Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-10-24

with you forever.
DO you mean that, Nanette?' he
gasped incredulously.
Il have prayed, yes. dared to pray,
that it might be SO ever since l saw
my child. She has brought us togeth-
err again. Let us not part. for her sake
and for mine. Stephen, If 1t is not too
late''
So Constance, Fastening up the gar
den path, could not believe her eyes
when she saw her father lift her moth
er into his arms and Kiss her.
Mary, the maid, never ceased Wen
dering why every other member Of her
sex in Laburnum cottage should be
fearful yet ridiculously happy that aft
ernoon Mrs. Vansittart wept and Miss
Constance wept, and Miss Enid wept
when she came in, while Mrs. Sheppard
was weeping at intervals all day.
Nevertheless they were all delighted
in their woe, and Mrs. Sheppard, al
though she cooked tremendous din
ner, never scolded her once.
1t was also remarkable thing that
the invalid lady should Insist that she
was strong enough to come downstairs
/ that evening. She did not eat great
deal, poor thing, but she looked ever SO
much better and seemed to find all her
pleasure in gazing alternately Mt the
master and Miss Constance and in lis
tening to every word they said.
In the garden next night, the moon
being now very brilliant indeed, Pyne
said to Constance that, the step-aunt
idea having fizzled out, he guessed that
the lady who figured in that unclassi-
fed degree of relationship would pose
more satisfactorily as mother-in-law.
He said other things that have been
| said in many languages since men be-
gan to WOO women, but the phrases are
hackneycd save to those who listen, and
need not be repeated here.
But why two marriages should take
place after extraordinarily short en-
| gagements no one In all PenZance
knew sas'e Lady Margaret Stanhope,
and she, mirabile dictu (being wo-
mani, kept her counsel. 1t created no
end of sensation when Constance
was described in the London newspa-
pers as "only daughter of Sir Stephen
Brand. Bart. of Lesser Hambledon.
Northumberland" Local gossip quick.
ly exhausted itself, US both weddings
took place in London, the only avail.
able items being the magnifcence OF
the diamonds given to Enid and Con.
stance by Mr.. Trail and the fact that
In Constance's case 1.-THE brides moth.
err" was described as looking charm.
ing In silver gray costume trimmed
with point d'alencon lace"
Even when confronted with this mo
mentous statement by Mrs. Taylor
Smith, Lady Margaret only shrugged
her shoulders and purred:
"A romance, my dear-a romance Of
real life"
On the day following the departure
of two happy couples for the continent
Mr.. and Mrs. Pyne to Italy, Lieuten
ant and Mrs. Stanhope to the Riviera
with intent to meet in Rome at Easter
"a quieter and more sedate couple
|
ton. bound for the far west.
Although Nebraska decree of di
vorce does not hold good In English
law, Lady Brand wished to be married
again in the state which sanctioned
her early folly. Her husband agreed
readily. Everybody, including Mr.
Trail and Lady Margaret, had arrang
ed to turn up at the north country
mansion In May. Provided there were
no hurricanes, Sir Stephen thought his
wifes health would benefit by the dou.
BILE sea voyage, and he was personally
delighted to see the new world for the
first time in her company.
Their steamer sailed from Southamp
ton at II a. IN. After dinner that night
they were abreast Of the Gulf Rock
and Brand pointed out to his wife Its
occulting CLEAN from afar.
at makes me feel very humble" she
said after they had watched its radi.
ance darting out over the tumbling
seas for a long time in silence
"Why, sweetheart?" lie asked.
at is SO solemn, so intense in Its en-.
ergy, so splendidly devoted to Its sin
gle purpose"
Nov, 1t is an odd thing" he replied
as watchful to check her occasional
Qualms of retrospect us he had been
during many a long night to keep that
same light at its normal state of clear
eyed brilliance, "but it does not ap
peal to me in that way. 1t is winking
portentously, as much as to say, You
old humbug, there you are, leaving me
after all these years and running away
with your own wife,"
THE END.