St. Landry democrat., 1884-03-29
"A COMMERCIAL EPISODE.

A sound of reYelry, but not by night.
The clock has just struck twelve. and
the sun is shining vertically upon the
pretentious roof that houses Mr..
Humphrey Dawson and family. Be-
meath 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 dec
grafton pervades everything; and from
certain quarters of the establishment
proceed the savory odors of a 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 q marvel in its way; frail en-
bodiment 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 ex-
pense or labor in the presence of such a
result. She is surrounded by bevy of
admiring friends Of the same sex, who
chatter necessarily, and manifest their
anxious interest by sundry little touches
here and there upon veil or drapery, for
the groom has not yet arrived.
Presently it is quarter past the hour
and he has not come yet, butno account
is taken of this circumstance, for who
ever heard of wedding being cele-
brated with anything Ike percision in
regard to time?
Uncle Peyton pauses at the door to
remark in jocular vein that this ssseems
to be one of the occasions when we
Ginger shivering on the brink and fear
to launch away, I" and to deliver him.
self OF numerous malign prophecies that
are fatty eontradicted by the look of af-
fectionate interest and unqualified adj
miration in his eyes.
Another quarter slips away. 1t is
now half-past twelve and still the delin-
quent does not appear. Up the broad
stairway comes the murmur of impa-
tient expectancy, and the face under
the filmy white veil wears shade of
yexation. When it is nearly one o clock |
Mr.. Dawson comes to the door and
softly calls his wife, In the hall out
side they hold consultation, and
Alice, with alert eyes upon their faces,
divines that something is wrong. In q |
moment she has separated the crowd +
about her like an arrow. and is before
them demanding the latest intelligence,
whatever it may be. 1T is postponed,
my dear, says her mother, choking.
That's it, my dear postponed, 2
echoes her father, as he stands absently
twirling a crumpled note around his
finger.
Alice sees the note, and before he can
prevent her, has taken ii. She opens it
with breathless eagsrness. 1t is soon
read, and runs thus:
Il cant do il. uncle-not for twice your
fortune: have seen her, and wonder that
you could ever ask it of me. Doas you please
with the money I'm of. Your aifectionate
nephew, T. W."
1t is malicious, inhuman, crushing.
Why did he wait until this moments?
She turns back to the room with white
face, throws herself upon the lounge in
reckless disregard Of flowers and per-
ishable CONNECTIONS. and lies there with
her face buried in the pillow in an
agony Of humiliation.
Bye-and-bye the situation is commu-
nicated to the assembled friends. who
take their leave, marveling greatly, and
60 home to speculate Tor DAYS with
greater or less accuracy upon all that
has no been given them to know
ITaere q few hours ago there was
laughter, congratulate on and ant;cipa-
lion, All is now sorrow indignation and |