The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-05-20

OF Wna6 he Will say ana uO-anu tne
wedding so close now, and Augustus always
talking about the honeymoon trip. | do
think that | am the unhappiest girl in all
England just when"
Adelaide could get no further; tears in
tervened, and sobs which she could with
difficulty reprcss.
''This is mere foolish excitement" Miss
Gray said, when her friend had grown
calmer; "you mustn't give way to it, you
mustn't really. There is nothing to be
frightened about. Dr. Wilson may feel
little hurt, but then, you know, when
ever girl marries, there's generally some
man bit doleful over it. But men are
seldom as unhappy as they think they are,
and besides, you know, in these days
people don make scenes; it isn't good form
a shall be dreadfully afraid" Adelaide
said slowly, fright up to the wedding, if
DIR. Wilson stops in Knagford.
''Then we must get him to go away,
Miss Gray replied decisively.
Adelaide buried her face in her hands.
When she looked up again her cheeks were
crimson.
Laura" she said, 81 wasn't quite frank
and truthful with you the other day. |
wanted to be, but somehow l couldn't.
She stopped for few seconds, and then
went on hurriedly:
'I did love him in those days. And we
were engaged. He used to kiss me some-
times. And when l gave him the roses,
| gave him lock of hair too. And there
was more things l said-if he were to re-
mind me of them, know shouldn't be
able to bear it And yet-yet-I don't
want him to go away without my seeing
him.
Miss Gray looked at her friend in silence.
She was hurt by the previous want of con-
fidence, and now she realized the full i'm
portance of Adelaide's confession.
"The wedding dress came in this morn
ing from Plymouth, the other said sud
denly, "but they shan't induce me to try it
Oh"
"Adelaide," Miss Gray replied solemnly,
''all this is very serious. You ought to
have told me all this before But really
think that you oughtn't to marry Mr.. Chess
all, feeling as you do. And yet now the
wedding is so near
"You must find some excuse for putting
it off, Laura" the other cried yehemehtly;
';you must indeed
Miss Gray was very thoughtful as she
walked home.
'sPoor Adelaide" she sighed; "she has
had a great deal to go through in these
last days. But things will come off all
right, | expect There will be an explO-
sion, aud then the great Augustus Chessall
will 90 on his tour by himself. IF he
hadn't been so dreadfully tedious, things
might have turned out differently"
Meantime Adelaide was still sitting in
the arbor, thinking of many things. "How
circled round and round in her mind. By
and by her imagination began to paint the
ending she secretly wished for. Only
within the last few days had she admitted
even to herself what her heart really
prompted; now that she had spoken to her
friend, her ideas became more definite, and
she could surrender herself to visions Of 6
future in which Augustus Chessall had nc
part.
She was reused from her reverie by
voices in the garden. She recognized hel
sisters lively staecato. and then, with al
inward tremor, Dr. Wilson's deeper tones
Soon they came nearer, and Adelaide could
hear what they were saying.
"Youll be back for the wedding" Maud
said; ''I shall be dreadfully disappointed il
you are not"
DIR. Wilson laughed.
''You want me to see you as bridesmaid,
he said. "What vanity! But I'll be back
before then. l don't think I could stoE
away from you if I tried"
''Aud it Is only month since you dis
covered me in there, Maud replied, nod
ding toward the arbor. "You hardly
spoke to me before.
II think I've made up since for the few
days lost" he replied, with laugh. 81
dare say the .sossips of Knagford are already
beginning to talk about us. u
''I4et them," Maud replied scornfullyi
=''the silly things y
"We shan't have to keep our secret very
long," DIR. Wilson said 'just till your sis
ter's wedding is over. Then I'll ask your
mamma consent, and hope shall get 1t.
'Oh, there's no fear about that, Maud
replied frankly. "You are great man
You know, Ernest, and very eligible SON
in-law."
All this the poor listener in the arbor
plainly heard, and then brief space OF
blessed oblivion blotted out all further
sense of sound. 1t was but for moment
slowly and quietly the consciousness of out
side objects returned. and the memory of
what had happened. The two were still
talking in the garden, but they had moved
further off, and their tones were low and
indistinct. Peering through the leaves
/ Adelaide could see that they were facing
each other, and that he was holding both
her hands. Sinking back in her seat, she
strained her ears to catch the light susurrus
of tender tones. For some time the low
babble lasted; then came moments silence
followed by a light, silvery laughi the
lovers were parting, and had kissed. Ade-
| laide listened to the Doctors retreating
footsteps grinding op the gravel of the
garden path, and then heard the door close
behind her sister The poor girl did moi
stir from her place. An hour passed, and
evening came on, but she sat motionless
gazing blankly into the gathering twilight
Not muscle of her face moved, not a teal
dropped as the tumult in her mind rolled
on, as the gray perspective Of what must
be obliterated presented itself to her.
Footsteps passed outside, bur she hardly
heard them; it was not till Mr.. Chessal
stood at the entrance that she reused her
self from her long reverie.
sAdelaide p he exclaimed, ''why are yor
sitting here alone in the dark ? They told
me you were at Miss Gray's. Is anything
the matter ?"
She moved little to make room for him
by her side.
| s.Don't LET MS 90 in lust vet. dear she