The herald., 1896-01-26

young man in the usual clerical dress
stepped from before the chancel rail-
ing. Two others walked forward, and
after a few sentences which Catherine
scarcely heard, and certainly did not
recognize, Almund clasped her hand,
and took her for his wife until death
should part them" A ring was slipped
on her finger, and in an ecsatcy of emo
tion she heard Almund call her "wife."
Then there was a slight movement a
few words in a low tone. and she was
conscious that Almund was paying the
priest money and giving directions to
one of his witnesses, who was his valet.
The next minute they were in the sun
light again, and Aumund was holding
her hand close, and saying softly 10
her every word woman loves to listen
to.
SO soon to part! That was the shadow
Of the happy hour; but Catherine
would not be sorowful. She bid AL
mund "good bye with radiant smiles,
and went back to her duties at Otterby.
whispering his name to her heart all
the way home. Only an hour had pass
ed, and yet in that hour she had done
What she could never undo; she had
stepped across q Rubcon, and now
there was a great gulf between the
Catherine of yesterday and to-day. She
felt it Immediately. The boys lessons
were things far Off, she could not bring
them within her interests. She had left
something of her old self in that old
church, and the words spoken over Al
mund's and her own clasped hands had
been Transforming ones. 1t is. however.
a fortunate thing when women deeply
in love have duties that must be done;
and Catherine being conscientious in
the smallest matter, soon compelled
herself to affect the interest she did not
feel. And the inevitable is great
strengthened. In n day or two she rea-
lized that Almund was far from her:
that no actual change in her life could
take place for some weeks or months.
and that she must either remain at
Otterby or 80 back to her fathers
house
So the winter went, and with the
spring the MoWbrays returned to the
Manor House. But though nothing like
Il complaint was expressed. Catherine
was soon sensitive to difference. She
did not consider that the difference"
had first arisen with herself; that her
pupils had long felt it, though they were
quite unable to define the change. She
only wondered what the servants had
said to Mrs. Mowbray. or what Mrs
Mowbray had heard in London; and
day by day the slight coldness and con-
straint increased Before her marriage
Catherine would have tried to smile or
laiI hn Si Il
her duty. and waited. When Almund
came home, her position would be al
tered.
One morning Mrs. Mowbray was
little unreasonable. She said ''she did
not know what had so changed Cath
crime" and yet when asked. she could
not define the change. Catherine felt
injured, and was silent and irrespon-
sive. A few words would have cleared
the domestic atmosphere. but they were
not said: and the boys played in whis-
pers and did not enjoy their play. BY
the afternoon mail Catherine received
q letter from Almund. He said "he had
just come from his uncle's funeral. He
was ill., He wanted his wife. He begged
Catherine to come to him. But she must
let Mrs. Mowbray think she was going
back to Market-Sorby; he did not want
her meddling in their affairs"
The letter was an impetuous, passion
ate appeal, and it found Catherine in
the very mood to answer it. She sought
Mrs MoWbray, and said she wished to
60 home.
ut will be the best place for you,"
answered the lady. You are unhappy,
and you do not tell me why. l have
heard things that may not be true. You
do not confide in me- think you ought
to speak to your father"
AS it happened, Market-Sorby was on
the direct road TO London, and Mrs
Mowbray, hearing Catherine ask for a
ticket for that place. was convinced she
had returned to her home. She was sor-
ry, and she was not sorry. GATHERINGS
beauty was too remarkable. She was
not Jealous but she did not like to hear
Mr.. Mowbray rave about it: and the
boys were really silly where their gov
erness was concerned. Yes. it was bet
ter to have a change, and she very will
ingly forgot all about Catherine Rae
burns existence.
To be Concluded.