The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-08-13

OaIeol N0.. Is ana ~ Foprteenth slreet
HER WEDDING GOWN.
~ DORA WICHITA OSBORNE.



a faint odor Of rose leaves lingering in IL
folds and the tilmy lace OF It's trimmings
Jean, the self same Jean who an hour be
fore had been maiden all iorlorn, cryinl
because abe had nothing to wear to thl
Drayton's fancy dress ball, bent over /
with little ecstatic cries OF admiration. g.
can scarcely believe it." she said drawing
a long breath, "Aunhs, do you really
mean it-can you mean itP I'm sure
wouldn't be willing to give away THU
lovely Dress"
"Not to mention this lovely fan anG
these white satin slippers, and silk stock
ingp," interposed her sister Frances with
Q lofty wave Of the hand. "a yeritablt
Cinderella outfit in all truth"
"My dear Jean, your selhshness maker
1t impossible for you to realize such mag
nanimityi but allow me 10 assure YOU ma
AuGtie does nothing by halves"
"You needn't make remarks" retorted
Jean, flushing littlei 'you are only ieal'
II am not in the least Jealous" contln-
uad Frances calmly; ION the contrary,
am philosophical, You own that dress by
the mere accident OF birth; had / preCe-
ded you in the world should have been
named Elinor Jeanette sure as fate. Then
my bonni1 Jean, seizing that young wo-
man and walIzng her in fine shape around
the room, "you would either have staid al
homo or gone to the Draytons in your old
muslin, whose glory Is passed by the way.
No, I'm not Jealous, Nothwithstsndi6a
you are q thousand times prsttier than !,
that Auntie has bestowed on you the
wedding gown, that
Here Frances was stopped short in her
enumeration OF JEANS blessings by that
same aunt, who rescued her pet and car
ried her off to get beauty sleep, she
said, Left to herself, Frances made few
more gyrations around tho room, then
dropped into chair with mighty sigh
Fate had not used her kindly. She had
neither beauty nor wit. She had worn
jeans old gowns from time inmemorial;
her gloves were always mended to the last
degree, her hats-well the less said Of
them tho better; but It was no use to re-
bel, for Jean was the beauty oil the family
and by virtue Of this royal giit was got on
pedestal, petted and Caressed, while the
rest skimped, planned and pinChed, in
order that she might always DO present.
able. On tho present occasion, however,
had 1t not been for Aunt Elinor's gener-
osity, Jean as Frances said, would have
stald at homo or else gone to the Dray-
toms ball in her old muslin. The family
purse was empty, Jean dissolved\i In tears
when at the last minute Aunt Elnor came
to the rescue bringing her wedding gown.
That treasured gown, which had lain for
the last quarter OF century smothered In
rose.leaves and lavender, its lace and bro.
Cade worth small fortune. Luckily there
were no alterations to be made for Aunt
E!inor, In spite Of her present avordupois,
had been Just such slim, slip Of a girl az
Jean was now.
~ always intended 1t for you, my dear"
sho said in reply 10 her niCCe's demonstra.
tons. perhaps, not so soon as this, but
since 1t serves this occasion TO well that
makes no difference"
10 attire Jean in this marvel, required
the assistance OF every feminine member
OF the household, but when the firing was
done, the big poke bonnet tied OH, an old.
fashioned reticuls hung over her mittened
arm, what was she like but a lovely vision
Of her grandmother stepping down in all
tinery from the past. To conquest this
wicked little Atrt went forth full armed,
strong in the consciousness Of youth
beauty and what ia still more 10 the
feminine mind an irreproaChable costume.
Hardy indeed was the man that could
Withstand such battery Jean didn't ex.
aCtly pave her way with broken hearts,
yet she left at least one sadly aching one
behind her. The cruelty OF the women
who knows her own power lis proveibial,
and Jean went her way laughing, flirting,
q. word for this one, smile for that one,
for everybody but the owner OF those
handsome brown eyes which followed her
reproachfully, nay wlstiully, about the
room In her triumphal progress, until he
at last wondered why he should even
waste thought on such q wicked and
heartless coquette. No there was no rea.
son OH earth why Lawrence Hoffman
should play the detected youth, barring
the fact that he was sadly in love with a
young woman given over 10 the wicked
paBtime OF flirting. He was a handsome,
broad-shouldered young fellow and one OF
the strongest points In his favor was that
tho girls all liked him. In truth there
were as many broken hearts laid at his
door es Jean could possibly count at hers,
though Larry had reformed wonderfully
In the last few months, people said In
order 10 set his aancee q good example.
For Jean, though she wore hiB ring on
her finger, and In the depths Of her heart
treasured more love for him than she
would ever confess, still would lllrt, not
always 80 openly and outrageouAly as to.
night. Larry could forgive a mild flirta-
ton, but what mortal man can watch bis
sweetheart dispense her smiles and iavors
to everyone elso but himself and not feel
sggrieved. Larry did all that the most ap.
proved lover could have done on such an
occasion. He irowned and he stared and
ground his teeth, oil without being able
to got a single glance from her, then with
a sudden inspiration Of wisdom sought out
one Of the prettiest girls In the room and
began paying the most a2eiduous court to
her. Miss Redmond was not In the least
averse 10 this, She had always liked
Larry, perhaps too well for her own peace
OF mind, and was quite willing for him to
assume bis old place at her feet. siSnia.
cant glanCeg aud gestures soon directed
Jeans attention to them. ut Ia the old
affair on again. He used 10 DO dss.
perately in love with her, and no
wonder, she 10 90 pretty" So wag.
ged malicious tongues, and Jean felt
her Beli.satistaction diminishing. In fact
tho tables were turned completely. She
liked Larry In the role Of the melancholy
lover, but to sec him enjoying himself 60
openly with q girl as pretty % herself, was
quite another thing, and not at all 10 her
liking. One by one her admirers were
dismissed In the hope that he would come
back to her. Vain hope He had neither
eyes nor ears for anyone else than Miss
Richmond, Late In the evening Jean, on
the hunt Of her ohaperon, met him on the
steps and half heBita.ed. Surely he would
Join her and mako his peace but no.
With an indignant remark he hurried on,
Miss Rsdmond's shawl over bis arm, and
moment later Jean saw him place Il ten.
defly on her shoulders, and diglnpeAf with