The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-21

stOrming all night, and a storm seldom lasts 30
long,
go Blessed is the bride that the sun shines on ,
is not that the proverb, motherl'
proverbs are vulgar, Miss Armstrong re-
piled the naughty woman, who for five minutes
would not give way to tenderness
Z" wish the sun would shine out to-day MUIR
INJURED Louise
"The sun of fortune shines upon your marriage
Miss Armstrong and Mrs. Stuart Gordon will
tomorrow be independent Of any other light IL
will be her mothers halls that will be LEFT in
gloom" coldly and bitterly concluded the lady
4" Mother-motherl exclaimed Louise, throw
ing herself, for the first time, sobbing into her
mothers arms. "Mother-mother-l will stay
with you, if you wish it Do with Inc as you
please for am | not your own child Do not
owe you life? Mother, mother, you are my crea-
tor almost; take me TO your bosom, and nourish
me with your love, as you once did in my infancy,
mother, and will never, never, leave your
And Louis, then2n inquired the lady, in cold
tones, but with secret satisfaction, though she
would not have stopped the marriage now for the
world.
@LoH;s ooh, yes, poor Eoniis.''z nurnnted i.O0-
Use, in a voice Of distress -
"You are ridiculous, MiSs Armstrong said
her mother, codly turning away.
The sun did not shine out that day At noon,
We tempest subsidized, and there seemed some
prospect of a clear afternoon II was in the lull
Of the storm that Susan Somerville, attended by
Anna, arrived in a sleigh driven by George
Mrs Armstrong received her with much polite
ness, and conducted her at once into the apart
ment Of the bride. Mrs Armstrong augured
well from this arrival for the success of her fete
"lf Miss Somerville could pass the frightful
road leading from the Crsgs, others can Gomez
she thought. And soon, indeed, was seen another
sleigh, containing little Zoe, carefully wrapped in
blankets, and driven by Gertrude Lion Coming
up with sudden jerk, Gertrude flung the reins
upon the horses neck, springing out knee-deep in
the snow, caught Zoe up in her arms, and bearing
her on through the drifts carried her in the hall
and set her down, laughing uproariously. Mrs
Armstrong, drawn from the saloon by the noise,
came out to meet them.
"There, Mrs. Armstrong have brought you
your second bridesmaid YOR syi2sA Dot have
got her but for me-" @
"Thank your
"0h, by no means | had particular wish that
you should not miss your second bridesmaid
"lf we had been so unfortunate as to have miss
ed the assistance of this young lady, another
"But," said Gertrude, fixing her blazing light
eyes upon the face of the lady had a particular
Wisk that Zoe should attend her--n'
She paused paused in establishment The
naughty woman standing before her had changed
as if suddenly struck with palsy Her form was
braced back against the wall and shuddering; her
| stony brow blanched and corrugated her cold
sleet eyes rveted on the radiant face of Gertrude
"Well :" she exclaimed hastily go on why
do you stop?n
dwell, | had particular wish that Zoe should
attend her--frie'ld,n said Gertrude, in calm
voice, with a careless look
But, Mrs Armstrong, you are not well you
have been agitated" said she, with an aifectation
of interest.
al have been agitated and oyer-fatigued,n re-.
piled the lady; "and really, Miss Lion, your
manners are somwhat boisterous and startling, in
a quiet house you are so emphatic on trfes
that-but pardon me, keep you in the draughtn
| Then touching a bell, which was Immediately an
swersd by Kate Jumper, che said
"kate show Miss Zoe Dove into the dressing
room Of your young lady, and then attend Miss
Lion to the apartment prepared for herr And
With A stately bow, Mrs Arp.trona swept on from
An hour or two later, other sleighs with guests
began to arrive. The bridal toilet of Louise
|
dressing room prepared for her use. Although
her two bridesmaids were in attendance it wat
the artistic taste Of Britannia ORileythat ar.
ranged her drcss. The bride sat before large
| cheval mirror. She wore a robe of Mechlin lace
with q deep, rich border Of embroidered rosebuds
| entwined with orange flowers and worn over
white satin undertakes. Her pale blond hair
was braided over her ears, TO suit the gentle ma
I donna style or her countenanoes Near her, on
the back Of a chair, was thrown large and splen-
did Mechlin veil, Of similar pattern to that of
the dress On the toet-table were various gloves,
fans, essences, extracts, &c, and case of dia-
monds, the bridal offering of General Stuart
Gordon, and casket of pearls, the gift Of her
mother.
Britannia stood behind the bride, smoothing
with her hand the bands of her fair hair, until
they shone again Zoe lifted the casket of dia-
monds, and taking from it bandeau, held it to-
wards Miss Armstrong Louise reached her
hand for it,
"No, no, my love, said Britannia, returning the
jewels, "no gems for you; not one, Louise they
are too cold and glittering, and too hard and
sharp to the touch. They suit me- Louise not
you mr. Louise, who am Gploving and unloved !;
who, upon occasions, can be hard, cold, brilliant,
and shsrp-ays and regsl-like them; me, who
fash out anger with the sparks of my rubics, and
scorn with the CLEAN Of my emcralds But you,
Louise, loving and loved-fair, soft, and gentle
you must present no hard surfaces no sharp
points; no-fom1s for you Louise
Zoe, attentive, alert, opened a handbook, and
took out white wreath
"No, no. it will not do smiled Brightly, fresh
blooming flowers we want. will 90 and gather
a wreath from the conservatory. But what are
you doing there, Xoe7n
6 am seeming her handkerchief"
"Oh, throw the phal in the fire. detest those
odous and sickening French extracts The aro-
ma from her rosebuds and orange-bossoms, the
fresh living breath of the flowers will be besto
And Brightly, Leaving the bride, went down stairs
to select the wreath and bouquet
On opening the glass doors leading from the
saloon into the conservatory, Brightly started vio
leBtly, and reprcsscd m exclamation Of dismay
and horror at the sight of blasted desoaion that
met her eyes. That fine conservatory Of the most
beautiful and fragrant flowers Of our own cline,
and Of the rarest tropical exotics that splendid
conservatory, that was the wonder and the envy
OF the whole county that cherished conservatory,
that for years and years had received the most
careful attention had, in the bsstle and hurry
attendant upon the wedding, been forgotten and
neglected the fire in the furnace had been suf-
fered to 70 out, and the light had fallen intensely
cold and now, upon the bridal morning the flow
ers were found dead all withered by the blight.
log cold!
"What an ominous day!p exclaimed Brightly,
as she turned from that scene Of blasted life, and
and slowly returned TO the bride.
81 do not like her toilet at ALL said Brightly, |
her beautiful robe and veil are both perfect but
her brow crowned with artificial roses, aud her
handkerchief saturated with venomous French |
extract. No. do not like it0
snow you are quite ready said Zoe; "and
oh, 70 beautiful and sweet, Louise! Now, Susan
we will put on our white muslins, for Louis will
be here presently
Susan Somerville, who hid taken no part in
this toilet because her assistance was unnecessary,
now arose, and, laying of her dark riding habit,
was preparing to change her dress, when, seeing
Louise looking very pensivc, she went up to her