Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-07-03
THE BRIDAL VEIL.


French girl, and came Of good family Of lace.
| makers.
"Tn work my own bridal veil In my leisure
| time" she said, $50 when Walter comes to
marry me, shall be gay BRIDE"
| But she never finished the veil. Walter
| came too soon. She married her English lover
AS poor as herself-and went with him ia
| London, and the half finished bridal veil went
along carefully folded away at the bottom OF
a trunk, and, for the time being. quite forgotten
1t may have been forgotten in earnest during
| twelve years, for aught know; certainly II
lay that long unnoticed. A lovely ten-year old
| last She had dark eyes, like the little peas
ant of twelve years ago, but Walters golden
'sOh, the charming lacew she cried, clapping
her hands and dancing delightedly, as Elsie
shook 1t out of the folds "Dear mamma, what
done? Can have it for a dress for my doll,
mammal
The pretty, darlz-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.
light again" she said tenderly. II viii finish
| 1t, and when the time comes for my little Adele
| to be a bride, she will have veil to be proud
Again the little taper fingers toiled merrily
and busily over the delicate lace. and fairy
like ferns and masses Of graceful flowers grew
gress of the work with the keenest interest
mamma, teach me to work it, she said one
day: My fingers are much finer and timer
After that she would bring her hitler work:
basket to her mothers side and work at q veil
for her doll. The facility with which she learned
the graceful art was astonishing. At the age of
fifteen so expert was she that Elsie did not fear
to let her take part in the creation of the bridal
veil ITSELF but they worked at it now and then
as the fancy seized them.
Louis Riviere was from France, like Adele's
m bpr-thaf had bppn a hnnd between them
from the tirst-fOr Adele loved her mother s
country for her mothers sake, though she her
also loved the young Frenchman.
Louis came of noble blood, and was well to
do. He had some money-not enough to live
upon in idle luxury, but plenty to secure him
a fair start in business life. Unwilling to en-
ter upon this course in Paris, where his noble
relatives would not scruple to oppose him, he
had chosen London as the scene of his future
efforts, and embarked in business as a merchant
there
years. Adele was now seventeen: it was agreed
and promised that when Spring-time came she
would be Riviere's bride.
I'VE must finish the bridal VEIL cried Elsie,
eagerly. Il tell you, Monsieur Louis, no lady
of your proud house ever wore a lace more ex-
quisite and rich. All, shall not be proud when
/ 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 seal!
Louis turned quickly at these words, look Of
disPleased surprise in his dark eyes.
What peasant girl, madam" he questioned
uneasily.
Myself" she answered, happily, not marking
the look or the tone. "What was 1 but a poor
lover married me- the father 81 Adele, young
He answered nothing, and Elsie went merrily
chattering on, but Adele noticed his suddenly
far from suspecting the cause of either.
His naughty family pride had received a
blow.
"A lace-makerr ' he said to himself. "a peas
ant girl. If l had but known it!'
All that night and for days and nights after
ward. the thought OF his brides humble extrac-
ton tortured him; the sting to his pride would
not be removed.
Unconsciousiy to himself his annoyance af.
fected his temper: he became irritable, fret
full, impatient, something to the very verge
of impOliteness even. Above all, he received
an absolute but violent dislike to the bridal
veil.
II detest the sight of itr' he cried one evening
in moment of set-fOrgettulness, and when he
and Adele were alone. .'If indeed you love
me. never work at it in my presence, Adele and
If dared ask one special favor Of you it should
He paused suddenly. She was listening in
.Well.T she said. at should be"
Wear any other veil in the world but that one
to be married in."
She folded her work and let her fair hands fall
on 1T in her lap; one could see that those little
hands were trembling. She was greatly sur
prised at his manner and request and also
vaguely hurt, she scarce knew how or why
Indeed, she had wondered often lately at a SUBJ
TIE ana ul1piedSttnt CnaIlye III Could IL
be possible that she was about to discover its
cause?
"You ask a singular favor" she said, with
forced QUietnesS. Are you aware that my dear
mother worked this veil?"
The hot, impu.sive temper answered instant
ly. without a thought
at is for that very reason that hate -
And then she understood him. The daughter
of England had been slow to suspect or compre-
saw all clearly now; and she would not marry
the man who thought he stopped to take her.
She folded up the veil, and gently but firmly
said
"You did not know when first you sought me
for a bride that mamma was 1ace-worker in
France; ii you had, perhaps you would not
you have regretted our engagement. You need
not speak: have seen a change in you'll feel
that it is So! But there is no harm done,'' she
went on, with simple dignity, "since 1 have
learned the truth before il is 100 late; and so"
she held out to him little trembling hand,
which he took Northumberland so / will
bride shall not wear my darling mothers bridal
reil''-here he kissed the hand and she drew it
quickly away-"but that Is because shall not
be your bride"
No need to dwell upon what followed. His
prayers, his proIestations-humble at FIRST then
angry-his tears that had no power in them to
sap the strength of her resolution. They parted
coIdy at last-lovers still in heart. for love dies
not so easily, but outwardly seeming scarcely
even friends.
She stood proudly as he left the room, when
the sound or the street door closing after him
sionate heart, she flew to the window and
watched him out of sight.
Go. sot she cried, dashing away the tears
that blinded her. "GO from my eyes hatelul
tears and let me see my love for the last time |!
My love! my love! And have lost hmrr
She sank down sObbing. Just then the sound
of her mothers voice, singing merrily an old
French song in a room above, came to her ears
Once more she dashed the tears away.
He despsed you my darling mainma-you (!
No, no, Will never pardon him.
Her parents questioned her in vain. She had
quarreled with Louis; that was all they could
Learn. And before chance for reconciliation
came. Elsie WAS smitten with mortal illness and
died in three days; and Adele, overwhei lined by
the awful calamity, was Frustrated with brain
fever.
At this juncture q summons came to Louis
from France. demanding his immediate pres
ence there. Strange changes had taken place
Two of the three lives that stood between him
and the title and estate of the Marquis de la
Reviere had been suddenly swept away, and
the third. frail and delicate child, lay dying
man, also at the point OF death, so they
sent in haste Tor Louis, as the heir of the dying
nobieman.
The news bewildered him. His heart swelled
with exultatiOn and delight, but it sank again
Adele! Had he lost Adele?
II care not for rank wealth unless she
shares them" cried his heart. IL will go and
implore her pardon
He made the attempt, but in vain. He sought
her father and said few words TO him. how
ever, that might have made all well again had
she ever heard them; but she never did.
hen her long and wasting sickness was over
al last, and She began slowly and feebly to take
hold on life, she found herself an orphan in
very truth! Walter had followed Elsie to u bet
H.