St. Landry democrat., 1881-10-01

but into those of DR.. James Brooke,
who has most opportunity come upon
the scene. In SDeechlesS establishment
he gazes at me, but he too seems rs if
he were going to repeat Neliys pro-
cedure as he gEances at the picture
For heaven sake, Regy." says jim
in hoarse voice. "cover that picture
up
Nelly opened her eyes in moment
or two, which seemed to me like an
age. jim had employed the interval
in Il fashion not unfamiliar to lovers,
believe. And when she did open her
eyes, it was to clasp jim round the
neck, and her words were few but de-
cided: jim, dear. can never, neve:
marry that man. I will do whatever
you wish me to. But oh. they have
tried me sou
What is it in my picture that has so
perturbed the lovers, and brought Nelly
Spalding to her senses? Simply the
interior of the Old church once again.
ray OF sunlight streaming through a
chink in the stained window falls on
the sal, pale, fearful face OF q newly
made bride. The brides face is Mel
ly's own; and the pompous bridegroom
is Josiah Blagden, the artistic treatment
OF whose white Walstcoat and chain has
cost me no end of pains. Behind bride
and bridegroom come the figures OF Mr..
and Mrs. Spaldng; and in the dim dis
lance the vicar is seen still stand ne
within the altar rails. But the central
figure after the bride herself IS the
young man, pale, motionlesS as a statue.
who stands in a pew and whose ASH
gaze is liked on the bride. The face ii
the man in the pew is that OF LANES
Brooke. The picture tells its own story
to Nelly SpaIding. J pla .es the posi-
biiity of the future before her ewes as
she has never dared to picture it to hrr-
self. 1t reflects in all its naked truth
the fate to which through her iniecs.
ion she may commit herself and Jifu.
And 1t tells its storr SO well that art
conquers diplomacy il decision and
aids love in its triumph over the great
Josiah himself
picture again. Nelly stands beside Dr..
Brooke; her cheek is pale. and there
are tears like devdrops gtistening in
her eyes. The iron-master looms IN
the doorway. He takes in the matte,
at glance and frowns darkly at j;Il
and me.
AS soon as Mr.. and Mrs. Spa1d;ng,
who closely followed Josiah, have en-
tered the room, Nelly, to my surprise,
walks quickly up to her father and
takes his hand. "Father.' said she.
with tremulous vet decisive tone, "vou
know the message you brought me
from Mr.. Blagden this morning? Give
him my answer now. Tell him that
am going to marry DIR. Brooke"
Now, it is my opinion that, had the
discarded Josiah at this moment held
his tongue, he might have got both Mr..
and Mrs. Spalding to speak word for
him with Nelly. But as it was he de-
stroyed his own case at a blow.
"Messare from me?-and this is nv
answer he said, in an angry voice.
"Why, | care nowt-nout.n he repeat
ed. bitterly, "about the matter.
guess it was the lass's father and moth
er that wanted to marry Josiah Blag-
den's money-perhaps they wanted
some OF it for themselves.
The rudeness and ulgaritv which
marked the man came out unmistak-
ably as he said these words; and, tax
ing his sisters arm in his, and casting
look of vindictive scorn at the doctor
and myself, he walked out at the door
with an ungainly strut which was
meant for dignity; and we saw the
great Josiah no more.
Mrs. Spalding was especially cut up
by the parting ding of Josiah, as it was
she who had unanswered the matter
thus far. Mr.. Spalding. on the other
hand, burst into a joyful laugh, and
taking his daughters hand, placed it
in that of the doctor.
After all had left the studio but Mr..
Spalding, the latter asked me to tell
him in plain terms how | had brought
this about-for he had no doubt was
at the bottom of it. | uncovered the
picture, which Mr.. Spalding-simple,
easy-minded gentleman that he was
serutinized with his double eye-glass,
to me that he did not quite
it at all, but that it was
wonderfully clever, and that Josiah's
g wesait was as like as life
In SIX weeks thereafter oi1lclated as
-" best man. at Jim's marriage. AS the
pealed forth the jubilant
strains of Mendelssohn, after the vic
ans benediction had been given, and
Nelly. radiant and beautiful, passed
down the aisle on her husband 5 arm,
could not help rejoicing in the success
Of what is now No. 329--A Wedding
March, though the faces in the picture
as exhibited are slightly disguised, and
Mr.. Josiah's vest has been shorn of
certain of its distinctive peculiarities.
This is the romance which, as / told
you at the outset, hangs round the pict-
are which in the Academy catalogue
was numbered "329-A Wedding
March. "--Clanabers' Journal.
"A simple and nourishing pudding
no r,,aIo in tI,.- To-