The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-04-07

Tillie Kerr had been to visit the farmhouse.
hard, hard day it was for jamie when she
came with her black silk dress with its fan
shaped train, and plumed Rubens hat, and
white blonde scarf wrapped like fringe of sea-
loan around her neck, TO criticise and find
fault, and stare in curious, listless way at the
rooms, which had been Janie's pride and care
so long.
This hall is so ridiculously narrow" said
the bride elect; land the idea of such funny
little winding stairs Why, they make me
think Of a cork-screw "
John Marden looked down the stair. case,
down which he had been carried when a baby.
1t had never struck him as being incongruous
before.
"And Of course" ratified on Miss Kerr.
''you will have the partition between these
two rooms taken down, and an archway put
upW
"Of course" echoed Squire Marden.
But he didn't know why he said 1t. Janie
was looking on, and there was panied look
in her face. She was thinking OF how poor
Mays corpse crowned with white flowers
had lain there so short time ago ; how the
dear old mother whose memory LAME still
tenderly revered, died in the sunny back
room, just when the March snowdrops we're
bursting through the frozen ground.
Though don't know" added the bride,
playing with the ivory of her carved parasol,
but that it would really be cheaper in the end
to pull the whole thing down and build some
thing TO suit ones self exactly"
The house is over hundred years old"
said Squire Marden. gravely. "1'here is no
other house in the country so old"
"Oh horrid" cried Matilda with a little
theatrical cry. "The idea Of living in house
that is-a hundred years oldl''
And abe lauohaI aAI
her jet chains sparkling, her presence leay-
ing faint perfume behind her of patchouly;
and jamie had secretly felt that il she saw
much more OF Miss Kerr she should learn to
hate her cordially.
The wedding evening came, and the coun-
try people, high and low, were invited TO par
ticipate in the festivities
Mrs. Walters from whose house the
bridal pair was to be celebrated had done
her best to give her friend what she called
"a tp-top wedding" The village band
was engaged; the walls were decked with
autumn leaves, scarlet berries, and ever
greens; the wedding cake was mountain
OF snowy PROJECTIONS. and the old CLERGYMAN.
IN his robe stood waiting at the door, when
Mrs. Walters came hurredly in with a pale
frightened face to where the bridegroom
stood, stalwart and handsome with his ''best
man" at his side.
There is no use hiding matters any
longer" said she, historically. "Tillie has
gone Gone with Captain Swedenbore
She went riding with him this afternoon, and
| made sure she'd come back. But she
hasn't and here is the telegram from New
York. Read it, some one. l haven't the
face to do it,"
Judge Toucy, who stood aext to her, put on
his spectacles and leisurely perused the tele-
gram; "Good-by everybody " it said
saucily. al am married to Captain Sweden
borg, aud sail for Europe at noon tomorrow.
Every woman has a right to change her mind,
and have changed mine.
"TILLIE SwEDENBoRG."
There was a brief silence of a second or
two, and then Squire Marden spoke out.
Changed her mind, has she ?" he said in
a clear ringing voice. "Well, | haven't
changed my mind, CAME here to be married,
and married intend to be If it is not to be
one bride, it shall be another.
Little jamie" to the pale girl in the dove
colored silk dress who stood at his side, Twill
you take the place in my love and my home
which the heartless woman has left vacant?
Will you become my wife,"
To the day of her death jamie Lee never
knew exactly what she answered. She only
knew that she was gently led to the brides
PiaCe hat squire Iohn strong hand held
hers ; and that his clear voice spoke the re-
sponses; that she murmured her share feel
in all the while as if she were in dream.
But when the ceremony was over, and the
guests crowded around to offer their coneratu-
lations, and the mist all cleared away from
heart and brain, the tranquil light came back
to her eyes.
John Maden's wife! What higher happi-
ness had life to offer TO her?
And when they were driving home, in the
soft autumnal moonlight, she looked up visit
fully into his face.
'John," said she, "are you sure that you do
not regret this sudden step Of yours?"
Regret it, sweethear T." he said, tenderly
pressing her hand. "Regret that have dis
covered ere it is too late, that false fair
woman's crafty nature? Regret that have
found my sweet guardian angel at last9,I