ese was the greatest confusion in the long parlors where the
merry guests who had come to witness a bridal now beheld the handsome
bridegroom murdered before their startled eyes.

A few moments before they had been excitedly watching for quite a
different _denouement_.

Whispers of what had happened--of Dainty Chase's note and her cruel
flight--had been circulated among the guests with startling rapidity,
and Mrs. Ellsworth had been heard to exclaim that they should not be
disappointed of a wedding, after all; she had two more nieces, and
Lovelace was not the man she took him for if he could not persuade one
or the other to step into the awkward breach and save him from the
consequences of Dainty's treachery.

Then she hurried away, to further her scheme with the deserted
bridegroom, and the guests waited most impatiently, gossiping among
themselves over the strange turn affairs had taken, wondering how Dainty
could turn her back on such a bridegroom and such a future, wondering
still more if Mrs. Ellsworth would indeed induce her step-son to take
Olive or Ela in place of the false bride, and on which his choice would
chance to fall.

Preferences were quite evenly divided between the two girls, both of
whom tried to look cool and unembarrassed, though their hearts beat
furiously with anticipation, and Olive, at least, since her heart was
enlisted in the contest, felt a burning thrill of jealousy of her cousin
Ela, saying to herself:

"If he should choose her, I know I could not help but envy and hate her,
for her heart is not interested like mine in this affair. I believe that
she still loves Vernon Ashley, and but for his poverty would rather have
him for her husband than any other man. Oh, I pray that his choice may
fall on me! I know Aunt Judith secretly wishes it, because I resemble
her more than any of her other relatives, and naturally she would prefer
for me to succeed her at Ellsworth."

Suddenly she beheld a face that made her start and draw in her breath
with a sort of strangled gasp.

Her eyes had strayed to Ela, who stood near the door, then wandered
aimlessly to the nearest window--aimlessly, then with a flash of
terrified recognition.

Between the rich lace curtains there peered the dark face of Ela's
jilted lover, Vernon Ashley, and in the glittering eyes, fixed immovably
on Ela, shone a baleful, boding light enough to frighten a stranger, and
much more so Olive, who knew of the cruel wrongs tha