ds awaiting his martyrdom with a rather bored look on his handsome face. Irene, on the point of a vehement refusal to enact th

illing a b

y young girls fasten a square of tulle on her hair with a spray of real orange blossoms from the pet orange

almost paid her out now for her meanness. As soon as the wedding is over sh

er?" she inquires, glan

ooks the parson to the life, with his black coat and little whit

ow and addresses the little, clerical-looking

o have a marriage, by way of a diversion for the young p

e, dreamy, rather delicat

ther sudden?

out more words they step through the window into the parlor, w

to his place. Somebody puts a prayer-book into Mr. Clavering's hand and merrily introduces him to the bride and groom

iment dancing in her blue eyes, as she pictures to herself Bertha's silent rage. Mr. Kenmore, impressed beyond his will by the solemn marriage words, looks a little graver than his wont. The babel of voices is momentarily

r better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish

" Bertha utters, in a fierce whi

, impatiently, and, in a minute more the ring is slipped over Irene's finger,

ed together, let n

her wont, slipped over to Elaine, who was white as death, wit

t I didn't like it myself. It sounded too horribly rea

ride in silent rage. The vials of he

ore's side and looked at

elessly, "I believe I have teased her quite enough

h face curiously a minute, t

ng lip, and an irrepressible

of juvenile society, Mr. Kenmor

ied, languidly, and with a rather bored expression. "But come, let us

opportunity it would afford for a sentimental tete-a-tete, and al

they stepped through the low French window, and

so long since your visit to the city," he added, half-quizzically, for Irene's innocent prattle that evening had let in some light upon his mind. He understood that Bertha claimed him openly as her lover, and fully ca

aid Bertha, sentimentally, with an effective upward

t. He was an adept at flirting himself when he could co

e said. "Your friend, Miss Leigh, sent you as much love as I co

ce. Now that she had him all to herself, her horrible fears of her younger sister's rivalry grew less, and she resolved to make the very most of this

tions. Mr. Kenmore was lending himself to he

hanged, and Bertha's sentimentalisms interrupted by a little flying white figure that came through the window with a rush, and clutch

saying in yonder?-what Mr. Clavering is saying? That-that-he is a real minister, and that it was a real marri

a blanched face, and wild, beseeching eyes, up into the handsome, startled face of the man. Suddenly he pu

ishness stricken from her by this terrib

little white figure with

nd tell me the truth! Is it true what you were

the balcony rail around which clambered a white rose vine. The s

nister-really a minister-but no one in the room knew it, because he is a stranger about here, you know, and staying at

m head to foot w

f this is true, if you really are Guy Kenmore's wife, I am your bitterest foe as long a

lips, Mr. Kenmore came out, followed

searched the man's

lmost harshly. "The man is an ordained minist

n the last cold word. Irene threw up her white arms wildly