The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-02
CHAPTER IT.
Miss Morton Arrives.

cid house was a pleasant scene of hustle and confusion.
 Professional decorators were in charge of the great drawing-room,
 boiling canopy of green vines and flowers. beneath which the bridal
 pair should stand the next day at high noon.
 This work was greatly hindered by bevy of young people who thought they were helping.
 At last, noting a look of dumb ex- asperation on the face of one of the florists men, Molly Gardner exclaim- ed, ''I don't believe our help is need ed here; come on, Kitty, let's go in
 the library and wait for tea-time." It was nearly five o'clock, and the girls found most of the house guests already assembled in the library
 awaiting the arrival of the tea-tray. Several other young people were | there also, most of them being those who were to be of the wedding cor | tege next day.
 Robert Fessenden, who was to be | best man, had just come from New
 York, and had dropped in to see Miss
 Van Norman.
 Although he was an old friend of | Carleton's, Madeleine did not know | him very we'll, and though she made him welcome, it was with that coldly formal air that did not greatly at tract the young man, but he could
 not fail to be impressed by her great beauty.
 Lucky fellow, Carleton" he said | to Tom Willard. Why that woman would create sensation in any great city in the world.''
 ''Yes, she is, too handsome to live l all her life in a small village" agreed
 Tom. 'I think they intend to travel a great dea1.'
 "An heiress, too, I believe
 "Yes, she has all the desirable traits a woman can possess
 'All? ?'' Fessenden's tone was quizzi- cal.
 'ewhat do you mean? ?'' asked Ton
 sharply.
 | Nothing: only if I were to marry il should prefer a little more soft. ness of nature."
 | "Oh, that's only her manner. My
 cousin is. most sweet and womanly I assure you.'
 I'm sure she is,'' returned Fessen
 den, who was a bit ashamed of hi:
 cutspokenness; "and she's getting {
 sterling good fellow for husband. which was kind or him, considering his own opinion of Carleton. , And then both men strolled owe to where Madeleine sat at the tea , table. She was reading telegram
 that had just been brought to her :, and she laughingly explained to Ton l that it meant bother for him.
 Miss Morton has concluded t, :. come to the wedding, after all," sh,
 said. "She wrote me that sh, t wouldn't come, but she has change, I sound ridiculous, I know. but in thi , big house there isn't room left fo her but the one you have, Tom. Yol . see, one bedroom is used for a pres
 ent room,' one is reserved for Schuy Ter tomorrow, the bridesmaids hay l another, and except for our owl F rooms, and those already occupied b : guests, there are no more I hate t } ask you, Tom, but could you go t , the Inn?" : Sure, Maddy, dear; anything t
 cblige. But it does seem too bad t r. turn me out of your house the yer a last day that Your hospitality is al I your own to offer. Tomorrow tn , grand Seigneur will be master here
 and my timid little Madeleine ca q no longer call her soul her own." {, This reference to the tall and state Q ly mistress of the house raised
 general laugh, but Madeleine did no y join in it. |. I'm So sorry, Tom," she said ear : nestly, as she looked again at tn r telegram she was holding, "but Mis- t Morton was an old friend of Unci l. Richards, and as she wants to com
 here I can't turn her away. An d unless you give her your room, ther L. is no other"
 d Nonsense, Madeleine! I'm onl $ joking. Of course I'll go to the hote e Only too glad to accommodate Mis e Morton. Forget it, girl; assure yo it don't mind a bit. I'll pack up l. few traps after dinner and skip dow
 to the picturesque, if rather ostents e t;ous, Mapleton Inn.'' !. As Tom spoke he put his arm care ,s lessly around Madeleine's shoulder l. and though scarcely more than IT cousinly caress, it was unfortunat II that Schuyler Carleton should ente e the room at that moment A ligh rt lining glance flashed between the tw , men, and as Tom moved away frol ,f Madeleine with a slightly embal a rassed shrug of his shoulders, Carl, " tons face grew so stern that an u, F. comfortable silence fell upon tf