The Lamp in the Desert

llowing day that it was he rather than the bride who

to meet all the watching eyes that followed their progress. But the bride walked proudly and firmly, her head held high with even the suspicion of

d Lady Harriet, surveying the proud

urmured Mrs. Ralston with a w

ly null,'" scoffed little Mrs. Ermsted upon w

of her final victory, she surpassed herself. She shone as a queen with majest

iting bridegroom, and for a single moment her steady eyes rested, thoug

with the utmost calmness of

o follow the newly wedded pair to the vestry. They went. Colonel Mansfield with a species of jocose pomposity sp

flush of those delicately rounded cheeks. Even Lady Harriet realized that, though she had never seen so much colour in t

he declared. "I was hoping for your s

ride. Stella bent instantly and kissed it with a quick graciousness that would have melted any one less austere, but in Lady Harriet's opinion the act was marred

erwise. Stella broke through his pomposity without effort, giving him both her hands wi

d. "I wish you both every happin

to give her hand to the best man, but it did not linger in his, and to

nd, Mrs. Ralston pressed forward unexpectedly, and openl

w me I know. I wanted just to tell you how beautiful

spleasure, nearer to actual anger than she had ever before permitted herself to be with any one so contemptible as the s

moment dropped her husband's arm to fling both her own about the gentl

not very steadily, "how more th

reserve and found its way to her heart. Her face, as she passed on down the aisle by her husband's side, was wonderfully softened, and even Mrs.

l procession. To Stella's dazzled eyes it seemed a surging sea of unfamiliar faces. But one face stood out from the rest-the calm countenance of Ralph Dacre's magni

areless voice, "a highly honourable perso

said Stella, and

he had not learned to treat the native servant with contempt, and the majestic

ng smile flash across his grave face. Then he took the proffered hand, bend

shine on you, my m

s there lay a tacit acceptance of her as mistress whi

hich was very different from the icy constriction that had bound it w

to his side. "Oh, Star of my heart, how superb you are!" he said.

looking at him. "Poor

ntly. "Tommy's s

Exactly one year y

ring her. "You, Stella!" he said.

not actually resisting it. "That is merely a form of telling me that I

that there is no measuring you by ordinary standards. They all know it. That is why you we

usion. "I hope I am not so extra

t. "You are unique," he

d a sudden swift shiver went through her. "Oh, Ral

to him. And he did not so much as notice that her lips trembled too piteously to return his kiss, or that her submission to his embrace was eloquent of mute endurance r

oh, she was happy enough. With complacence he reflected that if every man in the mess envied him, probably every woman in the station