Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-01-23
THE WEDDING MARCH.

THE WEDDING MARCH.
"No. 329-A Wedding March" Such
was the number and name of pictura
in the Academy Of certain year which
shall, orpolitic and personal reasons, be-
left undesignated. The picture was one Of
my painting and l, Reginald Tracy, Ind
been fortunate enough to attain three
very important ends by its product III.
Firstly, it was deemed excellent enough
by the Hanging Committee to be placed
on the line, and it faced you in very
prominent manner as you entered Room
No. 5. Secondly, this prominent po-
sition secured for my picture a large
share Of attention which resulted in its
tinding purchaser almost as soon hsthe
Exhibition doors opened. But thirdly,
it served the actual purpose for which |
painted it, and whichled me- to choose my
subject. That purpose involved just the
loaAt bit Of romance; and although the
clever critics praised the picture, and
even limited that, Mr.. Tracy had been
singulariy fortunate in his treatment OF
q somewhat unusual and difficult theme"
etc. not one Of them 30 much as guessed
that it was picture with u purpose.
Az the sequel may serve to show, that
purpose sprang from and ended in what
/ am pleased to call my little romance.
II was q charming day, that on viii ii
l went TO Rockhampton to sketch the
water msadows, and TO see my old friend,
Dr.. James Brooke-Jim, 1 generally
called him-who had settled as q practi-
TONER in that town. The whole place
was STEPPED in sunlight; and the deep
shadows cast by the old houses in the
narrow streets by the waterside reminded
one Of nothing 80 much as the blackness
II the shades In some old Dutch town,
where Rembrandt must have learned t. Q
, Apecinl art that bears the impress Of his
q MUS today. The old church uf Rock
hampton il q fine bit Of Norman archi-
lecture. Rising architects declare that
thuie are no purer pillars OF that style,
or better preserved arches, with their
queer faces squeezed into the corners
tltreof. and which seem to impress the
Rockhampton juveniles on Sundays
'qui o as much as the service. Passing
Giro gu the churchyard, found myself
snt last at the church. With little hope
of finding the door open l lifted the
latch, wien at once it yielded to my
touch. As / passed within the green
,baize doors within the porch, I heard
the sound of the organ 80 stealing
quietly into the grateful shade and cool
ness Of the church, l ensconced myself
; in tie biggest pew could find and lis
tened. How soothing was the effect OF
the music and surroundings on that glo-
rions day could not see the player,
who was concealed by the curtains in
front Of the orgAn-loft, but intuitively l
guessed it was lady who played. l
imagined that only woman's delicate
touch could have made that "Kyrie I"
speak in these tones; and there was
more gentleness than power in the 'Sta-
Tat Mater" into which the player glided.
Then / remember the Wedding
March" succeeded and after half on
hours private hearing Of the masters, l
quietly slipped out Of church, once again
. into the 6 I'd sunlight that played around
the gravestones. and made the world so
Iii 10 GO. .....
After lunching OF my hotel, the Red
Lion, went TO see DR.. Jim. It ap-
peared that the fair player Of the
church was Mis-, Spalding, and the
OILY daughter Of q well-to-do and retired
merchant who had settled at Rockhamp-
ton some eighteen months before and
Jirn, found, had been paying his adj
dr. sses to the young lady. Her father
had married for the second time and had
thus given Miss Spaulding step.
mother. The old gentleman, as Jim
called him, was an easy-going man.
Eind-hcarted in every way, generous to
f,u.t, and looked kindly enough OIL DIR.
jim. : suit. But as TO Mrs. Spalding. Jim
pronounced decidedly unfavufablr
'ui Union. She WAS al ambitious. and as
he expressed 1t. scheming woman, who
thought that Nelly should look acme.
what higher than DR.. Brooke of Rock
hampton and that she should at least
marry money-with which latter COM
modify Jim was, as o young doctor of
course, by no means over-burdoned.
: Without actually discourhging Jim's at
tentions, Mrs. Spalding made things de-
oidedly unpleasant for the lovers. Mr..
6palding, good, easy man, was COM
pletely under the dominion OF his wife.
Hence, Jim confessed. he was il o some.
what unsettled state Of mind.
You see. Regy," said Jim, "Nelly
viii not disobey her parents in any way.
That she cares for me she has confessed
f. me more than once. But when /
peas her 10 consent to be married at
once, and to make me happy, pc wont
bear ri L..
"My dear jim" responded, in my
pew-found capacity Of guide, counsellor
and friend, "she is not the first girl who
yhas had TO struggle between love1and
duty /; or at least what she conceives to
be her duty.
"She is so thoroughly conscientious,
replied Jim, "that I fear even to press
her 10 take the step which would make
me happy man for life. When 1 ask
her In my despair whether she viii ever
choose between her step-mother's wishes
and my love, she implores me not to
tempt her; and so,' added Jim, "herc
am; miserable Us need be-"
All this interested me exceedingly.
She was evidently girl of sterling worth
and with high sense Of the duty she
believed she owed to her parents wishes.
thought over Master Jim's love affair
as lay in bed that night, and came to
the conclusion that the case was a diff
cult one. You can not always mould
human minds to your own bent and pur.
pose by simply speaking Hence came
to the conclusion that Miss Spaldings
love for nv old friend ought to be tested