The Masked Bridal

y when her toilet for t

e in these somber garments, symbols of her sorrows, she was a hundred-fold more so in the spotless and dainty dress which was almost the only

diamond-hearted shamrock which Mrs. Weld had that evening given to her,

ful for the comfort of her guests and to look in upon them occasionally and ascertain if they were attending to the

she descended to the second floor, to

le order, and then passed on to those allotted to the gentlemen, in one

e the matter attended to, when Mr. Goddard, attir

ith a visible start of surprise, as h

e other rooms," she replied.

of admiration-"perhaps you will help me with the

ing the silver button-hook from him, she proceeded to perform the simple ser

was fastened. Then bending lower to look into her eyes, h

gnity, and would have passed from the room had he not plac

have not had one of our cozy social chats for a long time. Did madam's unreasonable fit of jealousy that day i

n to you!" cried Edith. "Let me pass, if you pleas

drawn toward you ever since you came into the family, and every day only serves to strengthen the spell

anguage? You have no right to address me thus; it i

forth, mockingly, and wit

s were compressed into a vindictive line

y her infernally variable moods, her jealousy, her vanity, and her inordinate pass

Oh! let me go!" cried Edi

d whispered something, in swift sentences, that made her shrink from him with a

I cannot believe it. I am sure you do no

nse of the fact that he was compromising

nd I do not believe this is any place for you. You are too fair and sweet to serve a woman with such a disposition as madam possesses, and I wish you would leave her when we go back to the city

ide-no self-respect?" Edith demanded, as she haughtily threw

attracted his attention to the litt

him for a moment, for he st

rcely, audible voice, as he pointed a trembling finge

ed him with

her hand and covered th

to me," she br

ve it t

fri

ive?" cried the man,

as simply

l me

iven to her by the housekeeper, it might subject the woman to an unpleasant intervi

urse left-that of refusing to

ly said, at last, "is that the chain and ornament

man interpos

be at least sixty years of

ued, in a more natural manner than he had yet spoken. "I did not mean to be curious

h that echoed down the hall like a strain of sweetest music; whereupon Ge

was that?" he crie

induce her to dwell with the family a single day after their return to the city, and that she would take care

her departure, as if waiting for the sound

the door, he peered into th

ho just at that moment, accosted a housemaid, to

ts," he muttered, "but the voice

e had drank in much larger quantities than usual, and the incidents that had just occurred, and then sought his

a third party, or had seen the white, convulsed face that had been looking in upon

er, to make some little change in her toilet, and get her

ame very near giving utterance to a scream

ent by climbing the vine trellis which led to the window. His se

sent a card of invitation to Mrs.

e responded; "I have lo

t their plot was progressing admirably. Still, she manifested a twinge of remorse as she thought of

e exclaimed, "or I will never forgi

ding up her finger to check

rd not

id, and cautiously opened

the hall; then she started, as if stung, as she caught

but her eyes blazed wit

leading out upon the veranda, throwing a long mantle over her light dress and bare shoulders. Then she pa

ding toward the graceful girl, whom she had never seen so beautiful as now, his face eager, a wistful l

but her jealous heart imp

t she was indignant and dismayed; but this

re to know that the girl's charms were alluring the man whom she

tage to escape, and then, her hands clenched until the nails almost pierced the tender flesh

wiftly back to her room. "The girl is doomed-she has sealed

e removed her wraps, and went to tell her brother that she m

she hastened down to join he