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ed satin in which a glittering thread 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 gleamed and glistened as if it were an angel's robe； and this scintillating effect was much increased by the sparkling of 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 unbecoming。 It veiled her from head to feet； and was held in place by a diamond coronal。 All her eight maids； though lovely girls； looked wan and of the earth beside her。 For her sake they had been content with the simplicity of chiffon and white lace hats； and she stood among them lustrous as some angelic being。 Stanhope was entranced by her beauty； and no one on this day wondered at his infatuation or thought remarkable the ecstasy of reverent rapture with which 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 amid a murmur and stir of delighted sympathy he took his wife upon his arm； and turned with her to the life they were to face together。
Two hours later all was a past dream。 Bride and bridegroom had slipped quietly away； and the wedding guests had arrived at that rather noisy indifference which presages the end of an entertainment。 Then flushed and tired with hurrying congratulations and good wishes that stumbled over each other； carriage after carriage departed； and Ethel and her companions went to Dora's parlor to rest awhile and discuss the event of the day。 But Dora's parlor was in a state of confusion。 It had； too； an air of loss； and felt like a gilded cage from which the bird had flown。 They looked dismally at its discomfort and went downstairs。 Men were removing the faded flowers or sitting at the abandoned table eating and drinking。 Everywhere there was disorder and waste； and from the servants' quarter came a noisy sense of riotous feasting。
〃Where is Mrs。 Denning？〃 Ethel asked a footman who was gathering together the silver with the easy unconcern of a man whose ideas were rosy with champagne。 He looked up with a provoking familiarity at the question； and sputtered out； 〃She's lying down crying and making a fuss。 Miss Day is with her； soothing of her。〃
〃Let us go home；〃 said Ethel。
And so； weary with pleasure； and heart… heavy with feelings that had no longer any reason to exist； pale with fatigue； untidy with crush； their pretty white gowns sullied and passe； each went her way； in every heart a wonder whether the few hilarious hours of strange emotions were worth all they claimed as their right and due。
Ruth had gone home earlier； and Ethel found her resting in her room。 〃I am worn out； Ruth；〃 was her first remark。 〃I am going to bed for three or four days。 It was a dreadful ordeal。〃
〃One to which you may have to submit。〃
〃Certainly not。 My marriage will be a religious ceremony； with half a dozen of my nearest relatives as witnesses。〃
〃I noticed Fred slip away before Dora went。 He looked ill。〃
〃I dare say he is illand no wonder。 Good night； Ruth。 I am going to sleep。 Tell father all about the wedding。 I don't want to hear it named againnot as long as I live。〃
CHAPTER VI
THREE days passed and Ethel had regained her health and spirits； but Fred Mostyn had not called since the wedding。 Ruth thought some inquiry ought to be made； and Judge Rawdon called at the Holland House。 There he was told that Mr。 Mostyn had not been well； and the young man's countenance painfully confessed the same thing。
〃My dear Fred； why did you not send us word you were ill？〃 asked the Judge。
〃I had fever； sir； and I feared it might be typhoid。 Nothing of the kind； however。 I shall be all right in a day or two。〃
The truth was far from typhoid； and Fred knew it。 He had left the wedding breakfast because he had reached the limit of his endurance。 Words； stinging as whips； burned like hot coals in his mouth； and he felt that he could not restrain them much longer。 Hastening to his hotel； he locked himself in his rooms； and passed the night in a frenzy of passion。 The very remembrance of the bridegroom's confident transport put mur… der in his heartmurder which he could only practice by his wishes； impotent to compass their desires。
〃I wish the fellow shot！ I wish him hanged！ I would kill him twenty times in twenty different ways！ And Dora！ Dora！ Dora！ What did she see in him？ What could she see？ Love her？ He knows nothing of lovesuch love as tortures me。〃 Backwards and forwards he paced the floor to such imprecations and ejaculations as welled up from the whirlpool of rage in his heart； hour following hour； till in the blackness of his misery he could no longer speak。 His brain had become stupefied by the iteration of inevitable loss； and so refused any longer to voice a woe beyond remedy。 Then he stood still and called will and reason to council him。 〃This way madness lies；〃 he thought。 〃I must be quietI must sleep I must forget。〃
But it was not until the third day that a dismal； sullen stillness succeeded the storm of rage and grief； and he awoke from a sleep of exhaustion feeling as if he were withered at his heart。 He knew that life had to be taken up again； and that in all its farces he must play his part。 At first the thought of Mostyn Hall presented itself as an asylum。 It stood amid thick woods； and there were miles of wind…blown wolds and hills around it。 He was lord and master there； no one could intrude upon his sorrow； he could nurse it in those lonely rooms to his heart's content。 Every day； however； this gloomy resolution grew fainter； and one morning he awoke and laughed it to scorn。
〃Frederick's himself again；〃 he quoted； 〃and he must have been very far off himself when he thought of giving up or of running away。 No； Fred Mostyn； you will stay here。 'Tis a country where the impossible does not exist； and the unlikely is sure to happena country where marriage is not for life or death； and where the roads to divorce are manifold and easy。 There are a score of ways and means。 I will stay and think them over； 'twill be odd if I cannot force Fate to change her mind。〃
A week after Dora's marriage he found himself able to walk up the avenue to the Rawdon house； but he arrived there weary and wan enough to instantly win the sympathy of Ruth and Ethel； and he was immensely strengthened by the sense of home and kindred； and of genuine kindness to which he felt a sort of right。 He asked Ruth if he might eat dinner with them。 He said he was hungry； and the hotel fare did not tempt him。 And when Judge Rawdon returned he welcomed him in the same generous spirit； and the evening passed delightfully away。 At its close； however； as Mostyn stood gloved and hatted； and the carriage waited for him； he said a few words to Judge Rawdon which changed the mental and social atmosphere。 〃I wish to have a little talk with you； sir； on a business matter of some importanc