e and dressed herself resolving that she would not
trouble tired Mrs. Weld to bring up her dinner, but go downstairs and
have it with her, as usual.

The house was very quiet, for, all the guests having gone, there was
only the family and the servants in the house.

Edith remained in her room until she heard the dinner-bell ring, when
she went to the door to listen for Mr. and Mrs. Goddard and Emil
Correlli to go down, before she ventured forth, for she had a special
object in view.

Presently she heard them enter the dining-room, whereupon she stole
softly down after them and slipped into the library in search of the
daily papers.

She found one, the _Transcript_, and then hurried back to her room,
lighted the gas, and sat down to read.

Immediately a low cry of dismay burst from her, for the first thing
that caught her eye were some conspicuous head-lines announcing:

"A STARTLING SURPRISE IN HIGH LIFE."

These were followed by a vivid description of the festivities at the
Goddard mansion in Wyoming, on the previous evening, mentioning the
"unique and original drama," which had wound up with "the great
surprise" in the form of a "_bona fide_" marriage between the brother
of the beautiful and accomplished hostess, Mrs. Goddard, and a lovely
girl to whom the gentleman had long been attached, and whom he had
taken this opportune and very novel way of introducing to his friends
and society in general.

Then there followed a _resume_ of the play, giving the names of the
various actors, an account of the fine scenery and brilliant costumes,
etc.

The appearance of the masked bride and groom was then enlarged upon,
an accurate description of the bride's elegant dress given, and a most
flattering mention made of her beauty and grace, together with the
perfect dignity and repose of manner with which she bore her
introduction to the many friends of her husband during the reception
that followed immediately after the ceremony.

No mention was made of her having fainted afterward, and the article
concluded with a flattering tribute to the host and hostess for the
success of their "Winter Frolic," which ended so delightfully in the
brilliant and long-to-be-remembered ball.

Edith's face was full of pain and indignation after reading this
sensational account.

She was sure that the affair had been written up by either madam or
her brother, for the express purpose of bringing her more
conspicuously before