Page 48 (1/1)
[Footnote 1: One of the Hebrew prophets] "You prorandmother, not to talk to me any more about Fred"
"It was a very inconsiderate promise, a very irrational promise! I am sorry I made it--and I don't intend to keep it"
"Well, it takes two to hold a conversation, grandmother"
"To be sure it does But if I talk to you, I hope to goodness you will have the decency to answerdifferent" And she looked into Ethel's face with such a sood will and obedience, that Ethel could only laugh and give her twenty kisses as she stood up to put on her hat and coat
"You always get your way, Granny," she said; and the old lady, as she walked with her to the door, answered, "I have had hty years, dearie, and I've found it a very good way I'e it now"
"And none of us want you to change it, dear Granny's way is always a ay" And she kissed her again ere she ran down the steps to her carriage Yet as the old lady stepped slowly back to the parlor, she muttered, "Fred Mostyn is a fool! If he had any sense when he left England, he has lost it since he caood ca with the conscience of another person is a delicate and difficult affair, and Ruth had already warned Ethel of its certain futility But the days were rapidly wearing away to the great day, for which soworry, and incredible extravagance of health and temper and money--and after it? There would certainly be a break in associations Temptation would be removed, and Basil Stanhope, relieved for a time from all the duties of his office, would have continual opportunities foreternally secure the affection of the wo, and for twenty hours previous to its celebration it seemed as if all the florists in New York were at work in the Denning house and in St Jude's church The sacred place was radiant hite lilies White lilies everywhere; and the perfu, had not the weather been so exquisite that open ere possible and even pleasant To the softest strains ofon her father's arm and her beauty and splendor evoked from the crowd present an involuntary, siht She had hesitated many days between the simplicity of white chiffon and lilies of the valley, and thethread of silver was interwoven The satin had won the day, and the sunshine fell upon its beauty, as she knelt at the altar, like sunshine falling upon snow It shone and gleael's robe; and this scintillating effect wasof the diamonds in her hair, and at her throat and waist and hands and feet Nor was her brilliant youth affected by the overshadowing tulle usually so unbeco It veiled her from head to feet, and was held in place by a diairls, looked wan and of the earth beside her For her sake they had been content with the si the Stanhope was entranced by her beauty, and no one on this day wondered at his infatuation or thought remarkable the ecstasy of reverent rapture hich he received the hand of his bride His sense of the gift was ravishing She was now his love, his wife forever, and when Ethel slipped forward to part and throw backward the concealing veil, he very gently restrained her, and with his own hands uncovered the blushing beauty, and kissed her there at the altar Then ahted sympathy he took his wife upon his arether