CHAPTER III. THE SMITTEN BRIDE.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 181, 4 December 1886, Page 6

CHAPTER 111. THE SMITTEN BRIDE.

Violet Ainslie was restored to thecleviceß of Madame Lambini. She had for three years been sorrouuded with 'splendour, her coming out that season had been in a whirl of glory, that seemed to have exhausted the resources of fashionable millinery, and yet now Lambini had so risen to the greatness of the occasion of dressing the chief heiress of England for her marriage, that no girl could look unmoved at the marvellous stores of fabrics that strewed the boudoir. Violet herself wap beguiled by them, her lovely ace reflected the joy of her aunt, and the admiration of madame, as it had now reflected the anxiety and tenderneae of Lady Burton. Leaving Violet: in the hands of maids and modistes, Lady Burton went down stairs with the effusive Mrs Ainalie at her fcido. "Dear Lady Burton, I hope you are pleased. If we had had your address you should have been the first to be forewarned, out, then, it has really been very sudden, and Violet was going to you this morning." " But what waa the occasion of so hasty a decision 1 asked Lady Burton, calmly. "I had hoped Violet, in her peculiar position, would wait a year or two." "Oh, Lady Burton, a year or two ! How can you ! I assure you Henry and I would both be in our graves with anxiety. He is more weighed down by the care of her fortune than by all of his other business, which, of course, involves much more money. But with her affaire, love and duty and responsibility, and all that, oppress him frightfully. And as for me, I can hardly sleep at nights for fear the darling girl should make a bad match. ~ f I never hear of running off with a footman or musicmaster, but 1 ehudder| f or Violet."

" For Violet ? The shyest, most discreet " "All that — a real angel! But such fearful things happen. And scoundrels, and fortune-hunters, and gamblers, and all that ! Oh, I long to see her well married ! And she has said she would not marry. She seemed born, and, bo far, reared for a nun !" " She seems to havo missed her vocation," said Lady Burton, coldly, Mrs Ainßlie ignored the coldness. "Lord Leigh is such an admirable match, every way. His title, family, great fortune, manners— a little cold and sad— but amiable, honourable, unblemished reputation. " Why," cried Mrs Ainslie, warming with her subject, " he is the great match of the season ; everyone wanted him." I ady Burton smiled a little at that way of putting it ' But, Mrs Ainalie, while I know all this is true, if she does not really love him, what comfort in marriage 1" " Love, my dear Lady Burton, for her it will come in its day. She knows no more of it now than a veatal, and she never will until she is married, She is the victim of a mania about fortune hunters." She lacks vanity — a cossciousness of her own desert, and I think you have all contributed to this idea.'' " Well, I really believe she loves Lord Leigh, and that he loves her. Why not ?" " I don't see how he could help it, truly." " Do, Lady Burton, peep into the conservatory,! Is it not exquisite? Well, just there, on that seat under the orange trees in bloom, he proposed. I came in after a few minutes. I admit I was distracted to know if ehe would do what was for her happiness ; and he eaid, ' MrB Ainalie, Violet has done me ' the honor to accept me.' Think if I was glad !" " Still, I wish they would wait a year to consider," "Oh, Lady Burton, a year! Why, she wanted to wait three months, and he was so desperate for an immediate marriage that finally she yielded. And for me it comes just right. I expect to have the two elder girls introduced next season, and I shall take the whole family to the continent as Violet is o(F my hands. The girls need six months there to finish up their French and German. Dear things, I can now give all my time to them. Only think how dangorously Violet would have been in their way, now she will help them on— with Lady Leigh they can go everywhere. It will relieve me ot half my cares !" " I see ; but in this marriage Violet is the one to consider." " But Ido consider. Think if lam not proud and glad to restore her to the very position Her grandmother Montressor occupied -an earl's wife ! Violet will be a sweet countess !" "Would she be a happy countess?" thought Lady Burton. " A month ! Dear child, it is co soon." "So it is soon," assented Mrs Ainslie. "I wondered how I ever could get all ready as became her fortune, but Lord Leigh was pressing, and I am in haste to be gone. I shall go at once she is married. I sent for Lambini. 1 telegraphed to Worth. One of the Montreseor cousins, a widow who knows exactly what is what, is going to Paris this week to make purchases. Oh, my head is in a whirl ! Do, Lady Burton, suggest anything, everything. I must not be sending for Violet at this crisis. Ido love f he child." " I know you do," said Lady Burton, who thought of nothing to suggest but delay, but that was vetoed. "Violet urged to wait till next autumn, but there ! Our houae at Lindenwood 18 ordered closed till Christmas. This house goes into the hands of the decorators, to be remodeled, in five weeks' time. There was nothing to do but settle matters at once. She will be married at St. George's, and have fourteen bridemaids, Lady Clare Montressor for the first. Dear girl, I wish her happy." It was idle to stay and hear Mr 3 Ainslie talk longer. The best-natured creature in the world, she had attained the nearest summit of her hopea, and saw before her, in joyful near existence, pinnacles of coroneted glory for her troop of plain, jolly, honesthearted girls. Mrs Ainslie kept Violet in a tumult of splendid preparations. Gifts poured in ; Ainslie and Leigh jewels were reset to grace the wealthiest biide that ever had entered the ever fortunate houae of Leigh. Aa for Violet, hers was an hour of bewilderment ; her aunt's approbation ehone on her, the congratulations of all the family greeted her ; peace wag proclaimed between the Montressors, her mother's patrician house, and the rich Ainslies who had been left guardian of her person and property by her father. She drifted on this favouring tide. Lady Burton spoke again. "My child, if you havo any hesitation or objection, it is not too late. Better be called a coquette than be a loveless, rereluctant wife. Leave all and come with me. I will take you to America, to Egypt, auy where, until the commont is passed." ">o, Lady Burton, I think I*am right, and shall be happy. I think lam loved for myself alone. The only time any one eeemed to care for me, not knowing I was rich — t-hat one forgot me at once, forgot me. Violet ! is there any one whom you love, whos=o image lies in your heart ?" "Indeed, no, a thousand times no! I hate him ! The mercenary wretch !" "Why, Violet?" said Lady Burton ; "I am surprised !" She could not say more, for a secret feeling of honour held her bound. By her first marriage Lady Burton had a son, Lord Kenneth Keith, and she had hoped, solely because ehe loved Violet, that Borne day Violet and Kenneth might meet and love, Violet's singular whim, fostered, yes, implrnted, by her grandmother, that all who sought her sought her for her fortune, had kept Lady Burton from speaking of her son, who was abroad, and from bringing him home, to introduce to Violet. She bad wished Violet to have experience and freedom of choico before they met. But this, her secret wish, held her from opposing this marriage. Might she not be speaking rather her own dosire, than inner rightneas in the case ? The marriage morning, the first of June, dawned fair ; matchless day for a matchless wedding pcene. The space about the chancel of St. GeorgB seemed as if filled by bands of angels, when Violet Ainslie stood there with her fourteen lovely attendants. Surrounded with beauty, music, flowers, fragrance, friends, Violet held out that soft, white, well-dowered hand to Lord Norman Leigh, and her sweet lips said softly, "I will." Neither bride, nor groom, nor priest, nor people dreamed that heavy and remorseless as the blow of "the hammer of Thor," a terrible wrong and fate would crush and shatter that vow before it had been kept for one brief hour ! Sunshine in glory blazing all about her, and under the sunshine cruel destruction darkening over the life of this innocent child. The wedding breakfast is over ; carriages wait ; the Ainslies and the Montressora are in blissful amity. In the magnificent boudoir of Mrs Ainslie the groom is to see his bride for a moment alone before she is taken to put on her travelling dress, as they set forth for Paria and Italy. A matchless bride of sweet and sunny beauty, and all blessed possibilities, she stands as her aunt

left her, gleaming in satin, lace and pearls,' her bridal flowers in her hand, her face, bent over the Bweet, languishing fatal breath of one central tuberose. A tuberose in a bridal bouquet ! Mrs Ainslie opens the door for Lord Nor» man Leigh. " Here is your bride." The scarcely uttered words die in a wild scream at a terrible sight. Yes, here is hie bride ; a white, still, prostrate figure, lying supine on the floor, in all her glory of jewels and lace, in all the gorgeous colour of the boudoir — all the hope and the radiance gone out of her bridal day ! {To he Continued.)