Archibald Malmaison

ng of her favorite nephew's changed condition, and it was feared she would leave her money to the Church of Rome, of which she was a member. But on receiving the announcement of her intended visi

al point of view. An elopement was contemplated so soon as the young lady should be of age; and it would be difficult to explain the occasion of the trumpery quarrel between the lovers, which ended in the lady taunting the gentleman with caring only about her money, and resulted in the rupture of the engagement. Doubtless it might have been renewed; but at this juncture the lieutenant was ordered away on active service to the American Colonies, where he remained for some years. Later, he was stationed in India; and the next time he met his old love, in London, he was twenty years older than when she had last seen him,

r inherit seventy thousand pounds from the Shah of Persia or the President of the United States, was not quite so unnatural an idiot as to recommend to the young lady a more conciliating behavior. As for Miss Tremount, she preserved her composure and kept her counsel perfectly, and never referred to her will even in her most unguarded moments. She was courteous and complimentary to Sir Edward, indulgent to Archibald, kind and sisterly to Lady Malmaison, and quietly observant of everything and everybody. On the wedding morning she criticised and admired the bride's toilet with a taste and appreciation that caused the

he bridegroom and Archibald, entered and took their places in great pomp and dignity beneath the canopy which had been constructed for the occasion, and which, was covered with fresh flowers, whose fragrance breathed over the gay assemblage like a sacred incense. At eleven o'clock there was a general hush of expectation; and presently the door at the bottom of the hall was thrown open, and the bridal procession came in. Very pretty they looked as they paced, up the long stretch of carpeting which had been laid down for them to walk upon, and which had been sca

heavily. No one else noticed this incident; and Sir Henry, who supposed the youth was going to faint, was of course unable at the time to afford any assistance. The service went on. Richard Pennroyal and Catherine Battledown were pronounced man and wife; and man was warned not to put asunder those whom God had joined together. The ri

al personages signed first. It came to Archibald's turn. It had previously been ascertained that he knew how to string to

harply and imperatively, in the hope of rousing the young fellow o

ns around him with a kind of amazed defiance. He started to his feet, oversetting his chair as h

different was it from his usual tones. "If you thought it locked, you were wrong. How else could I have

d his inoffensive idiocy for a condition of raving madness. The old physician was probably the only one present who had a glimmering of what might be the truth. The Honorable Richard Pennroyal ha

ich was a subdued ring of menace. "It's all right. You're my best man, you know.

ichard's look. "Who are you?" he continued, after a moment. Then he exclaime

of the shoulders. "I should have known better than to run the risk of ha

ce. "Pardon me for reminding you that my brot

of course," return

ther and Sir Henry Rollinson, who were endeavoring to quiet him, he came up to her and planted himself

e you got this white veil on?--and orange blossoms! It's like a weddin

ridegroom, offering his arm to the bride, and smiling with no very good

n angry movement of his powerful arm threw him backward into the embra

ning to the bride, who had said not a word since this scene began, but had kept her eyes constantly fixed upon

ied the girl, in a low, bitter voic

eneral murmur and movement in the surrounding assembla

ed to request you peremptorily to take my arm and--and l

ingly; and Archibald caught the gleam of the plain gold ring on her fin

asked in a tone

see that he is not himself. When he has had time to recover himself, he will ask pardon of each and all of you. Mr. Pennroyal, I entreat you and your wife to forget what has

fort was made to resume indifferent conversation, and to act as if nothing had happened. Sir Edward, with admirable self-possession and smiling courtesy, marshalled the guests out of the hall, to a neighboring room in which the wedding breakfast had been set out. Archibal

me, my dear

ed at her, and

Tremount. My dear, I

hat is the matter

e yourself for the second time in your life.

l, as if searching for some one. "Whe

nt said, "My dear, your sleep has lasted seven

t to see him; I will see him!" and

u cannot see him

ried Archibald,

or five years

Doctor a moment, and t