Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-07-22
THE WEDDING DRESS.

Of spending than saving, and who at his
death had left his family almost penniless.
Now, however, Barbara was earning a
modest income az assistant secretary to
Lady Glendower. wcll known for her phil
anthropio efforts, and Lettice added to
their store by teaching the children Of q
prosperous linen draper.
I.ettice had been for some weeks staying
st Broadstairs with her young charges,
and Barbara was alone, but much hap
pened during these few weeks, much that
Lettioe Is at present in ignorance of.
II we enter their little sitting room and
listen 30 the conversation being carried on
by the two occupants, we shall learn the
nature Of what hns taken place. One oc-
cupant IS Barbara Maitland herself.
The o1her occupant is man about 40,
dark and handsome, albeit tanned. by ex-
posure to wind and weather, as Well he
may, having only lately returned from his
fruit ranch IN California. He is Lady
Glendower's brother.
at all seems so strange, - said Barbara,
ITO think that we az actually engaged q
each other, and yet that we don't profess
70 love each other in the very least -
"Tcs, 4" responded her companion. Then
he a5ded, barbara, would you not IKE tc
know why / first thought Of taking fruit
ranch in California;"
"Ycs, certainly should
That was the CAUSE And Geoffrey
pinoed IN her hand O tiny morocco case
wherein was framed the portrait of "a love
ly girl, spirituelle, yet full ~ Vivecity
with deep blue eyes and golden hair.
She died, and now, Httlo woman, you
know Why told you I could never maS'
love 70 any woman again. WIGS nearly
mad with grief for a time after lost her
and I went out to California and plunged
madly into work. At first. as you know
things did not prosper, and l lost O lot ol
money. Now / have regained all lost
and am comparatively a rich man, bat il
l am TO succeed and take large number
of pupils, as l hope TO do. wife isan ab
solute necessity to me. -
That same evening Lettice arrived. Let
tIce was 10 and had tall, supple fgurt
and a face Of wondrous beauty. Her eyes
were Of that rare blue violet shade, bel
hair soft nut brown. They had finished
tea, and Barbara was seated in a low
chair by the open window, Lettice on {
stool at her feet.
What Barbara-a new ringF" cried thC
younger sister, capturing Barbara's left
hand and examining the lovely sapphir,
flashing on the third finger. "Ah, yor
are bIushingl What have you been doinl
while l have been awayf Come, tell ms
all about 10. ~
Il have been getting engaged, replied
Barbara demurely, and then, to her sister
great surprise, she told her all about it.
So Lettice was introduced TO this new
brother, and the new brother and Lettic'
got on very nicely together. Lettice wal
just Of an age to be fascinated by man O.
Geofrey's age and style rather than b
one nearer to her own age, and GeoffreJ
was taken by her fresh, girlish ways and
by her naturel, unconventional style
So IL was all aTranged--a marriage o.
mutual satisfaction and esteem, but NJ
lovemaking.
But the little god was not to be cheated
So two hearts, after one ecstatic bound o.
passionate joy, as they realized that they
are all the world to each other, are plunged
in anguish and despair as they also realize
that they both are In honor bound never
to be more than friends.
Look into Godfrey Selhurst's room late
one evening toward the end of August NJ
he PAGES up and down, heedless of the fact
that the clock is already registering -thl
sIun.f hours.
"Fool-fool that 1 was" he calculated
Fool TO tell myself that my heart wa!
dead and buried with my lost love, anc
now 1t is beating as wildly and with az
passionate love for another, and may moi
claim her I am bound IN honor to hel
sister.
barbara shall never know it," mur
INJURED Lettice as she lies awake In her 81
lent misery through the long night. 81
will bear my pain alone. Her life shall
not Do spoiled.
II was the evening before The wedding
q lovely, still September evening. Ih,
three were together in the Maitlands' lit
tie sitting room.
'Bab, you have not tried on your wed
ding dress" cried LettiCe. 1T looks love
ly Do go up stairs and put it on know
thai Godfrey is dying T. see lt. y
"Yes, do" said Geoffrey. II should lik'
to see 1t"
''Very well, " said Barbara, smiling. "l
will crafty your curiosity and my vanity.
I will run and put 1t on. y
Fora few seconds silence prevails. Then
Lettice crosses over to Geofrey, and, tax
ing both his hands. gazes at him with sor-
row laden eyes.
"Geoffrey, you win never let her know,
never let her guess. You will be true &c
"Letticp, Lettice, I want youl Come
and help me TO put my gown on" cried
Barbara's voice from up stairs. "Come
and help me, Lettioel Miss Frazer has
made "a mistake My gown is much toe
long and too large. She seems TO have
made 1t by your measurement instead OF
mine. Try 1t on, Lettice and let me soc
Lettioe consented To array herself in the
white silk and lace draperies, and very
lovely she looked in them. Her tall figure
easily carried off the supernuous inches
that had go distressed Barbara, and she
looked with pardonable girlish vanity as
her sister placed her in front of the glass.
"Did you think l did not guess what
had happened, little sisterY" said Barbara s
sweet, low toned voice. while her arm stole
gently round the amazed Lettice. Here
is Godfrey Selhurst's bride! Come and
let me take you to him."
"But, Barbara, stopl How did you find
outf We never meant you to know !
will not take your lover from you"
"Geoffrey Is not my lover, and he is only
going 10 marry me because he Is too ohival-
rous and honorable to disappoint me, and,
though like him very much and esteem
him Immensely, l should never fret my
heart out about him, as l know foolish
little girl would do If had gone away
with him and left her In England.
Six months later there was a wedding
out In California, and this time the brides
dress fitted perfectly, and even If it had
not done so she would have gone to church
and have been married In 10 all the came,
for Barbara declared that Hugh Denham,
the clever doctor, had won her heart and
soul completely for himself and that not
even TO make Lettice happy would she sur
render him Exchange.