The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-05-08
CHAPTER XNXI.

SylyeSter-tranSform by Il year or Dub
lin existence into vulgar young dandy,
who makes inane attempts at being
fast"
At last the bountiful wedding breakfast
comes to an end, and the bride and groom
take their departure amidst rice and old
shoes, and the guests go away one by
one
Hettie has been heroic in her own sordld
way; she has endured a martyrdom OF
misery, and apprehension of some one dis
covering the suppressed news and thus
making "a horrible upset. as she phrases
it: and all the while she has smiled, ana
made witty replies, and been courteous
and pleasant and attentive, until all mas
been safely over" the bride and groom
sent away smiling, the wedding guests
gone, the wedding breakfast cleared away,
and the house quiet; and then, according
to the program she has laid out for her
self, the afternoon post comes, bringing
letters for Miss Stapleton, as she has
Cleverly managed that it shall; and, as Is
her usual habit, she takes them upstairs
to read in her aunt'S room while they are
drinking their afternoon tea.
Murcl is not with them: indeed, she
never makes one in any of their cosy fire
side chats or tea drinkings. Only for
Edith her life would have been a solitary
one for the last twelve months; now that
Edith has gone it will be utter loneliness
indeed. Minute after minute Hettie de-
lays, trembling while she drinks her tea,
knowing there is yet one letter to be open
ed. The envelope has been gummed up
again to preserve appearances, and she
nd b. ,,II l., RI.
as she unfolds the letter with an cxcIama-
ton of surprise that 1T is in Mr.. Farren' 5
handwriting.
She reads Il few sentences and then, as
the news is half told. filings tie letter
down with wild cry of bitter grief which
is all real. and poor Mrs. Llewellyn learns
the dreadful truth from Testers heart
broken sobs and tears.
"Hettie, get up. my child" the old lady
says presently, i'll Il strange, constrained
voice, her hands shaking. her face ashen
gray, but her eyes quite bright and tear
lcss-"get up, lIettie, it isn't true! Stop
crying. child. it isn't true! My boy, the
only son of his mother, and she widow
it isn't true. Hcttie, Do YOU hear me !:
Telegraph 10 this mar-this lawyer-bl
him come over to me at 0nce-at once,
If it costs hundreds. Bid him come at
once to ME, and tell me what this means,
And YOU must telegraph to Edith" Mrs.
Ilcwellyn says, f"verishy; she must
come back again at once"
Hettic plays deus OK machina again in
this instance, ii is true, by the simple mis-
spelling Of the name of the hotel to which
the telegram is addressed Hotel Denis
instead Of Hotel DrcuX," and as the
hous" in question is 4 very quiet, select,
rather oldfashioned place, there is every
prospect Of the telegram being consid-
erably delayed.
And if one can get days breathing
time it is something when one is sur
rounded by selfish, thoughtlrss people, ;"
Hettie thinks. with n spasm Of seIf-pity.
''Oh. Hett;e. what shall we DO: There
is Muriel to be toid.' cries Mrs. LEV
cllyn. The poor girl will break her
heart. oh, my Eric's wife, what shall
we do
"Bo you count her grief as equal to
yours" demands i1ett;e, stamping and
pressing her foot down as if she griuds
oct the life of some obnoxious thing.
MY dear. she is his wife" Mrs. I.Iew-
sllyn says. fechly. beginning to weep.
Wife, She is no wife, She is only an
.I,. 1,,,laI w.; w.
a'''H' IM ,'','. ,,i:u 5oiii
: =, ~ ""-'' ,i,'
iie>''' say
She hurrleS ou' OF the room as she
speaks, unable to control herself unable
to contro! either the hcndISh desire Tor
vcngean"" on hapiess MurleI that takes
possession OF her-Muflet, VINO Is now
friendless. helpless, nobody. an inter
loper, hateful mem"hto OF Erie $ sudden
passionate folly. FOR wei, too well, in
her hcrc" Jealous heart, does Hester Sta
pleton know that Eric had madly loved
the young wife whom he put away from
him. because he thought he possessed her
without her hearts willing affection. Half
an hour later Hester returns to the room,
and finds Mrs. lleWellyn just rs she had
left her. rocking herself to and fro, star
ing ut the ire ana moaning TO herself III
Il low m"notohous tone with every breath
she draws.
Il have only been upstairs. aunt. Hes
ter says, in low tone. ana keeping her
face avcrted. Il had to tell her, you
know-to tell Muriel, You know-of-of-