Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-07-09
CHAPTER XIV.

times and dressed In one Of her smart.
est gowns, with her shining hair coiled
daintily. She was good to see NJ she
came into the brcakfa room. Mrs. Har.
dinge was not down, only Mr.. Hardinge
and Hugh Fleming; 80 Dulcie presided at
table.
Percy stnnhope was nowhere to be
seen, and she dared not trust her tongue
to ask for him.
When Mrs. Hardinec did come down
she was In the very best Of humors.
"Where Ii Percy r she asked at once.
"O6 for walk an hour ago," her hus.
band told her.
"Ohy'-with chill smile. I'VE used to
hear that 'enrly to bed was early to rise;
but II seems he can rise early even II he
sits up half the night BEFORE"
Dulcie felt her cheeks crimson.
"Ill pay you on for that. my lady" she
said to herself. with little frown Of dis.
gust.
After an carly luncheon Mrs. Hardinge
ordered the pony carriage. and drove to
meet the afternoon train for the city.
Very thankful Dulcie was to zee her 60.
Percy Stanhopc had not come back. and
che had ceased to expect him. Tie house
was very quiet aud very stufIy. She had
promised to meet Julian Care that AZ.
ternoon In Elton lane, but she had two
hours clear before her ere that. What
should she do with herself oil that time 7
The question was answered for her, for
while she stood at the drawing room
window, yawning and looking out weari.
y, the Harvey carriage dashed up, and
Esther herself got out, looking as cool
and pale 40 Il there were neither sun nor
dust In the world. Dulcie dashed the
window open, and ran down to the gate
10 meet her.
II am 90 glad you have come"-hold.
Ing both hands out. and lifting her mouth
10 be kissed.
"And am 10 glad to be here"
"N0w tell me everything" Dulcie In.
sisted, when Esther had taken her things
Oh, and was resting costly on the sofa.
II don't know that there 10 much to
tell. They were oil very kind to me, and
the house 10 something splendid-the kind
OF house one reads about, you know. The
pictures are lovely. And then the plate,
and the old china, and the gorgeous little
knick.knacks. ! never knew there were
such exquisite things In the world"
"Ahv Dulcie sighed. "And you might
have been mistress Of It.. IL had only
the chance nOwy'
Dulcie, sitting upright on her low chair,
shook Der curly head solemnly.
swords fall me, my dear Etty. But let
me be brief, and not harrow your feelings
BY unnecessary delay. The dresses have
come"
Esther burst out laughing, Dulcie Join.
Ing In; then deep nush stole from chin
to brow.
"What would I not give" poor Dulcie
thought, ITO be able to blush like that al
the mention Of my wedding dressg'
The dresses were In Mrs. Hardinge's
private sitting room; It was quite crowd.
ed with the long packing cases In which
those precious garments had come from
town. They were handsome drcsses,, and
It 10 to be presumed they were fashiona.
BILE. or Mrs. Hardinge would not have
chosen them. One. In particular, took
Esther's fancy. 1t was black velvet
with low, square bodice. trimmed with
rare old lace, falling downward from II
The sleeves came only to the elbows. and
had lace ruiiies, soft and cloudy. But the
wedding dress! Duicie lifted II out al
most reverently, and spread It over the
couch. 1t was white, OF course-white
pure and unrelieved. The lace across the
bosom and skirt was mixed with trails
Of orange blossom, genuine feurs dc
Paris, SO real looking that one would ex'
pect them to droop and fade at n rough
breath.
"And there Is a wreath" Dulcie cried
ecstatically--"a real wreath! See, IL !,
not perfect?"
The sight Of all this made Esther real
ize-as she had never realized It yet
that the day was actually close at hand
now, on which she would take the VOW
OF q wife upon her, and begin, with Percy
the new life that their love was to max,
% happy on to the very close. The colol
came and went In her cheeks, her lip,
trembled. 1t was not 30 much the beauty
OF the dress. as the beauty of the life thai
would begin for her the day she shoult
wear II, that made the girls heart beat
and her veins thrOb, and that rush, AZ o.
keen pain that was almost intolsrable
sweep over her.
Dulcie guessed II all, and turned away
to pick out fresh treasures from thu
cases. Her heart ached. oh, SO horribly
She could have sat down In the midst O.
ell this bridal 6nery, aud cried some o.