The silver star., 1900-05-04

a very simple. very quiet affair. In
deed. i; had quite taken the little COM
munity OF the garrison station by sur
prise. for Don's disposition was SO nat
urally reserved He had spoken little
OF his engagement. and only few
brother officers and a small number
OF Lilies personal friends were in the
secret
The bridegroom had obtained long
leave" and with great reluctance had
at last yielded to Lilies appeal to
spend the honeymoon in England.
He had given in on the one s,ipula-
tion that Gadie Ha' should not be in
cluded in the program: and Lille. with
that touch of sympathy which makes
the whole world kin" understood the
jealous pain 1t must bring to remem-
Der that Scottish home of his child
hood which he had looked some day to
call his own.
The winding up of her fathers af-
fairs, and the disposal of some of her
own property. was indeed her only in
centiye for the homeward journey at
all; for. with the bond of ever-deepen-
ing love, her life henceforth would be
lived for Don alone.
1t seemed strange. commonplace
ending to that gay existence of coquet-
ry and ambition and almost heartless
worldliness which once had constituted
the sum total of her thoughts and
actions
As Lille Gordon stood in her pretty
I bedroom. watching her maid pack
| away the simple white silk gown she
had worn for the marriage ceremony,
her thoughts leaped back to those days
of long ago, and it seemed scarcely pos
sible she could be the same Lille who
, had held love so lightly in that bygone
I time.
The wedding had taken place at
O'Clock. with no reception afterwards,
owing to the brides deep mourning.
/ The previous night Don had partak-
en- of his farewell dinner as a bachelor
with his jolly comrades of the Dsr0y-
I shire mess. and now was absent max
/ ing some last necessary arrangements
at his quarters. as he and his bride
were to leave by the night train for
Bombay. where they would eaten 4
hired troopship homeward bound
There was a knock at the bedroom
door, and Mrs. Franklin's sweet voice
I sought admittarce.
The young widow wGs to stay on At
the bungalow for a few weeks longer.
as her child's health was in 100 pre-.
carious state to undergo the long sea
journey home. and she had gladly ac-
cepted Lilies invitation to remain.
Lille answered the knock herself.
Despite the black crepe gown she now
wore. the young bride looked radiant
with a subdued happiness that made ell
else forgotten but the Joyous Jeauiy
OF her blue eyes and love-lit face. The
other woman. who had lost her ielresr
on earth. looked at her with nc
mentary pang of jealous grief. She lit
tie knew she was coming to chase the
Joy from those blue eyes forever.
MY love- Mrs. Franklin spoke arol-
ogetically. Il am SO sorry TO trouble
you. but Prince Clement Sing has just
arrived from Simla. and demands to
see you. explained to him you were
busy. and asked If | could not deliver
n message: but he insists on seeing YOU
alone"
Has he heard OF our-our mar
riage?" queried Lille. while a deener
color tinted her cheek.
Yes He evidently knew OF IL. for
he spoke Of you as Mrs. Gordon" IN
swered the other lady. smiling. II
think. dear, perhaps 1t would be more
diplomatic of you to 20 to him. 10
tell the truth, he was so emphatic
about seeing you he quite frightened
me-"
''He will not frighten me-" said Lii
lie. lightly. Really. he IL very tire
some individual. and hope I shall get
rid of him before Don comes back. for
] know Don cordially dislikes him."
She picked up an ivory fan from her
dressing table and went. with a proud
firm step. down the broad staircase.
Her dignity as Don's wife seemed Ia
have already added subtle increase of
matronly power to her slim. yonnc
figure.
r Prince Clement Sing was standing In
. the middle Of the big drawing-room
and the look on his face made her step
falter In spite OF herself-it was dark
, and almost lowering with suppressed
fury. Then she recovered her self pos.
session with an effort. and went for.
| ward with pretty obclsance and out.
stretched hand.
/ This Is an unexpected pleasure
Prince: and had you come n little later
l you would not have found me here
My husband and ] start for Bombay 20.
!. night"
Il fear you will not count It pleas.
iire when you hear on what errand
Z have come" he answered grimly. "l
: only regret for your sake that | have
Y come too late"
May nsk what you mean?" she
I said. somewhat hnightily.
u mean. madam. know You sum.
e ciently well TO feel sure you would
have hesItated to ally yourself TO ops
y whom you would feel II not worthy Il
(: breathe the same air with you II you
r knew what know concerning him."
Lille drew up her small person Il