The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-03-18
before going to the dress-maker's
was my last girls TART
THE MORNING OF THE SACRIFICE.

Clotilde's narrative thus proceeds
"The next day was the great day, and
when woke it was hardly light. /
opened the door leading into the salon,
and found my wedding dress spread out
on the sofa, with the folded veil beside
1T, and my head dress in Il white box
Nothing was wanting. ] was feyerish,
excited, uneasy, happy, trembling, like a
soldier must feel on the morning of a
battle, when he is almost certain of be-
ing decorated. | thought neither of my
past nor of my future, but was entirely
absorbed hy the idea of the approaching
ceremony; of this sacrament, the most
solemn of all in our Church; of the sa-
cred oath which was about to take;
and also by the thought of the crowd of
people who would come dressed out to
the church in order to catch a sight of
me inpassing.
"We brealfasted very early. Ny
father had on his boots, his dress trous-
els, white cravat, and dressing gown.
My mother was also half dressed. 1t
seemed to me that the servants served
me with more than their habitual attcn-
ton, and treated me with much greater
respect. even rccollect that Marie said
TO me, Madame remembers the hair
dresser is waiting? 'Madamev Excellent
girl; ] have not forgotten it.
81 found it impossible to cat anything;
my throat was parched, and felt shud-
ders Of impatience all over me-somc-
thing like the sensation one experiences
when one is very thirsty, and is waiting
for the sugar in the eau Sucre to me t.
The marriage or Clemcntine fitted
through my mind; the sound of the or
gan pealed on my ears all the time ! was
being dressed. The hair-dresser, who
also called me Madame executed Il
coillure so happily that remember say
ing to myself, This augurs well; this
coitfurc is a good omen ] checked
Marie, who wanted to lace my stays
tighter than usual. was aware that
white makes one look stonter, and that
Marie was not wrong; still [ was afraid of
its driving the blood to the head, and |
have always had horror ID brides look
ing as if they had just risen from table.
Religious emotions should be too pro-
found to betray themselves otherwise
than by pator. 1t is stupid to blua, un-
der particular circumstances.
when | was dressed passed into the
salon, 50 as TO have more room to walk
my skirt about little. Papa and Con
tran were already there, convcrsing
respecting the correct attire for mar
riage ceremony, and Gontran frankly
declared that he preferred the English
frock-coat to our evening dress, though he
dared not be the first to inaugurate such
Il revolution in fashion. 1t would appear
that the newspapers had quite a long
controversy on the subject a short time
back. As entered, papa remarked that
he hoped the carriages would soon arrive.
"'Oh they will be here very shortly,
replied Gontram, L drove round in my
brougham.'
"'Wha about the ''Salatoris?'--you
charge yourself with everything-and
the piece de mariage%
"1 have the ring all right; but, good
gracious, whatever have ! done with my
billet lie confession, Oh, | recollect; !
put it away in my cigar-case, etc
"The both spoke very fast, gesticulat-
ing, like people who are up to their eyes
in business. Gontran, on perceiving me
advanced and kissed my hand; and while
| the femmes de chambre, squatted on the
ground around me, We're smoothing my
skirt, and the hair-dresser was shortening
the tulle of my veil, he said to me in q
hoarsc voice:
"'You look charming, chere anie.'
| He did not at all think of what he
was saying, and ! answered, equally me-
chanically,
"Do you think SO? Don't make the
veil too short, Monsieur SyIvarin; and
Marie, do not forget the bow of the cor
sage
"Whcn one has to see to everything Oh
an occasion like this one needs more
than all ones presence of mind.
81 remembered Gontran's hoarseness
and said to myself:
/ "'Surely, he must have Il cold; it il
levidcnt he has had his hair cut too
short
cat this moment papa spoke to hin
on the subject, and he admitted every
thing, and with a slightly embarrassed
smile asked papa to lend him an extr:
northumberland
at was very silly of me, but ] fel
vexed; and | remember in descending
the staircase, with the skirt Of my dres
held up behind me, saying to myself:
| 81 hope to goodness Gontran viii
never have the indiscretion to sneeze un
der the canopy
ave entered the carriage. | felt tina
every one was looking at me, as | saw il
the street beyond the porte cochere quit
q crowd of people. What | felt is i'm
possible to describe, bnt it was something
| JoI;.;o,,o - 7 op,lnu Snaiaty