The Robesonian., 1897-11-03

1
had just made her final visit of
inspection.
| At the great Page mansion, in
the next county, the clan had al
ready begun to assemble; tremen-
dous preparatlons were going on,
in the kitchens OF q dozen country
seats, which the wedding-party
would visit, on their triumphal
progress, fortnight hence; far
off kinsmen we're on their way, in
numbering family-coaches, with
outsiders from Kentucky and Car
olina; the last stitch had been ta-
ken IL the brides troussoau, the
very veil was in its box, pinned
to the orange blossoms and vet
Doctor Wynn's blue eyes wander
ed uneasily, and he bit his thin
lip, as if his good fortune was
mere vision, fading in thin air.
"What is tho matter With you,
stephen?" said Nelly. sharply.
"You look like tragedy ITSELF
ut may be my jealous fancy,
Nell, but, ''hesitating, "there is
something troubles me-
"Tell me- oil about it," with q
decisive nod. Its not about
Lee, is it? You Aaye your weak
nes5es, Stephen. but vou're not
jealous. It can't be a jealous fan
cy. Lee is nervous, romsntic,
but
"No, l never had any cause for
jealousy" interrupted the doctor.
And I've known Lee since we
wore children. But there is a
.coldness, a reserve in Lees letters,
lately, which I cannot understand.
There was another matter He
hesitated. "Nell, shall not 20
| into detail But there has been
several unaccountahle circumstan-
ces, which make me uneasy, and
uncertain; even though he ad-
ded, smiling urconlfortably, my
wedding-day comes next week.
Miss Wynn waited q moment,
in hopes that he would be more
candid. But he seated her on he1
horse, and mounted his own in
n silence. "What can you do fol
me, Nell?' he said, as they can
tered down the mill together,
Il will go Oh to Colonel Pages
tomorrow, Stephen, said Nell
: prompt as usual, "instead of wait.
ing to 60 with you, next week. Il
any thing is wrong: trnzt me- te
e find it out, and set it right. -
81 knew you would suggest
II something, Ellen. But if any
thing is wrong with Lee, I mus
set it right myself. Nobody mus
come between us--not even you.
Il will go, tomorrow" said El
len, decidedly. "There is nothing
moro to tell me?' looking at hin
T sharply, feeling that she had re
n ceived but a half-confidence.
n "No, nothing said Rocto
n Wynn, ovading her eye.
Among Miss Wynn's many quail
q tiles, WAS Q certain big, careless
# good nature. Ivory we'll, Ste
II phen, I'll do the best cam" sh
l. said, Keep up heart. It vii
Il all be right. Things always d
turn out right in the end" Es
Il pecially, she thought, with regar
y to Stephens fantastic, lmaginar
grievance.
le But the matter, which he ha
|! reserved, was, this time, more tina
N q fantastic grievance. A yea
+. ago, Doctor Wynn had presento
to Miss Page, pearl necklace
le He was not q rich man, and h
of gifts to his bride represented muc
II actual self-denial and privation,
fact which Lee we'll knew. A wee
i, since, while he was in Lynchbur
K, completing his purchases for tt
g, house, he had seen this neckla,
he exposed for sale, in a jeweler
te window, and, eupposing that
tn had been stolen, had entered, al
ce demanded to know how it car
he there.
of ''It was sold to u.s." said t
ed jewoIer, "by Miss Lee Page.
have her letter here, offering it t
as q certain sum, cash, which '
I'D paid her"
le- The writing was Lees,
10. Tho poarls are very fine. W
to- you look at them with a glass
&C. said the man.
~ Doctor Wynn did not look
er. them with glass. He went {
out of the shop, sick, and almost st,
ges gering Lee, trading with
les jewels? Lee, selling hia poor,
lch tie gifts for ready ceshS I