The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1873-12-04
THREE TIMES A BRIDESMAID,

Z
Miss Yivinn dashed the crystal drops
petulantly from her eyelnshes.
"Cryingl What nOnscusel I'm .notcry-
ing"
She sat there on the low volvct.Covered
divan, with the exquisite bridesmaids
dress in her lap-wbito tarlatan, barred
with shimmeriug lines of silvor-while
just beyond lay The wedding cards, tied to-
gether with snowy ribbon, like drifted
snow.
And Aunt Bessie, seeing remoustrance
and argument would likely be unwelcome
just at that moment, went quietly out of
tho room with the ivory needle-case she
bad come to seek, leaving Augusta alone
once moore
"Three times bridesmaid, aud never
a bride!"
Was it. then, that there was actual truth
in the words Of the old saw which people
quoted against her with so much malicious
fun? For the third time she was to be a
brides attendant now-aDd herselfH Why
does no one come to lead her to the altar
also, to fulfill woman's sweetest, proud
est destiny?
1t is all sheer nonsense to say that q
cir! must not admit visions of love and
mntrimony iuto Der head She would be
but lifecss, loyeIess statue otherwise;
the visions will come unbidden, aud ex
lstence wonld be incomplete without their
enchanting glitter
So twas with Augusta Vivian at eight
aud twenty. People we're already begin
ming to speak of her as an old maid; the
young sixteen .ycnr,old damsels thought
her 'shockingly old" and Lily, her mar.
ried sister, with two babies patronized aud
pitticd her,
Poor Gussie!" said Mrs Latbrop, "it
isn't likely she will ever marry now! Why
l was engaged before was eighteen, and
Gussie is nearly thirty However, | al
ways wanted an old maid sister to live with
me. aud help about the children aud the
housekeeping
Yet Augusta Vivian was lovelier now
than she had been at eighteen. Not q
wrinkle marred the marble snooihpess Of
her brow, the gold bright hair waved in
luzuriant masses from her .vened
temples, and the bloom on her cheeks was
red and ripe as that ofa peach and yet
she never had bad an offer
1t was hard, too Augusta Vivian had
allthe wifely instincts that belong to every
woman worthy Of the name; she had her
aspirations, hopes, and dreams, and twas
di,piriting to see them blgbted one By
one.
Nobody cares for me-" thought Au
gusts, mOurnfully, and not without spice
Of bitterness 10 her detection "No man
ever spoke to me of love; 40 home ever
yet opened its portals to greet me as its
queen Why not, | wouderH Am | un.
like other women? Am unworthy Of the
destiny fate has reserved for them? Here
live in my little cottage among the roses
solitary and alone, save for Aunt Bessy
aud here, for aught | can see, am likely
to drag out the mouOtonous series of my
days I wish | we're man; Men eau 60
out into the world and forget oil personal
trouble 10 that keen haud-to. hand conflict
which invigorates while it occupies them;
but woman can only sit at home with fold
cd hands and aching hearts. waiting for
the day to come which may never dawn :"
Aud so it happened that Augusta Vi.
viau had let bright tear-drop or two fall
upon the shining folds Of a silver barred
larlatan as she sat there all alone
Augusta" said Aunt Bessie, presently
re.cnteriug, and sitting herself down to
work 10 the sunny corner Of the bay-win-
dow, "bow old is your sister Heleu?"
Sixteen next mouth, answered Angus
ia, spiritlessly,
n thought so" said Aunt Bessy, sage
Iy, do you know, Augusta, I've got a
new idea in my head
What is tba,?" asked Augusta, forcing
herself at least to appear to take some sort
Of interest in the subject matter under dis
cussion
"NIaior Culthrope, next door-don't you