Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1898-07-30
CHAPTER NXIlf.

CHAPTER XXIIf.
"Happy Is the bride that the sun shines
on" says the provcrb. II Il Ike 20, then
Dulcic should have been happy. The night
before the wedding day the sky had beer
cloudy and threatening. with fitful wind
blowing. But the wedding morning
dawncd clear and bright. As Esther Dur.
rant helped Dulcie with her dressing, the
sun strcamcd into the room with almos,
the warmth Of summer.
II nm so thankful IL Ii fine, Etty"-stcr.
ping aside to view the effect Of her SQUARE
train. "Do you know, IL Il had been {
wet day, I should have felt It was az
omcn?"
II don't believe In omcns. Dulcie."
II do believe In them, though"--loftily,
"and take this bright sunshine as a good
omen for me-"
What IN exquisite little bride she madc,
Her dress Of shining silk, the pearls nj
her throat, the laccs that hoatcd like
"fairy.wcbs" about her, were only "a
many settings TO the sweet, glad. shy face,
As she swept up the aisle. Hugh Fleming,
waiting for her at the altar rnils. felt hid
heart swell with love and pride. That
this woman had chosen him filed him
with deep Joy and wonder.
"Oh, Ettyw Dulcie cried, In a sudden
burst OF nervous excitement, as she clunG
about her friends neck ut parting, "say
you hope shall he happy"
Esther stopped down to the little thing,
and kissed her. tears In her eyes, though,
she was smiling.
Il do hope you may be happy, dear, az
happy as life can make YOU"
"Ah." Dulcie sighed. pressing her little
elovcd hands together, II know you mean
1t all. but-bnt perhaps. IL you knew cv.
erythinR, you would not care whether I
were happy or not"
They were standing In the empty din.
Ing room. Esther In her bridesmaids dress
Of white, Dulcie superb In a pearl.gray
costume Of velvet and feathers-two beau.
tiful woinen-women who loved each 9th.
or, yet ut that moment Il seemed az II o
shade were coming between them. Dull.
Gle saw Esthcr's face grow stern and
naughty as she watched her. Then Es.
ther put out her hands and looked her
friend In the face frankly.
Il do know all, Dulcie. It hurt me cru.
ely. but I forgave you. How do know
.""t w .v"r p'"ec : sn0u'" not naVe oeen
"eaHe' '""" you ~ees
"iou are an angel" Dulclc cried. "You
always were one. He knew II, too
more softly. HE loved you best In his
heart. ! know"
Esther heard her and sighed; and II at
that moment she remembered one man
VINO loved her' and her only, who shall
wonder at II!
There had been dinner party at the
Abbey, county people," among whom
Esther Durraut, whom Glare had insisted
on being Invited, had found herself
stranded. She wac quite thankful when
the dinner q Ia Russe was ended. She
had been sitting next to deaf old baro.
net, who shouted at her 10 II she were
hard OF hearing, too, and never seemed to
catch anything she said In reply. On her
other side had been formidable looking
young lady In diamonds and laces, who
had simply ignored her, and whom she
had heard asking her partner quite audi.
bly,, "WhO she was? No one seems to
know her."
In the drawing room II was better.
Nobody seemed TO notice her much INIT
Glare, and OF course II was lonely. INIT
still preferable 10 that intermino hie ain.
ner. She walked across The In MN til,, .he
came to the fountain. Nv the margin
there was a rustic bench, Az .he sst
there. white and still. Iookir, a m 10 ohost
Of woman In her soft, shining evening
dress, someone came quickly down one Of
the side paths toward her. It was Lord
Esther, looking I'M and seeing
him there. felt her face growing hot, OF
NIL men, he was the last she would have
cared to see just then, II she could have
had her wish.
"Clare told me she had seen you 70 into
the garden, but I hardly believed her,
What could you have been thinking OF to
come out like this ?"
TT was so warm, and I was tired OF
being MISUNDERSTANDING up her train,