Year: 1869

miles distant, and the post chaise which
was to convey them thither was ready
packed at the door when they left the
church, 50 Mrs Denbigh did not won
der that her husband hurried her away
from the eongratulating crowd at the
church door, muttsring something
about making haste lest they should be
caught in the snow-storm, now evi-
IDENTIFY imminent.


When she came down stairs frora her
hasty toilet, she found her husband
standing by the fire, bis face buried in
his folded arms, which rested on the
mantel-shelf His attitude was SO ex-
pressive of suffering, mental or bodily,
that she hastened 10 him, asking if he
were i'll.


"Illl No." he answered but with
such a face that she exclaimed -


"You are, | am sure. What is the
matter, Philip"


Il was in the clouds, ,-or ia the fire."
he answered with laugh. HAre you
readyW


ain one moment; but look, Philip,
| wanted to show you my finger. You
see it has only your ring on it now.
Last night the other was as tightly
fixed as ever, but in the morning It had
slipped off of its own accord. Is it not
stranger"


Her husband made no answer; indeed,
he hardly seemed to hear her, so intent
was he on folding her wraps about. her
and hurrying her into the carriage.


He leaned back in total silence while
they drove up the village street, lined
with gszers His wife saw from the
| impatient movement of his foot that be
was suffering under some annoyance,
and thought that he was vexed for her
sake by the number of people, who
showed their interest, in their rough
country fashion, by staring with all
their eyes.


II don't mind, Philip" she said,
turning to him. Again the look on bis
face startled her.


Next moment, as they left the village
behind them, and emerged into the
quiet country road, he clasped her in
his arms;


"Mine at last There is no power in
heaven or earth, my Elsie, that can part
US now"


'I had no idea," said Mrs. Carter to
her husband, when they talked over the
wedding that evening, "that Mfr. Den
bigh could be so nervous and queer.
l always thought him dissgreeable, but
l never knew him SO perfectly odiouS
as he was this morning rushing off
with Elsie without letting her even say,
"Thank you,' when we were all wishing
her joy; and gIaring at everybody as
if he defied them to look at hey Such
horrid bad manners! Aud all the time
did you ever see such face am sure
he looked more as if he were going TO
be hanged than married"


ga man always does look a fool on
these occasions" said the vicar


During the night the impending snow
fell heavily. When Mrs. Denbigh drew
up her window blind, and looked out
next morning, it was on world as
white as her wedding-veil


The snow lasted all through the week
and was lying deep and hard frozen on
the ground when Mr. Denbigh brought
home his bride. II was quite dark.
except the dreary cold light from
the white ground, when their fly drove
along the village street, aud turned up
the narrow lane which led to Abbots
Portion. AS it stopped at the gate,
the door was flung open, and old Isott
appeared with lighted candle and a
beaming face. The little entrance-hall
looked cheerful; still more cheerful
looked the sitting of which the
open door gave a sight, all bright with
fire and candle, and gay with white
papering and soft moss carpet, and
groups of low chairs and graceful little
tables, and endless dainty devices, all
wonderfully unlike the usual fittings in
the "best parlor' of country surgeons
wife. Elsie Denbigh had hardly time
for an exclamation Of delighted surprise,
for her husbands one idea was to get
her out of the coldi and it was not
until he had almost carried her to the
freside, and unfastened her many wrap
pers, that she could look round and
take in the gay bridal effect of the room.


aHow beautiful" she cried, when
at last she had studied every detail of
delicate chintz and fresh well. chosen
furniture; "and all my own belongings
from the cottage, fitted in, as if they
had always been here Are you
coniurer, PhilipI Ah, now / know
why you had business here, and left
me for nearly whole day. How
charming it all is !"


sDo you really like it, Elsiei Does
it please youl Are you surei"


Like III Do / noti What an ar
ray of books!" She kneeled to examine
the book-shelyes, which filled recess
near the fireplace. "You will read to
me, won't you, Philip, and teach me to
like all the books that you are fond of |
And o, grand piano."


at has always been my ambition to
give you that, Elsie; sit down and sing
me one Of your songs,-worth all the
books that ever were written"


Elsie obeyod, and for the next hour
sang song after song her husband list
ening, as be leaned back in his easy
chair To the sweet voice which had al |