Middletown transcript., 1904-03-19
The Youngest Miss Passingham
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woman's love that would come. III,
was sure that he could make her I,appy
And when they were once married tlli
mad passion that was mastering hin
again and making his life daily tortur,
would die natural DEATH
| Y"u won't say me nav, Stella? Ii,
pleaded. Your sister sees that it is til,
best thing; she wishes it. And tire,
weeks is plenty of time in which t,
get ready, is it not? Come-say 70,
think so, dear.
/ CHAPTER VIII
Stella received warm letters of con
graduation from her aunt and cousins
directly they heard that her marriag,
was to take place 80 soon. As Stell.
had guessed, Mrs. Harrington was sorry
that she had qnarreled with her. Sh.
had not forgiven her niece for winning
the rich husband whom she had intended
for one Of her girls; but she forsaw thai
Stella might be very useful to then
in the future, and she determined te
do her best to atone for the intemperate
behavior which che had been unable tc
suppress when she had heard OF the
engagement.
She was very anxious that the wed.
ding should be at Streatham but Stella
shrank from leaving the Grange till the
last moment, and it was arranged that
the ceremony should take place in the
little church in the village. 1t was to
be the quietest Of weddings, on account
of Miss Passingham's illness. Stella was
to be married in her travelling dress,
and they were to go straight from the
church to- Great Deepdene to catch the
ten o'clock express to Malvern, where
the first few days Of the honeymoon
were to be spent.
When Mrs. Harrington found that
Stella would not return to Streatham,
she begged at least that she might be
allowed to provide the trousseau, as far
as it was possible for her to do 30. Stella
eagerly accepted this offer, and felt sim
cerely greatful for it.
The suggestion that aunt Lydia should
choose her new clothes for her would
have filled her with Mortified amuse-
ment few months before-their tastes
we're as far asunder as the poles-but
now she was glad to allow any one to
take the matter out Of her hands. She
could not force herself to feel any in
terest in her trousseau. She shrank
from thinking Of it, and the lists that
reached her from Streatham she tore
up or sent back unread. Any question
that had to be decided she made Molly
decide for her; and when the presents
began to come in it was Molly who
opened them and wrote the pretty notes
of thanks. Stella refused to give them
more than careless glance. 1t was q
ridiculous notion that a bride should
want presents and new clothes, she de-
clared. She wished that people would
not send her such things.
Some of her dresses were being made
by Miss Willoughby at Great Deepdene,
and about week before the wedding
she came to the Grange by appointment
to. try on the dresses for the last time.
Stella was not at home. She had quite
forgotten that the dressmaker was COM
ing, and had gone off on one Of the long
lonely rambles which she had been in
dulging in of late. After waiting for
an hour or two Miss Willoughby had
to leave, Molly promising that she would
drive her sister to the town the next
morning.
Stella darling, you must go she said
firmly that evening when Stella began
to offer irritable objections. Alan, make
this child more reasonable! she added,
turning to Mr.. Creighton, who was put
ting out the chessmen for the usual even
ing games. Tell her that she cannot
be married in dre-s that does not fit.
I am afraid I do not see why, Alan
said without raising his eyes. Though
Molly had made point Of addressing
him by his Christian name since the
day Of the marriage had been fixed,
he had never addressed her by hers
or in any way tried to break down the
icy barrier that he had raised between
them. But, Stella. want you to come
to Great Deepdene tomorrow. I am
obliged to be in town on business all |
the morning. Would not you and your
sister lunch with me at the Royal? And
there is an oak chest at Hatchwelrs |
that ! want you to look at. 1t is a |
real bit Of seventeenth century work. 1t |
would do for the hall at the Abby.
Ah, old oak is more interesting than
Miss Willoughby returned Stella gaily. |
II you will consent to stop to lunch with |
Alan, | will consent to go, Molly. L.
it bargain?
Alan looked politely at Molly.
Do not refuse, he said in ceremonious |
vioce. 1t is my only chance Of seeing
Stella till the evening.
shall be very glad to stay, che an
swered. Now that nurse Howell is here |
am better able to leave Catharine. We
must set off about eleven, Stella. Miss
Willoughby will keep you some time, |
| am afraid.
1t was just eleven when they started |
the next morning. Stella was in one
Of her gay moods, which had alternated
lately with fits of depression, when she
could hardly be got to utter word. She
chartered incessantly as they drove down
the valley road, and seemed not to notice
how much at random Molly's brief an
swers were.
Molly's strength had almost reached
its limit. She was longing fiercely for
the days to pass and bring Stella's we'd
ding morning. Her own misery was so
great that it blinded her eyes. She did
not see that Stella was miserable tool
with the dull bewidtr red misery
Of child that does not understand what