Middletown transcript., 1903-09-26

her.
The carriage arrived first, and Addie
begged to be allowed to 20 straight to her
room, without waiting to bid goodnight
to the rest OF the party. She had no
wish to see Aldwyth Chesteron again,
and even the others seemed as ii they
! were disposed to sit in judgment on her.
} One sentence, heard by accident, rang in
the girls ears-'This will occasion a great
deal of talk and scandal.
J Talk and scandal about her-Adelalde
Delahay-who had to earn hard living
by taking a subordinate situation in
other women's houses! Talk and scandal!
If this got bruited about, with possibly
countless exaggerations and additions,
who would take her for governess? Ii
she lost her situation and failed to get
another, how were she, Monica and her
mother to live? Adde'S heart sank with
in her. How she wished, with chok-
ing in her throat, and her lips bitten to
keep down the rising tears, that she had
never come away from home!
Mr.. Dellwyn blamed her-his manner
had changed, and she felt it-but why?
Could any action be more blameless than
hers had been? But he censured her,
and SO no doubt would many Others.
Mr.. Dellwyn had said and that also she
had heard-that the Mandertons and
their guests believed that the marriage
had not taken place by accident, but
that it had been planned beforehand.
What reason could they have for such
supposition.
But then they knew nothing of her
and very little of Chesteron. At any
rate. they did think so. Possibly the
idea darted into her mind causing her
painful blush-they thought she had not
been averse to Catching" Chesteron, the
millionaire. But she had been entirely
passive in the whole affair. How wretch
ed it all was! AT any rate she must inn
plore Nita to urge upon Mr.. Dellwyn the
necessity Of keeping the matter as quiet
as possible-not to let any scandal arise,
and, if it were possible, to prevent her
name appearing in any Of the news
papers.
CHAPTER III
A little later Nita went into Adde'S
room and tried to comfort her. But Miss
Dellwyn looked as if che herself had been
crying, and evidently took gloomy
view Of the matter.
Father is sure that the ceremony will
hold good, she said rather nervously.
He Gays that they all feel convinced Of
it-Mr. Manderton in particular. Mr..
Manderton is angry about it, because he
thinks you did it purposely, and is vexed
that il was in his house that it occurred,
so he will insist on its being settled.
But people can't be married without
wishing to be married, demonstrated |
Addie weakly.
Yes, you can-in Scotland. The worst |
of it is that they say You wouldn't have
gone SO far-not signed the paper and |
used ring and said all the binding form
OF words you used-without meaning it. |
They won't believe it.
But l hadn't anything to do with it! |
declared Addie, with angry tears. l re-
peated what they told ME to say, and l |
didn't want to do that; but Mr.. Ches-
teron said it was only a joke when told |
him did not like it.
1t was Charles fault, Nita admitted.
Mr.. Chesteron says he never meantit to
be half so seriously carried out, although
he never thought of any risk, but he
realized that it was in bad taste and
likely to offend. Charlie, OF course, in
tended it for joke, and never dreamt
that it wonld turn out like this. Still,
he ought to have been more careful.
And you think they will say that we
are married?
They do say SO.
And that we shall not be able to set it
aside?
Yes
1t can't be possible! Nita, it would
make me wretched il | thought this
affair would come between you two. But
it isn't possible!
That is of no consequence, replied Miss
Dellwyn bravely, trying to speak quite
calmly-about us | mean. There las
never been anything more than friend
ship between Mr.. Chesteron and l.
like him; but he has never said word
to me to make me think he cares for ME.
He must-I am sure he must This
must be put right somehow-only, Nita
dearest, for my sake. will you ask your
father to try to keep it all very quiet,
and on no account to let it get into any
OF the papers?
l will ask him; but there will he SO
many reports and misleading statements
about the affair. Father says that, even
il the marriage is not legal, Mr.. Ches-
teron will have to marry you now to save
your good name. He says that you were
in his charge, and
But won't marry him! don't want
to marry him any more than he wants to
marry me! only wish the matter could
be kept quiet, for it may do me SO much
harm if il gets known.
That is exactly what father says Now
don't let us talk about it any more to-
night, dear. 1t will have to be settled
at once, and father and Mr.. Chesteron
are going to Edinburgh tomorrow morn.
ing to see lawyer. Father will do all
he can, but
Goodnight! said Addie duly.
She was stunned. Everything was
going against her. Eyerf MIR. Dellwyn