The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1881-09-30

sinks half-fainting-not Into my arms.
but into those II DR.. James brooke.
who he's most opportunity come upon
the scene. In speochless astonishment
he gazcs a me. but he TOO seems IS II
he were going 70 repeat Neliy's pro
cedure IS he giances AZ the picture.
4 For heaven sake. Regy." says Jim
IN . h0arse voice. "cover that picture
up!'
Nelly opened her eyes In . moment
or two. which seemed 10 me like an
age. Jim had employed the interval
IN a fashion not unfamiliar TO lovers.
believe. And when she did open her
eyes, Il was 20 clasp Jim round the
neck, and her words were few but de-
cided: Jim. dear. can never. never
marry that man! 1 will do whatever
you wish me TO. But Oh! they have
tried me so!''
What Is il in my picture that has 50
perturbed the lovers, and brought Nelly
Spalding 70 her senses? Simply the
interior Of the old church once again.
A ray Of sunlight streaming through q
chink IN the stained window falls on
the sad. pale, fearful face Of newly
made bride. The brides face Is Mel.
| ly's own; and the pompous bridegroom
! Is josiah Blagden, the artistic treatment
Of whose white waistcoat and chain has
cost me no end Of pains. Behind bride
and bridegroom come the figures OF Mr..
and Mrs. Spalding; and in the dim dis
lance the vicar Is seen still standing
within the altar rails. Bit the central
/ figure after the bride herself is the
young man. pale, motionless as q statue,
who stands in pew and whose ashv
gaze is fixed on the bride. The faceof
the man il the pew is that OF James
Brooke. The picture tells itsown story
to Nelly Spalding. II PLACES the posi-
| bility Of the future before her eyes as
1 she has never dared TO picture It 70 her
self. II reflects in al its naked truth
1 the fate 10 which through her indccis.
/ ion she may commit herself and Jim.
\ And it tells its story 50 well that art
| conquers diplomacy in decision aud
aids love in its triumph over the great
Josiah himself.
Footsteps on the stairs. cover the
picture again. Nelly stands beside DIR.
Brooke; her cheek is pale. and there
are tears like dewdrops glistening in
her eyes. The iron-master looms in
\ the doorway. He takes in the matter
at glance and frowns darkly Al Jim
and me.
AS soon as Mr.. and Mrs. Spalding.
who closely followed Josiah. have en-
tered the room. Nelly. 70 my surprise,
walks quickly up to her father and
I takes his hand ssFather.~' said she.
with atremulous yet decisive tone. ''you
know the message you brought me
from Mr.. Blagden this morning? Give
him nv answer now. Tell him that 1
am going 70 marry DR.. Brooke
Now. il 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 a word for
him with Nelly. But as Il was he de-
stroyed his own case at blow.
ssMessage from me?--and this is nv
answerr' he said, in an angry voice.
s.Why. care nowt--n0,rf," he repeat
ed, bitterly, about the matter.
guess il was the lass's father and moth
cr that wanted to marry Josiah Blag-
den's money perhaps they wanted
some Of il for themselves"
The rudeness and vulgarity 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 1t 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. Is it was
she who had Unanswered the matter
thus far. Mr.. Spalding on the other
hand. burst into joyful laugh. and
taking his daughters hand. placed il
in that Of the doctor.
After all had left the studio but Mr..
Spalding. the latter asked me 20 tell
him Ia plain terms how / had brought
this about--for he had no doubt / was
al the bottom Of t. uncovered the
picture. which Mr.. Spalding simple,
easy-minded gentleman that he was ~
scrutinized with his double cye-glass.
rcmarking to me that he did not quite
understand II At all. but that II was
wonderfully clever, and that Josiah's
weskit was as like as life.
In six weeks thereafter ofiiciated as
best man. At Jim's marriage As the
organist pealcd forth the jubilant
strains Of Mcndelssohn. after the VIC
ar's benediction had been given, and
Nelly, radiant and beautiful, passed
down the aisle on her husbands 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 lis distinctive peculiarities.
This Is the romance which. as told
you AZ the outset. hangs round the pict-
ure which IN the Academy catalogue
was numbered "329--A Wedding
( March. 49, Chambers Journal.
------p -e--
A c;u,nln and nouriehino nudi;ur