breathed Diana, spot of red show
ing itself upon her cheeks.
$50 are we all, all honorable men,"
Francis quoted, rather sadly. "And yet
we sometimes made mistakes. I can only
hope that George is only making mistake,
but know nothing"
SIS shea ladyg said his sister, in very
low tone
mo. If it is, at least, as l suspect. But
you had better not think about this matter,
Diana. l shall do all l can to help George
if he is in any difficulty, you may sure of
that"
He did not care to tell her the story $50
far as he knew it) of Jess Armstrong-of
her disappearance, of Stephen Eyre's
threats. of Georges denial of any connec-
ton with Jess himself. He felt that he had
never vet got to the bottom of that story.
He had not quite believed Georges version,
and vet he did not think him capable of
doing mean or dishonorable thing. He
did tn dioouSs it-laaSt of oil with
Diana, who, as he remembered, had been
4 always Georges comrade and friend. Ali
what a pity that she could not have become
his wlfel Thinking of her fate-for, bril-
liant as it appeared to others. it did not
seem to him entirely desirable lot to have
Lord Hexham's lifelong companionship-
he sought for her hand as it lay on the
table beside her bridal treasures, and hold
\ ing it gently in his own, put home ques-
ton:
Are you happy, Diana|
Quite happy, thank you, Frank"
You love this man that you are going
to marryg'
Diana was silent for moment.
There may be a sense in which do not
love him." she then said clearly, "but like
him and respect him, and mean to make
him good wife"
IAN very well in its way, DIANA but sup
pose you meet some day with man that
you like bettergn
That is impossible" she answered, with
careless little laugh.
he would have understood her answer
better if he could have seen her face. She
had turned pale; her eyes were dilated, her
mouth compressed, apparently by some
great and inexpressible motion. she
clasped her hands together and wrung them
slightly; a short sigh, almost like sob, es-
capped her, but was instantly disguised by a
cough, which her brothers ear could not
tell him was artificial. If he had seen her
lace he would have guessed her secret
n mat the one love Of her life had been for
n george Eastwood, and that, failing him,
sue would never love again. But if he
al could have seen, Dianais features would
nave been under perfect control in his
n presence. And no one-not even her mother
a knew all the truth.
me wedding day came and went. Lord
aao Lady Hexham spent their honeymoon
~ Charming country house in Devon
cure, and then went abroad, not returning
London until the following January,
neh they determined to stay in town for a
~sSN or two before going down to Lord