West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-03-21
A COMMERCIAL EPISODE.

A sound of revelry, 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 marvel in its way; a frail en-
bodiment of monumental expense and
labor, n 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 1t is quarter past the hour
and he has not come yet, but no account
Is taken of this circumstance, for who
ever heard Of n wedding being cele-
brated with anything like percision in
regard to time?
uncle GeytCn pauSes at the door to
remark in iOcular 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 him
self OF numerous malign prophecies that
are fatty contradicted by the look of af-
fectionate interest and unqualified adj
miration in his eyes.
Another quarter slips away. II il
now half-past twelve and still the delin-
quent does not appear. Up the broad
stairway comes the murmur of impa-
tent expectancy, and the face under
the tilmy white veil wears a 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
Sue they hold a consultation, and
Alice, with alert eyes upon their faces.
diyines that something is wrong. In n
moment she has separated the crowd
about her like an arrow, and is before
them demanding the latest intelligence.
whatever it may be. cit is postponed.
my dear says her mother. choking.
That's it, my dear postponed. -
echoes her father, as he stands absentlv
twrling a crumpled note around his
finger
Alice sees the note, and before he can
prevent her, has taken il. She opens II
with breathless cagsrness. 1t il soon
read, and runs thus:
~ can't do It, uncle-not for twice your
iortune have seen hrr, and ! wonder that
you could ever ask u Of mo. Doas you please
VIII me money. I'm OIL Your a6cctionltc
nephew r. W"
il is malicious, inhuman. CRUSHING.
Why did he wait until this momeut1
She turns back 90 the room with white
lace throws herself upon the lounge i'm
reckless disregard Of flowers and per
lshable CONNECTIONS. and lies there with
her face buried in the pillow in an
agony Of humiliation
Bye-and-bye the situation is commu-
nicatcd 10 the assembled friends. who
take their leave, marveling greatly. and
60 home TO speculate Tor davs with
greater or less accuracy upon ain that
mas pot been given them % know.
where few hours ago there wa.
IauGhler, congratulatIOn and ant.cipa
ton' all is now sorrow, Indignation and
resentment There is mOckrry I'm tho
flowers scattered everywhere. and La.
ter intOlerable remembrance i'm tbe
odor Of baked meats.
he afternoon passes, and still AIc,
lies with her face among the pUlovys
thinking how it must Oh come ont
finally how every body viii know aborI
chat brutal note. and how they will pit,
ner She wishes She might die now :,
That the time would never come for he,
10 lift up her head and face the world
with its knowledge Of this dreadful
affair. and ITS soul-s.ckeoing com.
m.seratiOn one thought e aIgav,
uppermost ~ hy from the scene of h.,
humiliation and the Ohicigu- svmpstb,
Of her friends FiiiaI ties. luxiriou.
surrounding the per.ls and hardship.
Of Hight. every consideration wbafso
ever dwndles into inyilbIty i'm tL,
pre- ence OF This great .ndiguItv. Ue,
mother comes and Sits by her. and anai
several hours Of remou-lrarcn and
persuasion, induces her 90 90 90 bed
but when She comes in Inc 1norrfp,,
hoping 20 soc her -Jmowhat sootbod
sne finds only arr empty room and .
ba..y note
il is seyon a. m and The mammor
retail dry goods house of GRAY q
G'gion begins 20 show sn. Of III,
without and within For thc la.lI,ff
a.