The Southern herald., 1886-03-13

ana Well-DenhV6u Gn6u, fancy.
don't know how | looked, but | re-
member very we'll how / felt. Digby's
strange words and reckless bearing
seemed to threaten some horrible ca
tastr5phe, and could not rid myself of
the idea that was in some way respon-
sible for him. In an anotheS instant
the page had thrown open the drawing
room door and announced US. 1t was
too late then to turn back or to try to
make my escape. l must go through
with the adventure to the bitter end.
There were over dozen persons in
the room when we entered, besides the
six bridesmaids. Mrs. Dasher was not
present; she was assisting in the adorn-
ment of the bride, and her place as
hostess was, for the moment, filled by
a Mrs. Cochrane, who seemed to
be a sort of second cousin to
nearly everybody there. This lady
was all smiles and amiability, as be-
fitted the occasion. She welcomed me
effusively, although | had never met
her more than twice in my life, and
said something soft and pretty to my
companion, who was quite unknown to
her.
had taken very little interest in this
wedding, either in bridegroom or
bride. / suppose that no woman could
have been present at such a ceremony
without being at the pains to make
herself acquainted beforehand with a
dozen details, of which l remained
contentedly ignorant. My masculine
cursoriness took everything for
granted. Perhaps / might have con-
cerned myself more about these ro-
mantle accessories which popular
imagination has grouped around the
everyday fact of wedding, if the
bride had ever inspired me with any
interest. But l had seen very little of
her during the few months she had
been in England, and although we
were first cousins, we were almost
strangers to each other. | was told
that she had been the belle of her
native township in Australia; but
neither her looks, style nor manner
commended themselves to my taste.
The bridegroom l had not even seen.
| The match had been made up by my
uncle, somewhat hastily, and | sus-
pected that it was more or less of
marriage deS c0nUenGnceS.
For the present, l was too much
occupied in watching Digby to have
thoughts or eyes for anybody else's
concerns. The prettiest of the brides
maids came up and began to talk to
me, and / answered her at random,
while my eyes wandered off every
other minute in his direction. He was
apparently behaving very well, talking
politely to a feminine fogey, the
brides great aunt. After while l no.
ticed that he glanced again and again
through the partially closed door.
What was the meaning of that? | dis
courteously abandoned my young lady
and took a seat on the opposite side of
the room, where ! also could command
view of whatever that half-open door
might reveal. 1t revealed nothing
nothing but the empty corridor. Pres
emily, It occurred to me that the time
was going on very fast The bride must
speedily appear, unless we intended to
drive the ceremony perilously near
twelve o'clock.
A lady saw me looking at the clock,
and said: "Oh, you need not be afraid.
1 was never at a wedding yet where the
bride was not dreadfully late, and YET
the service was always over in time.
There's special providence to wait
over marriages.
''Or a cunning Demon" whispered
an incorrigible bachelor at my elbow
Just then, late guest, who had missed
bis train, came in. His entrance caused
q little hustle; and whenit had subsided
! looked round, and saw that Digby haC
disappeared. A moment later, and oul
ears were greeted with an hysterica
scream.
"Ah, poor darling! it has been toe
much for her nerves." the ladies ex
claimed, and rushed out pell-mell intC
the corridor; while the men looked a.
each other in bewildered discomfort.
l followed the feminine part of th'
company, and beheld my cousin Fan
ny arrayed in her bridal robes reclin
ing in fainting-ft upon sort of di
van, and partially supported by Lance
lot Digby's arm.
There was the usual fatuous attemp
to suffocate the sufferer by crowdins
around her, and the panic-strickel
cries for water, smelling salts, fan
Some one asked, Where is he
motherP" and as soon as the word
were uttered, Mrs. Dasher appearet
upon the scene. She had gone to he
room to make her own toilet, afte
putting the finishing touches to he
/ daughters, and had hastily thrus
herself into a gown of crimson satin
J as soon as she heard Fanny's scream
: AS she made her way through the sym
: pathetic group, her eye fell upo
. Digby, and then she, too, uttered a
: exclamation, and sank down pale an
D breathless upon the nearest chair. Tn
) same instant we heard my uncle
/ voice shouting out a concluding ad
b monition to the butler, as he ascende
, the stairs.
"Come, come" he said, bursting i
: upon us; "it's time to go-not me
3 ment to spare. Keep your hysteriC
: till afterwards. What the - an
e then he also became white and speecl
= less.
It This promised to be diverting. Wa
j. he going to follow the example of h
6 sister and niece, and collapse in
a fainting ftp l looked round, and sa
"a l ~ Al. L L Il 4