Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-12-18
THE DIAMOND RING.
BY MINNIE IRVING.
New York Murcury,

New ork Murcury,
High up in the old church tower
the bell went swinging to and fro for
wedding. Not Merrlly, with rapid,
ioyful strokes, as bells should ring
that make music for the step of a
bridegroom Fastening to his bride -
it had tolled so often to the slow step
of mourners-but with a deep pro
pbetic note, as If the dust from the
grave below was so thickly settled
upon it as to mufhs the sound of its
IRON tongue.
But if the bell could not forget the
habit of lamentation, nor what lay
below in the shadow of its tower, it
was the only thing on thet summer
morning that remembered, for the
mild blue skies were cloudless, the
sunny cottage gardens gay with
flowers, and the whole country side
out in holiday attire. Even the
graves spoke only of rest and peace, F"
as the dew drops blazed like scattered
Jewels in the long grass above them,
and the wild roses, clasped the lichen-
ed head stones and massive monu-
ments, let their loose pink petals fall
with every little breeze upon them.
Only the grim vault that bore above
It's granite portal the coat of arms of
the bridegroom's family, retained its
wonted aspect; before its penderous
door the dew lay cold, though up
springing somewhere near it a lark
mounted singing IN the sunlight.
But little thought had the bride
groom for the vault where slumbered
his kin-he had only ears for the
marriage service, only eyes for the
beauty of his bride, as he knelt by
her side at the altar. The long shafts
of sunlight streaming through rich
memorial window where the risen
Christ stood, flung the purple light OF
his mantle on her fair head and the
crimson of his robe on the white
flowers at her breast, until fanciful
observer might have shuddered to
see them splashed with blood.
The bell had ceased to reYerberate
through the tower, the choir OF sweet
voiced village girls in their neat PINK
frocks and broad brimmed hats, had
ceased to sing, and the bridal party
moved oat of the church, the bride
blushing under her veil at the admir-
ing glances of the villagers, and
walking with her slim, white hand
still usgloved from the ceremony, GA
the brldegrooms arm-the band on
which sparkled the diamond ring, the
same which all the elder sons of the
house of Bruce for many generations
had placed at bethrotal upon the hands
of the fair ladies they had selected to
bear that ancient name. None had
been fairer than Margaret, who real
lied all the modesty of maidenhood,
with her down cast eyes and her
bushes, and all the gentleness of
womanhood, as she stepped lightly,
with care that she might not crush
the bouquets and garlands, the spolls
of many a cottage garden, which the
choir girls had strewn before her on
her way to the church.
The clear voice of the maids, and
the graver, but less pleasant tones OF
the matrons, grew fainter IN the as
lance, the sexton locked the church
and went slowly after them, a de-
creptiye old figure in rusty black,
with eyes bent earthward, as if the
habit of looking into deep graves was
always with him-a strong contrast
to the erect, broad shouldered BRIDE
groom. The doves flew and percned
cooling in the tower windows, whence
the changing of the bell had startled
them; the lark dropped down to It's
nest In the adjacent meadow; the
shadows of the tall trees on elther
side of the path met, and lay directly
upon it: the flowers that made bright
the way for the feet of the bride began
to wither, and it was high noon OF the
summer day.