Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-04-23
COMMERCIAL EPISODE
BY h. H. .

A sound of revelry, but moi by night.
The clock has Just struck -. and the
san is shining vertically upon the pre-
tentous roof that houses Mr.. Hum
Phrey Davidson and family. Beneath
that roof are now complete the extensive
preparations for the marriage ceremony
that is to make the only daughter of the
house Mrs. Thomas Winfield. The
parlor is full of guests; the perfume of
an elaborate floral decoration peryades
everything; and from certain Quarters
OF the establishment proceed the savorv
odors of spread feast; for the wedding
is to be an event.
Upstairs, in the downy environment
OF. her own apartment, stands the pivot
of the occasion in bridal array. The
toilet is marvel in its way; frail
embodiment of monumental expense
and labor, as such things are apt to be,
but petite Miss Alice is so beautiful in
it that only churl could bewail either
expense or labor in the presence of such
result. She is surrounded by bevy
OF admiring friends of the same sex.
who chatter necessarily, and manifest
their anxious interest by sundrv little
touches here and there upon veil or
drapery, for the groom has not yet ar.
rived.
Presently it is quarter past the
hour and he has not come vet. but no
account is taken of this circumstances.
for who ever heard of a wedding
being celebrated with anything like pre-
cision in regard to time.
Uncle Peyton pauses at the door to
remark in a jocular vein that this "seems
to be one of the occasions when we
finger shivering on the brink and fear
to launch away, :" and to deliver himself
OF numerous malign prophecies that are
fatty contradicted by the look of
affectionate interest and unqualified adj
miration in his eyes.
Another quarter slips away. It is now
half-past II and still the delinquent
does not appear. Up the broad stair
way comes the murmur of impatient
expectancy and the face under the filmy
white veil wears shade of vexation.
When 1t was nearly l o'clock Mr.. David
son comes to the door and softly calls his
wife. In the hall outside they hold a
consultation, and Alice with alert eyes
upon their faces, divines that something
is wrong. In moment she has separaf
ed the crowd about Der like an arrow.
and is before them demanding the latest
intelligence, whatever it may be. SIT is
postponed, my dear" says her mother.
choking.
'That's it, my dear - postponed, u
echoes her father as he stands absentiy
twirling a crumpled note around his
finger.
Alice sees the note, and before he can
prevent her, has taken it. She opens it
with breathless eagerness. 1t is soon
read, and runs thus:
II can't do it, uncle-not for twice your fort
une. l have seen her and wonder that YOU
could ever ask It OF me. Do as you please with
tho money. I'm of. Your affectionate
nephew, T. W."
1t is malicious, inhuman, crushing,
Why did he wait until this moment;
She turns back to the room with q white
face, throws herself upon the lounge in
reckless disregard of flowers and perish.
able CONNECTIONS. and lies there with her
face buried III the pillow in an agony Of
humiliation. -. -..,.. 80.
By-and.by the situation is oommuni.
Gated to the assembled friends, who taxi
their leave, marveling greatly, and ge
home to speculate for days with create,
or less accuracy upon all that has moi
been given them to know. .-,
Where few hours ago there wa.
laughter, congratulation and anticipa
ton, all is now sorrow, Indignation and
resentment. There is mocke1y in xtbt
flowers scattered everywhere, and bitter
intolerable remembrance in the odor o
baked meats. I'll &&5## ~
The afternoon passes, and still Alic,
lies with her face among the pillows
thinking how it must all come out final
~; how everybody will know about tina
brutal note, and how they will pity her
She wishes she might die now, SO tina
the time would never come for her *
lift up her head and face the world, will
it's knowledge Of this dreadful affair ani
it's soul-sickening commiseration. On
thought is always uppermost-toAy from
the scene of her humiliation and the of.
ficious sympathy of her friends. Fila
ties, luxurious surroundings, the periis
and hardships of flight, every considers
ton whatsoever dwindles into invisibili
ty In the presence of this great indigni
IT,. Her mother comes and sits by her
and after several hours of remonstranct
and persuasion induces her to go to bed
but when she comes in tho morning hop
ing to see her somewhat soothed sh<
finds only an empty room and hast1
note.
-s-' y