Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-04-23
She had made the usual preparations

She had made the usual preparations
Her dressing room was strewn with snowy
! lace, silk and musllns; the bridesmaids for
the occasion v ere being duly drilled and
otherwise so ready for their part in the
approaching ceremony. The wedding
morning came.
Forth FROM her chamber floate1 the bride
clad in flowing snow, and surrounded by
her bridesmaids, like the queen rose in the
garden Of blossoms; forth stepped the
bridegroom, handsome. graceful, light of
heart and exuItant- Penelope let him
take her hand and lead her forward, with
out lifting her eyes till they stood at the
very altar steps. Then, suddenly, she
looked up, first at him, then at tue assem-
bled guests, and drawing her hand from
him, she said with slow, deliberate enuncl-
alton:
II cannot do it,. Better poverty. better
marriage IS this have changed my mind.
Good friends, tits a pity to disappont you,
but there will be no wedding to- day."
So saying, she glided through the aston
ished groups and left them staring breath
lessly after her.
The luckless bridegroom knew not what
to say. or to do, or where to look. He was
taken at a disadvantages; wounded full
sore at a point where, being tender, but
unsuspicious he had not sufficiently guar
ded himself Was it the modification. the
slight, the being so publicly rejected by so
lovely girl as Pen Bradshawe ? Or did
his very inmost heart quail with fear at
the thought of losing, after all, a woman
who. with all her coquettish frivolousness,
was worth more to him than all other wo-
wen together--than twenty fortunes like
shat one she forfeited to him by refusing
to become his wife?
Certainly Give Soulard's handsome face
had suddenly taken the hue of death. and
his voice was unsteady, as he tried to muir
muir something that sounded like a con-
fused apology or explanation Of this
strange contretcmps.
The guests fell into little whispering
knots. the clergyman who was to have
officiated looked COMPOUNDED, aud the bril-
DIAL attendants stole half-frightened, curl
ous chances at Give Soulard who, with
his eyes downcast, his whole appearance
expressive of the agitated conflict going
on within him, stood struggling vainly to
recall his self-posses=ion.
Presently he drew nearer the clergyman,
said something inaudible to others, and
with half-deprecators glance left the
room. In stupefaction scarcely less than
his, Penelope had managed somehow to
| reach her own chamber again. and was sit
| ting amid the chaotic array Of bridal gear
that strewed the room, when timid knock
sounded at her door. All her energies raj
| lied at the sound.
| Pausing deliberately to rouge her white
cheeks. she waited for second knock, and
opened the door. It was Soulard himself
who stood there, pallid yet resolute. aQita-
ted but determined. Fire. seemed to flash
from his handsome eyes as they met hers;
his nostrils quivered and dilated. He
looked his true self-manly, not easily
haff1ed this time.
It was on PENS lips to say. in the assur-
ance OF the triumph she felt to be hers:
|"Oh. it is you, IS ?'' but, instead. she
caught at the door unsteadily, and said:
"Oh, 9 live. Clive!"
''Do you love me, Pen? That is what I
| came for-what I will know
"You haven't any rightto ask me. Give,
after-after all you've said and done to
make ME think you didn't care a straw for
me or ANYTHING but the money!" said Pen,
falteringly.
81 was foolish, trying to pay off old
scores, that's all. l love you better than
my life, Pen. If you're not going to share
it with me I'll make bonfire of Uncle
Reese's fortune and shoot myself after
ward. Will you come now"
Perhaps that particular bevy of wed
ding guests waiting below never expert
enced profounder sensation than when
the drawing-room door opened again and
Mr.. Give Soulard marched in with the
lcok Of a conqueriny hero. conducting
Pen Bradshawe. bIushing. smiling and
fearful, but evidently glad and willing.
They walked straight to the old place,
the minister managed to keep his senses
under the most trying circumstances, the
words were said-the twain made one, and
if one might Judge from the expression OF
the eye and count enance, two happier peo
pie than these never wore matrimonial
chains.