The Widowed Bride — page 115: what you’re looking at

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

106 THE WIDO WED BRIDE. “But, mademoiselle, that is not fashionable!” pleaded Marienne. ‘No matter; it is becomming. Now give me the white dress, and that is all I shall want of you.” For Rena Percival had decided that in her case ‘beauty unadorned adorned the most,” and she judged rightly. She was a skillful little diplomatist in her way, moreover, and she had resolved to see the new-comers before she herself was seen, so she remained in her own room until toward sunset, and then sauntered leisurely down into the west drawing- room, where windows commanded a view ol one end of the terrace and the grounds below. Yes, the expected guests had arrived. Rena saw the group clustered beneath the shadow of a Venetian awning, as she stood behind the sweep of the lace curtains. Lady Glen- hampton, in her exquisite wine-colored silk, and lace scarf, the jewels flashing on her arms and brow, stood talking to a slight young man with blonde mustache and closely cut hair. Mr. Hugh Alkenard, Rena decided it must be, for Lady Blanche sat on a gar den seat beyond with a young gentle- man, whose personal appearance coincided in every particu- lar with the description she had given of Lord Vere Temple, hanging over her after a very devoted fashion, and she in- stantly recognized, from his resemblance to Lady Glenhamp- ton, the handsome youth who leaned against a pillar, with raven black hair, jetty eyelashes, and a face of almost effem- inate beauty. ‘He is the handsomest of them all,” Rena inwardly de- cided. She sat down in an attitude so graceful that one would scarcely have dreamed how elaborately she had. studied it, and opened 'a blue and gold volume of poems—a sort of ex- -. euse for the dreamy reverie into which she allowed herself to subside. | ~ Rena Percival was not naturally a schemer, but the world has not sufficient charity for those who are obliged to fight their own battles. How often did she look at innocent Blanche Arden with an actual feeling of envy for the posi- tion which placed her so far above the plotting and planning which she herself scorned, even while she was forced to practice it. Since she could remember, the truism had always been aap roeed on her mind, over and over _ again, —— Pee.) a5 : i uh ; Ses, , 4 uy A a ; -. : wh 08) aS + : 7% y ae % ( 7 , f : ‘ i * yh VT, bb Hy Gani AS ely, ine ON Bi Es ba ed el tad ~™ 4 €o fone Look com PRS Pre te ee 8