Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-02-17
THE BRIDAL VEIL.

pretty, dark-eyed girl began to work
il, whose lover was over the sea. She
was a French girl, and came Of famil.
of lace-makers.
IN work my own wedding veil ii
nv leisure time" she said. 80, wher
Walter comes to marry me, shall be a
gay bride"
But she never finished the veil. Walter
came too soon. She married her English
lover-as poor as herself-and went with
him 10 London: and the half-fnished
veil went along, carefully folded away al
the bottom of trunk, and for the time
being quite forgotten.
/, may have been forgotten in earnest
during twelve years, for aught know
certainly it lay that long unnoticed. A
lovely little ten-year-old girl was the fairy
that broke its long sleep at last. She had
dark eyes, ike the little peasant of twelve
years ago, but Walters golden hair.
"Oh, the charming lace" she cried
clapping her hands and dancing delight
edly. as Elsie shook il out Of the folds
Dear mamma, what is it: and who
made it: and why is it but half done
Can | have it for dress for my doll
mammal
The pretty dark-eyed matron laughed
and shook her head, and half sighed. as
she pressed the delicate fabric to her lips
Then she told the child the history Of its
making
But it shall not be hidden so long
from the light again" she said tenderlyr
Il will finish it, and when the time come:
for nv little Adele to be bride, she viii
have a veil to be proud of.
Again the little taper fingers toiled
merrily and busily over the delicate lace
and fairy-like ferns and masses Of grace
full flowers grew steadily under them
Adele watched the progress of the work
with keenest interest.
"Mamma, teach me 10 work It, she
said one day. MY fingers are much
finer and timer than yours.
After that she would bring her little
work basket 10 her mothers side ano
work at veil for her doll The facility
with which she learned the graceful ar
was astonishing AT the age of fifteer
so expert was she that Elsie did not feal
to let her take part in the creation of tht
bridal veil itself, but they worked at Il
now and then as the fancy seized them
Louis Riviere was from France, like
Adele's mother-that had been bono
between them from the first-for Adele
loved her mothers country for her moth
er's sake, though she herself was PROUD
of being called English, and she alst
loved the young Frenchman-
Louis came Of noble blood, and wa.
well-to-do. He had some money-no
enough to live upon in idle luxury, bu
plenty to secure him fair start in bust
ness life. Unwilling to enter upon thi.
course in Paris, where his noble relatives
would not scruple to oppose him, he hae
chosen London as the scene of his futur'
efforts, and embarked in business as ;
merchant there
The happy weeks and months grew
into years. Adele was now seventeen
it was agreed and promised that whel
spring time came, she should be Riviere'
bride.
"We must finish the bridal veil" cries
Elsie, eagerly. Il tell you, Monsieu
Louis, no lady of your proud house eve
wore lace veil more exquisite and rich
All, shall not be proud when / look a
my beautiful child in her marriage robes
and think Of the poor peasant girl of lon
ago, who toiled at the lace to earn coars
bread so far away over the sea-"
Louis turned quickly at these words,
look of displeased surprise in his darl
eyes.
"What peasant girl, madame:" h
questioned uneasily.
Myself" she answered, happily, no
minding the look or the tone. "Wha
was l but poor little lace-maker whe
my generous young lover married me, tn
father Of Adele."
He answered nothing, and Elsie wen
merrily chattering on; but Adele note
his suddenly down-cast air and gloom
eyes. though she was far from suspectin
| the cause of either.