Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-01-20
"Poor young lady, it is hard to have

dress. The only sensation that Hildred
had had was one of cold, sick faintness.
When she was dressed her father had
kissed her and said:
You will make a beautiful countess,
Hildred
She had thought the morning might
bring her some token from her loyer-a
note or something to remind her
Of him; but it did not, and her heart mis-
gave her sorely. Then, after long drive.
she found herself in the fashionable
church Of St Georges, Hanover Square.
There was a string Of carriages outside;
the church was crowded with spectators.
Amidst the throng, the odor Of flowers,
the rustic of silk, the cleaning Of satins,
the shining Of rare gems with the white
robed minister before her and the hand
some earl by her side, she realized the
fact that it was her wedding day; hither-
to everything had seemed as in a dream.
1t seemed to her that she passed
through sea of faces, that people crowd
ed round her as she went down the
church. She saw the long line Of car
riages, the profusion Of wedding favors.
She made no attempt to speak; if she had
done so she would have lost herself in a
passion of tears.
AT home again, her father took her in
his arms, and kissed her face, whispering:
My daughter, Countess of Caraven.'
Lady Richie had attempted a very mild
caress.
ut went off very WE'LL" she said. "Lord
Caraven looked tired. | had no idea that
we should have so many people there. l
hope my fichu was all right. There were
very handsome dresses"
"a very pretty wedding" put in Lord
st. Mature. Il feel that have been busy
to-day in good cause"
But the man who had married Hildred
Ransomc spoke never word.
Then the carriage drove up to the door,
and the bride went to change her dress.
Lady Richie went with her; the girls for
lorn manner and wistful face had touch
ed even that worldly heart.
Il hope you will be happy, Lady Cara
ven," she said. ''When they read the &C
count CT your wedding every woman in
London will envy you"
envy me!' she re-echoed-'I, who
have neither mother nor sisters?'
"My dear Lady Caraven, you have a
husband and a father, which l think bet
ter. Let me give you one little bit of ad-
vice. You are going to face the great,
cold world; have nothing to do with SEN
timent, and as far as possible care more
for yourself than any enc Else.
Lord Caraven babe his adieus; he shook
hands with Arley Ransome, cutting short
a gushing speech that the lawyer had
carefully prepared. Then Arley Ransome
was touched again. Some one said that
Lady Caraven was in the morning room,
waiting to say good-by to him there alone.
The tender arms were clinging round
him, the dark eyes looking into his-a
sad, wistful face, full of pathetic in
quiry, was near his own.
Papa" she whispered, and there was
an agony of entreaty in her voice, you
are quite sure that you have not deceiv-
ed me-you are quite sure that l can be
happy without love"
He laughed.
'You will find that the Countess of
Caraven has more to think about than a
trife like love, Hildred."
Her arms fell from him; he raised her
sad, sweet, girlish face from his breast.
Il will believe you, papa" she said; Il
will trust you to the very end
Then she went away, and Arley Ran
some would have spent a far happier day
if those words had not fingered with him.
Hildred was alone with her husband at
last. Now surely he would say something
to her-speak to her of that love that he
must feel for her; he would not keep up
the same Indifference now she was his
wife. The words that she thirsted for,
that she longed to hear, he would surely
utter; surely he would bend over her and
say something, were 1t only the two words
MY wife,
What were his first words? She had
thought of many things that he might say
to her-sweet tender words; the reality
was far different. He leaned back with
an air of utter WEAKNESS.
II never remember to have found time
pass so slowly in my life,' he said. 'The
sun is very warm-would you like the
carriage-hocd raised?'
She made no answer He did not even
seem to notice it.
II wish,' he said, "some one would
bring in bill for the abolition of we'd
ding breakfasts"
Her face flushed with anger.
He was so far from understanding her
that he laughed. The pain in her voice
did not reach him.
do you like being On the sea at night?"
he inquired, after long pause.
81 hardly know my own likes and dis
likes yet she replied. why do you
ask"
Because the boat leaves Dover for
Calais about eleven, and l thought we
would take it.
''As you please she replied.
Her face was quite pa,e, her lips were
white and pressed firmly together. In
her heart was sense of desola ton that
words could not describe He wondered
at her silence, her gravity 1t was the
height of the season at Dover, and the
band was playing on the pier. He sat
with his wife in the dining room of the
ord Warden when he SCI: her suddenly