Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-10-07

ing through chink in the stained window
falls on the sad, pale, fearful face of newly
made bride. The brides face is Nellie's own
and the pompous bridegroom is Josiah Blag
den, the artistic treatment Of whose white
waistcoat and chain had cost me no end o
pains. Behind bride and bridegroom come
the figures of Mr. and Mrs. Spalding; and il
the dim distance the vicar is seen, still stand
ing within the altar rails. But the central fig
ure, after the bride herself, is the young man
pale and motionless as statue, who stands il
pew and whose ashy gaze is fixed on the
bride. The face of the man in the pew j,
that of James Brooke. The picture tells its
own story to Nellie Spalding. II places the
possibility of the future before her eyes as
she had never dared to picture it to herself
1t reveals in all its naked truth the fate tc
which, through her indecision, she may com
NIT herself and jim. And it tells its story SO
well that art conquers diplomacy and indeci.
sion, and aids love in its triumph over the
great Josiah himself
Footsteps on the stairs. I cover the picture
again. Nellie stands beside DR.. Brooke her
cheek is pale, and there are tears like dew.
drops glistening in her eyes. The ironnIaster
looms up in the doorway He takes in the
situation at glance, and frowns darkly at
Jim and me.
As soon as Mr. and Mrs Spalding, who fol-
low Josiah closely, have entered the room,
Nellie, TO my surprise, walks quickly up to
her father and takes his hand.
Father" said she, in tremulous yet de-
cisive voice, 'you 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 discard
ed Josiah at this moment held his tongue he
might have got both Mr.. and Mrs. Spaldng
to speak word for him with Nellie. But as
it was he destroyed his own case at blow.
Message from me ?-and this is my an
swer!" he said in an angry voice. why, l
care nowt-nowt, he repeated bitterly. 'about
the matter. guess it was the lass's father
and mother that wanted to marry Josiah Blag
den's money-perhaps they wanted some of
it for themselves"
The rudeness and vulgarity which marked
the man came out unmistakably as he said
these words He took his sisters arm in his,
and casting look of vindictive scorn at the
doctor and myself, walked out of the room
with an ungainly strut which was meant for
dignity; and we saw the great Josiah no
more.
Mrs. Spalding was especially cut up by Jo-
siah's parting fling, as it was she who had
mannuvered the matter thus far. Mr.. Spald-
ing, on the other hand, burst into a iovial
laugh, and, taking his daughters hand, placed
it in that of the doctor.
After all had left the studio but Mr. Spald-
ing he asked me to tell him in plain terms
how had brought this about-for he had no
doubt l was at the bottom Of it. uncovered
the picture, which Mr.. Spaldng-simple, easy
minded gentleman that he was-scrutinized
with his double eye.glass, remarking to me
that he did not quite understand it all, but
that it was wonderfully clever, and that Jo-
siah's "weskit was as natural as life"
In six weeks thereafter / officiated as "best
man" at Jims wedding. AS the organ pealed
forth the jubiant strains o: Mendelssohn, af-
ter the Wears benediction had been given, and
Nellie, radiant aud beautiful, passed down the
aisle on her husbands arm, / could not help
rejoicing in the success of what is now mo
329-A Wedding March, though the faces in
the picture as exhibited are slightly disguised,
and Mr.. Josahs vest has been shorn of GER
tain OF its distinctive peculisrities.
That is the romance which, as l told you at
the outset, hangs around the picture which in
the Academy catalogue was numbered 1929
A Wedding March. - Chambers Journal.