The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-20
tCoPYmeHr, 1892, BY TrL1orsoN & sos.I

member of the company, so as to be on tht
alert for any chance 20 further his purpose
even at the last moment, entered the hal
just in time to see Nellie in her bridal dress
minus veil and flowers, steal down tnt
stairs and into the library. whittier Leo hac
already gone to wait his turn to depart for
church.
The circumstances struck Royal as strange
such a breach of wedding etiquette, and,
quick as thought. he slipped OUT at the gar
den door and round the terrace TO as near
the library window as be could get without
betraying his presence.
be could, however, hear and see distinctly
what passed within. Leo was leaning oac
in an armchair, looking sadly wan ana tired
but with a look of calm resolution on his
face, which could Mr. Ferret have seen IL
would have betrayed to him more than a
likeness to his boy, a vivid one to himself,
now in his sore trouble.
At the sound however. of Nellies voice
as she paused at the door, asking half slyly,
half fearlully. Leo, are you here" the
sight of the little white-robed figure, more
fair even than the one which the night be-
fore had seemed 20 him an angel, be rose
quickly, and taking the hand outstretched
toward him, drew her into the room, clos
ing the door carefully, then lifting her face
in his hands. kissed her-not on the lips-
but quietly, almost, 1t seemed to her sol
EMMY, upon her snowy forehead.
1t was perhaps cold greeting for bride,
especially to one who had made this little
sacrifice OF form to be true to promise.
But Nellie did not lind 1t so.
She understood her lovers heart too well,
and felt, besides, that 1t was for no idle
legged her this few moments before they
met at the church.
Then, as for moment he did not speak,
to let him see how completely she had set
aside ali thought of her fear of the night
before. she began to talk in a half-shy, half
laughing way, such as 50 well became her
fairy grace
IL had to have resort to all sorts of
maneuvers to get rid of nurse and the girls,
for they would think it most terribly wrong
of me to let you see me without my veil and
the flowers. Tell me, Leo, do you think /
shall look nice-do | look really pretty, as
you say | do sometimes? I've tried so hard
to think do, because don't want people
to say you have married poor blind little
girl with a white, silly face Do | look
nice. 1t isn't vain Of me TO ask you, Leo, is
it? You know l can't see for myself, 80 |
want you TO be my looking glass"
my darling will be the most beautiful
bride ever saw, " said Leo, standing away
from her as If to give thorough inspection
but in reality taking no heed of the rich
satin dress, with its cleaning folds, costly
pearl aud lace trimmings, his eyes fixed
with a single gaze upon the fair face above
which indeed be had not overpraised.
Ever sawm repeated Nellie Now,
know gentlemen hate wsddings-unless, OF
course, they are the bridegrooms. You seem
30 positive about the comparison, which, of
course, Is flattering; but l hope you haven't
been married before
IF had" replied Leo, taking I'D her
light tone, nothing on earth should keep
me from being bigamist-a polygamist-
now | see you" Then earnestly, as he took
both her hands in his and kissed them ten
derby, but would go to meet you at the
church. Nellie, quite as gladly If, instead of
this fine dress, you were still the poor little
girl in sober little black dress l frat
knew"
Nellie shivered slightly.
81 was sad-then; / am happy, so happy
now. Don't let us think about those other
days to-day"
"That is just why l wished TO see you
now" he replied.
And then she felt him draw her hands
down until they rested on his head, and she
knew he was kneelinR before her his head
bowed, his arms resting lightly on her
waist.
why, Leo" she said
Let me kneel, dearest" be said, gently,
81 feel as IL can say what have to say
remember, dear, how it was l first asked
you TO be my wife"
Eyes, Leo" she replied. quickly, but
with no trace of fear at bis strange man
ner. "How could 1 forget!n
And do you remember what told you
then, about a secret in my life-that 1t was
one you must never know. one which must
have kept us apart, but that first spoke to
save you-and then l could not 20 back,
because loved you so"
''Yes, yes, remember, she replied think
ing that IL was her hasty words OF the night
before which had made him wish to recall
the circumstances Of their wooing TO their
mind. "But am going to forget that there
is any shadow, there shall be none in flu
ture"
"But now, in this present, recall it," he
said. recall every fear you ever had of this
seoret-every fear which can make you
realise what il is to me-"
"Why. Leo, why"
Because, dear, cannot stand before
Gods altar and claim you falsely. Nellie,
the secret is such as you never even dream
of. or perhaps even now you would draw
backm
Never. Leo, never" she replied, lifting
her hands from his head and letting them
fall again gently, as If she were blessing
him.
"You do not know the truth, and, God
helping, you never shall, If my life car
guard it." went on Leo in the same clear sci
tone, "but If its very existence frightens
you, it is not too late to save yourself. II
you have one thought of fear, one shadow
of dread for the future. tell me, tell me
now, don't fear for me, tell me and you
shall be free-free, as il | never had claim
upon you-as if had never loved you as
do, too we'll to let you suffer for my sake ,
"And what II do not fearl What if the
very knowledge Of this secret that is so ter.
rible to you, only makes me draw nearer to
you, love you as you love me, because
want SO much to try and help you bear
yonr pain"
Your love, your trust, shall never, a.
heaven shall be my witness be repsnted
Night and day. not moment but 1 will
guard my secret from you as l would the
deadliest harm. Night and day I will strive
to hide, to bury it more completely from
you and from myself. But If sometimes the
knowledge of it seems to touch me, you
shall never know or if you do, promise me
never to ask, never to doubt, that / have
done what I could for the best Choose
Nellie. choose, and judge between US as
pray heaven does"
Without one moments hesitation Nellie
sank upon her knees, and claspipg her hands,
made answer:
IL choose now as at the first am yours.
Leo, till death do us part"
A moment SO kneeling, as il already at
I