The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-27
CHAPTER VIII.
WEDDING BELLs-(coNTINUEDj.

For o moment Sir Lawrence and Nellie
stayed still silent with amazement in the
doorway. Then, the first to recover
herself, Nellie asked fearfully:
"Who Is itF'
The sound OF her voice recalled her father
to himself. aud by instinct guessing that
this was a new aud last diabolical trick Of
Royals to stay the wedding. made an effort
to push the woman aside, ordering her in a
tone which must have awed any but one
who was under Royals dominion:
Out Of the way, womanl Out Of the
way. say9'
But the messenger Of evil stood her ground
firmly. What OF the 10th OF December.
hat is your future husbands secret"
The 10th of December! The seoret!" re-
peated Nellie.
And then cry Of inetfable horror broke
from her lips.
Nellie, do not listen! Come, my child, ~
and trem bling almost Oes de himself with
excitement, Sir Lawrence put his arm
round Der and tried to draw her onward.
TGere was no OBJ tac,e now in the path,
for, obedient to her instructions, the bag
had beaten a retreat the moment she saw
that her mission was successfully accom-
plisbed, but Nellie would not-could not
obey Der fathers wish.
Sne stood like one turned to stone, her
waite flowers fallen to the ground, her
costly dress trailing in the dus., her face
growing every moment more set and gray
IN her speeches. horror.
In vain her father begged, entreated-ay.
Bnd commanded. in such tone as be bad
never used to her before.
She gave no sign even of having heard,
deaf to his voice as to the church bells
which rang out again and again their call
to her to come and meet her future husband
at the church.
Ard then ensued scene impossible TO de-
scribe.
Only for a moment it lasted-too short
fime for any one to solve tue mys ery-just
Ion Z enough for some one TO return up from
the vhurch TO the hall.
Leo, it has cen said, had been the last to
lea, the house, and at the moment he had
set bis foot within the sac ed edIHce, not
many yards away. be had been stayed by
the sound Of Nellie's scream.
There was for him no installing that
voice. Without even trying to stay to
think, with one bound he was out Of the
churchy ard gate. flying back to the hall.
Itseemed hours before he reached it, but
once within the gate he literally bounded
up the path, a.d reached the doorway,
reached the still, whIte-robed statue which |
"oS " Ahk " NniA W iAlO VI /
vain.
Toe picture must have struck dread to /
bis heart, but with one mighty effort he
caught his bride to him, asking, Nellie,
my darling. what is III"
His touch had more power than her
fathel 8 tears or entreaties!
With almost fury she strove TO be free
from his hold
But because he would not believe the |
horrible fear which Mas screaming aloud 10
his ears, De held her fast.
Nell, are you mad, that you shrink from !
mel Speak, tell me what is the meaning of
tti, say anything, but don't look like
t'Your secretw she said at last, still strug-
Cling willy. dec. 10, where were you that
nightg"
THAI night" repeated Leo, falling back
thea so that she Was free at last. "My Godl
Who has told youN
Sir Lawrence sprung upon him, dragging
him down and sitting the words upon his /
lips.
Deny it, deny it, The truth will kill |
With one glance at Nellie, as she stood
sTaying now o and fro, her breath coming |
ih great gSsps, her hands ciuiching at her |
heart as II its beating was agony to her,
Leo made this lost effort.
Regardless how he crushed her snowy
dress, the Whlte II bwer crown on her golden
bend, ne sratcned her once more to him in @
huld which seemed as If il NUT hurt her.
tore apary the costly veil, and, her face free
{ hin. rained on is hot torrent Of kisses.
crying:
"Neli, it is false; am innccsnt, declare
u swear it.
= po8erless in his hold Nellie could yet
gasp IN a tone OF almost more than mortal
ego J.
"So, no; 1t is true know il, know it,
Her very tone seemed to carry con eviction
to Leo.
Once more he released her, fell back with
a face l!vid with horror, his limbs, as it
were, econiinG powerless. so that when,
With a low Groan of anguish. Nellie shud-
&c ed convulsi' ely aud reeled back ward. 4
be could not Put out bis hand 10 save her,
0aly stand still and sea her fall 10 the
ground.
This Yves The end of the day which was
20 have teen 50 b!essed-this the end Of the
love and trust
The women's heart had been tried more
than 1t CT u.d bear, ard she Law at the feea
a. The ~ who was to have cen her
husband, lay in all ter brave bridal array.
face downward 10 the dus