St. Landry democrat., 1882-08-12
VERY ROMANTIC.
Married Without bridesmaids and Had
Two Wedding Days.

Two "eOuInS Ddyss
Everything had been duly and prop
erly arranged for our wedding. The
engagement of Miss Nell BARLEY to Mr..
Bertram Langley had been duly an
nounced in the fashion column of a
leading society journal, and the we'd
ding day had arrived.
! am Bertram Langley-commonly
called Bert-and, while [ confess to be
most sincerely and entirely in love with
my little Nell, | must add had been
quite annoyed about our marriage, first
at the persistence with which she insist
ed upon grand wedding,
l hate fuss and parade, and have an
old-time notion that marriage re-
zhearsed giddily and eventually sol
emnized before a crowd Of gossiping,
gaping people, is robbed of all its sweet
purity. Then, too, the trousseau! The
whole business is a nuisance! Excuse
the big word, but my feelings are strong
on that point. What on earth a woman
wants of clothes enough to last five
years, and gew-gaws more than she can
ever hope to use, never could see; un-
less. indeed, she entertains horrible
suspicion that the new firm may refuse
to furnish fresh supply.
It's all right. suppose, since they all
do SO, but it was trying time for me, I
can tell you. | could scarcely get a
glimpse Of Nell, she was so busy with
dressmakers, milliners, etc.; and when
did see her she was in such rafting
hurry to be off to keep an appointment
with some workwoman or other, that I
actually grew a little savage.
For month before we were to be
married I believe never entered the
house once but Kate, Nelrs sister,
rushed into the room with an :
Excuse me, Bert, but Nell is want
ed a moment Or, ''Dont look cross,
Bert, but Nellie must see Madame This
or That" till lost all patience. -
There was another cause of annoy
ance, too Nell fatherwas rich man,
and as able as he was willing to furnish
might desire, while |, on the contrary,
was a man with his way to still make in
the world. i"% j. tGIiT "t e5t@
True, | had a. fair income and fair
prospects, but could not hope to give
to Nell as luxurious home or as elabor-
ate wardrobe as her papa provided, at
least not for some years; but l could
afford to support a wife, and | loved
Nell with alt my heart. ~ 81 .%
When | asked Mr.. Bartley's consent
to our marriage, he was at first just a
little inclined to find fault with my
financial condition. An older man, with
a well secured fortune, would have
suited him better. He had a most un-
wholesome dread of fortune hunters,
and even went so far as to have a mild
suspicion that might be just a bit in
terested in that way; but all that wore
: off in time, and we were on the best of
only mention this to show how
suspicion once entertained will return
on the faintest invitation, and not un-
frequently on none at all; for the time
came when Mr. Barley not only enter
tanned this unjust stirnlise, but eagerly
hupged this foul thought ito his heart,
and grew murderous in that vital organ
toward me--Be Bertram Langley las inno-
~cent man as ever stepped. VII
The day before the one fixed for our
marriage Nell and had our first tiff. |
called to inform her OF the smallest
possible hitch in the church machinery.
The regular sexton was obliged to leave
town. but had secured the services of
his brother "a very deaf and stupid man,
as it turned out). Possibly she might
have some instructions to give him.
I waited full half an hour in the re-
ception room, cooling my heels and
warming my wrath, before Nell rushed
in.
"What is it, Bert?" she asked, breath
lessly. II am awful busy!"
"A spark is enough to ignite q whole