The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-15

LAr1 you lot bridesmaid, and Dick is to
oe narry,s best man." Belle blushed.
but Dick has fallen hopelessly, madly
in love" Belle turned pale.
"fe', | was dreadfully provoked when
ne passed through St. Louis, and never
went near you. But he went wild over
some lady he met on that fatal trip.
he will talk to me by hours Of Angel
lea. And when l have spoken of YOU he
mas been positively rude, and asked me to
have done bothering him about my freck-
led school triends-you know your picture
shows freckles but, bless me, you haven't
any now. And your picture don't look
any more like you than it does me, not a
btu
"But tell me-" asked Belle, sis your
brother engaged to this lady 2"
Engaged! Why. dear heart, he don't
know her name. He just found some Of
her old clothes somewhere. He's got her
old slippers under glass case; he's got
her gloves stuffed under another; he's got
her nlShtgown done up in lavender; he's
got her gold thimble hung on his watch
cnain; and do believe he's got hair
brush and some hair-pins next to his heart
Oh, it's folly to interfere! He's beyond
all hope! did think the excitement of
my wedding would wean him from it, but
not bit of it. He looked at nv new
things as calmly as an oyster, and only
said-it is not kind of me to repeat it,
though" broke of Jenny.
"What was it he said 7" inquired Belle,
laughing now heartily. Don't fear for my
feelings"
why" he said, "I'll stand up with your
friend Belle, and see you safely married !;
and then Pm of to winter in Paris. Pm
done with love on my own account. It's
positively AWFUL
And so Belle thought, as she looked at
her old slipper and glove lying beneath a
globe on either side of the faithful Rich
ards mantle.
"And," said Belle, "since he desires only
to meet me on the morning of the we'd
ding, so it shall be. will be introduced
only as we are leaving the house, and he
can do as he pleases about continuing the
acquaintance afterwards"
Belle was radiant with happiness when
she returned to her father, and delighted
his fond heart by the change, for she had
been very quiet Of late.
Jenny and Belle shopped and talked and
visited together for the next few days, and
when the eventful morning arrived, and
amid a bevy Of beautiful girls, Belle shone
like aqueen, the bride was eclipsed, and
delightfully."- acknowledged it.
sob, Belle" she said, 81 long to have
old stoical Dick see you. Hark there's
his step. Come into the next room now
aud be introduced. Don't wait till the
carriages come-it is an hour YETI
And Belle, with beating heart, swept
through the door and stood even as Dick
first saw her, only in the place of the gray
travelling dress, magnificent white satin
fell in rich folds about her, and upon her
lovely white throat lay the turquois locket
that held Dicks golden curl. Upon the
beautiful head, crowned by its chestnut
hair, coronal of pearls added to that
grace and beauty Of an image that, shrined
in Dicks heart, was already an angel.
Belle did not look up, but she felt the
presence, as Richard Marcy came up and
was introduced to little Jcnny's oldschool-
mate. Then, as he held out his hand, she
raised her eyes, and laid her tiny hand in
his, and said:
~ think we had better rectify that mis-
take about the travelling bags, Mr.. Marcy !n
GOOD heavens, Jenny" said Dick
Marcy. "Why didn't you tell me that
your friend Belle was my angel of mercy p
because l didn't know it till last night,
and then Belle. made me promise not to
tell. And, besides, you didn't want to
meet the freckled schoolgirl till it was
positively necessary" returned Jenny mis-
chieviously.
1t would be hard to say which Of the
four that made Jenny's bridal party was
the happiest that day.
Dick did not 60 to Paris that winter.
He found that st. Louis contained more
attraction than any foreign city.
But the next fall will see Dick and Belle
on their wedding tour, and he VOWS he
will have the two romantic travelling bags
brushed up for the occasion. DR.. Town.
send, who is to be along, says he knew the
minute he saw the girl she would one day
F.F II