Thrice Lost, Thrice Won — page 255: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

250 “Post Tenebras Lux!” : moodily against the chimney-piece, wondering vaguely which — of them would come—his wife or stelle, or both together. As the thought crossed his mind, the door opened—he ~ lifted his somber eyes, and beheld a radiant vision. It was Estelle De Montreuil, and in the dress of a bride! Her rich robe of dead-white silk swept the velvet carpet— diamonds blazed upon the beautiful bare neck and arms, and a crown of jeweled orange-blossoms sparkled on the shining hair. That lovely chevelure was no longer wreathed in a coronet of velvet braids around the regal head, but hung in glistening ringlets below the slender waist. Stately. and beautiful as a young queen she stood before him, and yet in all her magnificence she had never reminded him so vividly of simple little Estella as now. Those flowing curls were all that was needed to make the resemblance complete. He stood and looked at her, dazed, stunned. Dressed as a bride—-what did it mean ? “Monsieur stands entranced!” she said, gayly, coming for- ward. “Speechless with admiration, no doubt. How sur- prised you must have been this afternoon, upon receiving my note!” “T have lived in a’state of perpetual surprise of late,” he answered; “the power to wonder at anything is fast leaving me. But if it is not nepereoe I should like to know what that dress means ?”’ “What it : He stood motionless as death. “A bride!” he repeated, in a sort of whisper—* a bride!” “A happy, bride, monsieur!”° She came close to him, the delicate cheeks flushed, the starry eyes shining. “But you— you do not ask for your wife, and I told you she was here.” That smile—that radiant face! Some dim perception of the glorious truth dawned upon him. He caught his breath, his brain turning giddy. | “For God’s sake, speak!” he eried, hoarsely, “TT think I am going mad!” She held out both lovely hands—ringless give for one plain circlet of gold—the beautiful face luminous with love, and light, and joy. ap “Nay, you are sane at last,” she said. “Oh, Alwyn, AI- wyn! don’t you know me?” | | And then the seales fell from his eyes, and he knew the | truth—the bewildering, delirious truth! His wife ‘pain be-- fore him! | “Listelle !” He could utter no more—the room and everything | in it was © literally spinning round before the strong man’s eyes. “Estelle ne more—Estella Bartram, your wife! _Oh, blind: comic 00 (S.com i A