eturn to Roseland. She had not been home long when she
realized how great the change had been on the sex question, and how
Stella's popularity had risen, and of course Mrs. Marston's mind had to
conform to the new thought, which her circle of friends and most of the
community had accepted. It was that lady's creed to have her ideas in
style as much as her dress. It seemed to please her greatly to hear her
niece praised and looked up to as a leader of the new thought on the sex
question; for deep down in her heart she loved Stella, even if she did
not understand some of her strange ways, and now that her son was dead
her affections went out more towards her niece.

When she received the letter from Stella stating she was engaged to
Penloe, she had a good laugh about her proposing to him, and said the
next thing she would hear would be that Stella had bought a wedding-ring
to put on Penloe's finger. Since Mrs. Marston had seen Penloe there was
no man she admired more than him; not on account of his spiritual
thought, but for his distinguished personality, his graceful manners,
and his polished expressions. So when she read about her niece being
engaged to him, she was delighted, for she felt proud of them both and
remarked, "They would make the finest appearing couple to be seen
anywhere."

And she now looked forward to the time when they would be married, that
she might have the pleasure of seeing them again. She was forming plans
as to what she would do for Stella. She felt that she was able to do
much for her, as her property was rising in value all the time, and her
income far exceeded her expenditures. Her idea was that a couple, to be
in style when they are married, should visit Europe or some other
country; and, furthermore, it would be also nice for her to be able to
say her niece had gone abroad on her wedding tour. She also remembered
how delighted Stella was to read books of travel when she was at her
house, and she heard her say, "I do hope some day I will be able to see
my own and other countries, for the extent of my travel has only been
from Orangeville to San Jose and return."

About a week before the day set for Stella's wedding, Mrs. Wheelwright
went to Roseland and called on her sister, Mrs. Marston. In course of
conversation, Mrs. Wheelwright said: "Well, Helen, it is Penloe's and
Stella's wish to have no one invited to the wedding but yourself; for,
if they invited friends, they could not draw the l