Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1882-10-20

TWICE WOOED.

! llcTc ~ is ulnOsI SIN oCiuCk huu WI.
Vanc will be dreadfully impatient. Try
and bring IA little life into your face
you do not appear as happy bride
/ should "
Il am most unhappy one" re-
piled drcarily. "Oh. mamma, cannot
this farce he stopped What is poverty
to such shame as this | feel 7"
"You foolish, foolish girl After all
the trouble | have taken to bring about
this fortunate match, you are mad to
talk So. Here comes your bridegroom
greet hin, properly"
Mamma had no time for further ad-
monition, so the bridegroom and attend
ants entered.
"My dear, it is almost time to go
down" said Royal Vanc, bending his
dark, penetrating eyes upon my poor
pale face, in II way | felt II did not
meet his gaze.
Silently | took his offered arm and
went slowly down stairs into the brill
liantly lighted room, where the minister
awaited US.
Oh, such utter silence prevailed
Only the grave tones of the minister
as he repeated the beautiful, solemn
ceremony, could be heard.
At last he came TO the question,
"Will you take this man." etc.
heard it all too plainly,
saw my naughty mothers anxious
face paling at my silence, and the sur
prise growing on many, many faces, but
could not speak lie.
II knew the dark eyes of my almost
husband were upon me. regarding me
in panied astonishment.
Oh, it was pitiful, awful silence,
broken at last by rcsistless power |
could not thwart.
mo, no." | pleaded, raising my eyes
to Royal Vanes white sorrowful face.
do not love you. | cannot be your
wife Oh, how wicked, how weak |
have been not to have told you sooner !"
Then, turning around to mamma.
stretched out my arms.
:" Forgive me-oh, forgive me,
mamma" | cried and fell down at
her feet in dead faint.
They told me afterwards how mamma
explained that had not been WE'LL and
was, no doubt, delirious, and that it
would all be right when | recovered !;
but knew that one person would con-
slider actions caused by the delirum Of
fever-Royal Vanc had understood the
truth instantly; | read it in his white
stricken face.
"Of all the disgraceful, dreadful
scenes, wopt mamma IL little thought
that you. Tcssic. would cause me such
shame and modification.
was really i'll for several days, but
one day, when almost recovered, they
brought me card.
shuddered az | read the namc---
Vanc
"Go down." said mamma angrily,
land let him see how little fool has
dsgraced his bridal and wrecked his
hopes.
went down trcmblingly, dreading
his reproaches but need not have
been in such trepidation. IL was ono
of the calmest, kindest faces albeit care
marked and older looking, that met my
gaze.
lie came instantly forward, and in Il
quiet, steady voice asked
How is Tessie to-day p
Better" faltcred; "butso ashamed.
Oh, Mr.. Vane. try to forgive me
wanted to tell you long ago, only mamma
would not let me"
Yes, | understand that, and IL was
better even at the last moment than a
whole lifetime Of regret"
And then 80 adroitly and skIllfully he
drew from my weak armor Of subterfugc
the story Of mammals cmbarrassmonts
and need, and understood matters AZ
they really were
"Do you love any one else. Tessie I" he
inquired before we parted.
"No," ] said, mo one only US | did
not love you could not be your wife
Here is your ring"
"rhe poor little empty ring" he said
sadly, iendcrly slipping il on his watch
chain" "rhat once graced the hand Of
all the wife | shall ever know Good
bye. Tcssic, and may Heaven bless you.
And he was gone.
A week later mamma. jubilaDt and
excited came TO me.
"My dear Tcssic, you are a treasure
after all In your usual silly way you
let Royal Vanc know Of your stringent