Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-07-02
. The Bridal Veil.

SOOQ family OF lace-fnaRers.
'I'll work my own bridal veil in my
leisure time" she said. $50 when
Walter comes to marry me, shall be
agay bride"
But she never finished the veil.
Walter came too soon. She married
her English lover-as pooras herself
and went with him to London, and
the half.fnished bridal veil went along,
carefully folded away at the bottom Of
a trunk, and, for the time being quite
forgotten.
1t NAV have been forgotten in earn
est during IL years, for aught l know;
certainly it lay that long unnoticed A
lovely l0-year-old girl was the fairy
that broke its long sleep at last She
had eyes, like the little peasant of II
years ago, but Walters golden hair.
"Oh, the charming lace! she cried,
clapping her hands and dancing de.
ightedly, as Elise shook it out of the
folds. "Dear mamma, what is it2 and
who made it? and why is it but
half done? Can | have it for dress
for my doll, mamma?"
The pretty, dark.eyed matron
laughed and shook her head, and half
sighed, and she pressed the delicate
fabric to her lips. Then she told her
child the history of its making.
"Mamma. teach me to work it," she
said, one day. "My fingers are much
finer and timer than yours"
After that she would bring her lit
lie work basker to her mothers side
and work at a veil for her doll. The
facility with which she learned the
graceful art was astonishing. At the
age of Is so expert was she that Elise
did not fear to let her take part in the
creation of the bridal veil itself, but
they work at it now and then, as fan.
cy seized them.
* X X X
Louis Riviere was from France, like
Adele's mother-that had been bond
between them from the first-for
Adele loved her mothers country for
her mothers sake, though she herself
was proud of being called English;
and she also loved the young French
man.
The happy weeks and months grew
into years. Adele was now II; 1t
was agreed and promised that when
spring-tlme came she would be Riv.
iere's bride.
ave must finish the bridal veil, ;"
cried Elise eagerly. 81 tell you Mons
teur Louis, no lady of your proud
house ever wore a lace more exquisite
and rich. All, shall l not be proud
when 1 look at my beautiful child in
her marriage robes, and think of the
poor little peasant girl of long ago,
who toiled at the lace to earn coarse
bread so far away over the sea?'
Louis turned quickly at these
words, look of displeased surprise in
his dark eyes. IA
"What peasant girl, MADAME" ne
questioned, uneasiiy.
"Myself" she answered, happily,
not marking the look or tone. "What
was | but poor little lace maker
when my generous young lover mar
ried me, the father of Adele?"
He answered nothing, and Elise
went merrily chattering on, but Adele
noticed his suddenly downcast and
gloomed eyes, though she was far from
suspectlng the cause OF either.
His naughty family pride had re-
ceived blow. He conceived an ab-
solute but violent dislike to the bridal
veil. .......
~ detest the sight of it!' he cried,
one evening in moment of self-for.
getfulness, and when he and Adele
were alone. 'If, indeed, you love me,
never work at it in my presence,
Adele; and if l dared ask one special
favor of you, it should be-"
He paused suddenly. She was lis
tening in great surprise.
"Well," she said. "lt should be"
"Wear any other veil in the world
but that one to be married in!"
She folded the work and let her
fair hands fall on it in her lap; one
could see those little hands were trem-
bling.
"You ask a singular favor, she said,
with forced quietness. "Are you
aware that my dear mother worked this
veil?"
The hot, impulsive temper answered
instantly, without thought
"It is for that very reason that I
hate It'll"
"You did not know when first you
sought me for a bride. that mamma
was a lace worker in France; if you
had, perhaps you would not
have loved me. Since you
have learned this fact you have re-
gretted our engagement. You need
not speak; l have seen change in
you'll feel that 1t is so ! but there Is
no harm DONE" she went on, with SIM
pie dignity, "since have learned the
truth before it is too late, and So,
she held out to him little trembling
hand, which he took mechanically
"and so Twill grant you the favor you
covet, my friend. Your bride shall