CAMELLA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2909, 7 March 1891, Page 4

CAMELLA.

or., AN IGNOEANT WE ANGLER

1:1 v Atns L. Frost Rattray (Author of " Bnstondell.")

CHAPTER X. (continued).

"My dear Camella," said Mrs Slangston after the visitors had left. "Do pause a moment. It is not. yet too late."

" Too late," repeated Oamella, in astonishment, "too late for what?"

'■Too late to re-cousidar this marriage of yours. lam quile sure you will lind that aunt a most disagreeable woman."

•' I.Uit I am not to marry her, nor even live in the sumo house. '

" But you will be in tin- same village, or whatever it is. Ido not want to .set yon against your husband's relations; I would not do auch a wicked and impolitic act for the world. But Tdo not think you will get on with that Airs Ramley."

They were in the girl's room. On a chair lay the wedding-dress, the coloured ribbons deftly replaced by pure white, a voluntary kindly service rendered by Kate's quick lingers. The whole aspect of the appartmeiit s;c««*.-)loil an important occasion, and iMrs Slungslon s grave face was in keeping with it. t.'amella hastily crossed Ihe room, and knelt down by the '.'nod lady's chair.

Now, dear M'r« Slangston, you innst, moI, say any more about my future. You have been moat kind to me, and 1. shall never forgot it. But please do not think me very selfwilled when I say that I shall certainly abide by my choice. Your conscience is quite clear ; you have warned me frequently ; now it is too late to warn me any more, you must only congratulate me on having won such a noble fellow as Stanley."

.Mrs Slangston kissed the fair face at her side, and said, "Yes, I really like Mr Tafferson. Well, darling, I do trust you may be happy."

There was silence for a minute, then Caraella said, " I think Lawrence seems a good-natured •young man." " Yes, he promises to be friendly. 'I[<>w many girls are there?" " Three, 1 think, and there are I wo small boys." " ignite a family of new relations for you. It will seem strange after being so much alone." '■ Not alone ; I had tribes of friends, and acquaintance.'' •• 1. ought to leave you now to get ;i beauty sleep. Now do be bare ■when you live in that out-of-the-way place that you wear gloves wheuevnr you go out, and do not opoil your hands and complexion." " L fancy I am pretty well (aimed with the voyage,''said Oamella s.mil ing a little at the caution of the woman of the world." !; No, you look very well, and you are not at all brown ; do take care of yourself." Oamella sighed a-; the door closnd. Perhaps she would have liked some lesson on the duty she would in future owe her husband, but it is very likely that she would hare profited by any remark of that nature as little as she did bv those Mrs jSlangstori thought lit to utter. The wedding passed oil' uneven!, fully, as most weddings do. Mr and ■Ait Kate I'owys Meson

Stronghow and Kenrilge were of the party, 31 r Strongbow seemed t.o have completely forgotten that he had ever wanted or fancicl lie wanted, the fair bride for himself. He. gave her a very handsome biscuitdrum together with a prettilychased salver. Most of the visitors had found out that Mr TafFerson was not the. wealthy men they had at first imagined him to lie, and the presents partook more or less, of a usefulcharactcr. After the ceremony in Church, the guests proceeded to luncheon at the hotel where the bride h.icl been staying, then Stanley and his bride were escorted to the steamer, and went across to the North Shore-, as they were to pass a few days at the Lake, Stanley having a little more business to transact before, going home.

Mrs liamley and Lawrence returned by the Jirst boat, and astonished the rest of the family by there description of the. new cousin, and what the aunt called her smart friends.

"We will show her that we are as good as they any day," observed Hetty with a tossot her head.

"For the matter of that a good deal better, as far as making good wives goGracious mo, when I think of the airs that girl did give herself!"

" Now mother,'' said Lawrence, who was present, this discussion taking place the morning after their return, "I thought she behaved very nicely indeed."

" Oh," sneered Susan, "so we shall none of us be good enough for you now. We shall see how long your fancy for this line lady will last."

"When are tliey coming upf asked Hetty.

" Next week. And such a lot of new furniture : goodness only knows where it's all going."

" What's that V said Mr Rain ley, breaking into the conversation, "Stanley buying new furniture. Why the lady must be daft. How the mischief does he expect to pay for it?'

" Perhaps his wife," began Susan, but her mother interrupted her with a sharp, " Nonsense, ehild, he lias married a girl without a farthing, I believe."