Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1903-07-16


was iust as happy as a girl loving and
well beloved ought to be.
Her beauty had increased wonder
fully; hope had more than renewed
her youth, and confident love had
given to her face and form splendor
of color and expression, that captivat-
ed everybody; though why, or how.
they never asked-she charmed, be-
cause she charmed.
One day the little bevy of feminine
councillors looked at their work, and
pronounced all beautiful, and all I'm
ished, and then there was a lull in the
busy household, and then every one
was conscious OF being little weary,
and every one also felt that It would
be well to let heart, and brain, and
fingers and feet rest. In few days
there would likely be another English
letter, and they could then form some
idea as to when Lord Hyde would ar
rive. The last letter received from
him had been written in London, and
the ship in which he was to sail, was
taking on her cargo, while he inn
patiently waited at his hotel for notice
of her being ready to lift her anchor.
The doctor thought it highly probable
Hyde would follow this letter in
week or perhaps less.
During this restful interval Doctor
and Mrs. Moran drove out one after
noon to Hyde Manor House. A mes
sage from Madame Van Heemskirk
asked this favor from them; she wish
ed naturally that they should see how
exqulsitely beautiful and comfortable
was the home which her Joris had
trusted her to prepare for his BRIDE
But she did not wish Cornelia to see
it until the bridegroom himself took
her across its threshold. "An ola
woman's fancy it is" she said to Mrs.
Moran, "but no harm is there in it.
and not much do like women who
hustle about their houses, and have no
fancies at all"
Nor l." answered Mrs. Moran with
a merry little laugh. do you know.
that 1 told John to buy my wedding
ring too wide, because 1 often heard
my mother say that tight wedding
ring was unlucky." Then both women
smiled, and began delightedly to look
over together the stores of fine linen
and damask, which the mother OF
Joris had laid up for her sons use.
1t was a charming visit and the
sweet pause in the vivid life of the
past few weeks was equally charming
to Cornelia. She rested in her room
till the short daylight ended; then she
went to the parlor and drank a cup
of tea, and closed the curtains and
sat down by the hearth to wait for her
father and mother.
So still was the house, so still was
the little street, that she easily went
to the land of reverie and lost herself
there. She thought over again all her
life with her lover; recalled his sweet
spirit, his loyal affection, his hand
some face and enchanting manner.
Heaven has made me so Fortunate"
she thought, land row my fortune has
arrived at my wishes. Even his delay
is sweet. l desire to think of him,
until all other thoughts are forgotten!
Oh, what lover could be loved as l
love him!"
Then with a soft but quick move
ment the door few open, she lifted
her eyes, to I'LL them with loves very
image and vesture, and with a cry of
joy few to meet the bliss SO long afar,
but now so near. 20 lovely and be-
loved! o my lovep Hyde cried, and
then there was a twofold silence; the
very ecstasy that no mortal words can
utter. The sacred hour for which ali
their lives had longed, was at last
dropped down to them from heaven.
Between their kisses they spoke OF
things remembered and of things to
be, leaning to each other in visible
sweetness, while
Love breathed in signs and sllenOcs
Through two bent souls, one rapturous
AlIAhnrnnr,r.