The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-07-11
A NOVEL.
@p Mrs. elizabeth 9. @inter.>
Copyright. 1892 andlsss. BY RosrzT Bosxzs's soxs3
isabella CASTELAR.)

but even among brides it is rare tc
see such beauty as that of Dolores on
her wedding day.
Lord Moray had entreated for an
early date for the marriage; for he
desired to return at once to Eng.
land, that he might be present,
with the only comfort OF love
and sympathy, when his sister learned
of her lovers death; and Dolores
could find no word of refusal.
She did not wish, indeed, to find
any; their love was perfect; flower
of Paradise which could neither wither
nor improve. There was no cause for
delaying the marriage, and it was Mrs.
Travers who asked for reasonable
time to elapse.
4 bride could not be married with
out a trousseau, she declared, and
such bride? Dolores should have Q
trousseau worthy of her beauty and Of
the Mendoza treasure. And such q
trousseau, it was easy to see, could
not be procured in day.
And Mrs. Travers had her way, as
her husband remarked she generally
did, since she took it if it WASH t given
to her.
But Dolores found happiness even
in this delay; for Polly Hamilton had
speedily followed her letter, rs she
had promised to do; and, as Mrs.
Travers declared, any lover less per-
feet than Lord Harold would have
been jealous, even though his rival
was only a girl. For herself, she an
nounced that she was furiously jeal-
GUS, or should have been if she hadn't
almost fallen in love with Polly Ham,
ilton also. For Polly was once more
the gay, sweet, ardent, hopeful girl
she had been of old; perhaps more
gentle, more subdued than formerly,
but with the repose of fine nature
that has learned its own strength
through suffering, and with the
humility of gratitude for most for
tunate escape from great danger and
sorrow.
The days and weeks passed as in a
delightful dream; happiness so deep
and tranquil that even its excess did
not alarm.
"The chief bridemaid is almost as
lovely as the BRIDE" said Mr.. Travers
on the wedding day.
Polly and Dolores, a little apart
from all others, not admitting even
the bridegroom at this farewell COM
munion, were clinging to each other
in the embrace of parting love; each
feeling this to be the only painful
moment they had known since their
reunion.
"You must stop admiring Polly
Hamilton" Mrs. Travers said, laugh;
ing, "or I shall be jealous. I never
knew you so enthusiastic about any
girl since e-since--"
"Since I courted you, my dear, IRE
turned her husband. Eyes, Nell, l,
think her delightful; much too good
and lovely to be wearing the willow,
for that atrocious rufian who Tilted
her and met with such fitting end to-
all His treacherous villainy."
,'Oh, she isn't" exclaimed his wife.
"Don't suppose it. Polly Hamilton
is heart-whole, though she may have
been shaken o little, but not enough
to harm her. She is just the kind of
woman to profit by an experience such
as she has had, and few girls fall in
love with the right man the first time.
All women are not 80 fortunate, sir,
as your wife has BEEN"
And Mrs. Travers would have been
confirmed in her opinion could she
have heard the words Polly was then
saying to Dolores.
"You are the angel of my life,
Rita" said Polly, "and never more so
than when you were the means of sav-
ing me from fate worse than death
had I learned too late the awful truth
about that NAH"
"Let Us not speak of him, DEAR"
said Dolores. ''Let his memory die,
as an ugly dream scared away by the
Joy of waking"
T-n .ss.s
"And she will be the Countess of
Windermere!" said Mrs. Hamilton to
her husband. "Well, since it was not
to be Polly, I don't know but it is
next best to have the title borne to
Dolores. She will grace it and honor
it."
"She will grace and honor any
thing" said Mr.. Hamilton. "But you
must not be too sure that she will ever
wear the Windermere coronet."
"What do you meau?" exclaimed
his wife.
"Just this, my dear: My latest let
ters from England mention, incident.
ally, that the old earl is about to marry
again. There will soon be a new
Countess of Windermere; and, for
time, at least, Dolores may be barred
out"
"The old earl-he must be in his
dotase" said Mrs. Hamilton.
Every likely" was the amused re-
ply; "but that makes things only
more easy for Olive Gaye,"
"Ohve Gage! That girl! After all
oh, surely Heaven cannot be so un-
just!"
Heaven has little to do it'll such
people" returned her husband, grim
ly. "But Fate or the Devil or some
thing of that sort is very favorable to
the Becky Sharps of this world"
"O-h!" exclaimed Mrs. Hamilton,