Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-12-18
THE DIAMOND RING.
BY MINNIE IRVING.
New York Murcury.

New York Murcury.
High up la the old church tower
TIE bell went swinging to and fro fol
a wedding. Not Merrlly, with rapid,
joyful 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- with a deep pro
pbetic note, as If the dust from the
grave below was so thickly settled
upon it as to mufHe the sound of It's
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 that 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, "
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 bIidegroom's family, retained its
wonted aspect; before it's 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 slumoered
his kin-he had only ears for the
marriage service, only eyes for the
beauty of his bride, as he knelt by
her side aC the altar The long shafts
of sunlight streaming through a rich
memorial window where the risen
Christ stood, flung the purple light of
his mantle GA her fair head and the
crimson of his robe on the white
flowers at her breast, until a fanciful
observer might have shuddered TO
see them spIashed 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 oHt of the church, the bride
blushing under her veil at the admir-
ing chances of the villagers, and
walking with her slim, white hand
still uhgloved from the ceremony, GA
the brldegroom's 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
Ized all the modesty of maidenhOOd,
with her down cast eyes and her
bushes, and all the gentleness of !
as she stepped lightly, |
with care that she might not crush |
,he bouquets and garlands, the spolls |
1f many cottage garden, which the
choir girls had strewn before her on
ler way to the church.
The clear voice of the maids, and |
.ne graver, but less pleasant tones of |
he matrons, grew fainter In the dis |
ance, the sexton locked the church |
md went slowly after them, a de-
,reptive old figure in rusty black,
with eyes bent earthward, as if the
labit of looking into deep graves was
always with hlm-a strong contrast |
% the erect, broad shouldered bride
groom The doves flew and perc1ed
;ooing in the tower windows. whence
he changing of the bell had startled
hem; the lark dropped down to it's
nest IN the adjacent meadow; the
shadows of the tall trees on either
tide of the path met, and lay directly
lpon it; the flowers that made bright
he way for the feet of the bride began
% wither, and it was high noon of the
summer day.