Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-04-01

the time came for the wedding. 1t was
at the very height of the season, and,
as Mrs. Leigh had foreseen, it was to
be one of its events. More. than one
great parsonage had promised to be
present, including that very great per-
sonage who gives the tone to English
society. The noble ones of the land
had been hidden to meet them. The
wedding presents were sight indeed.
and the list of them in the papers made
the mouths of burglars water with long
ing. The trousseau vas wonder, too,
and made sad the hearts of many great
ladies.
Verriner was we'll content. If he
had to be married at all, every thing
must be good form. And it promised
to be so. He had taken the trouble 10
secure the presence OF the great per-
sonages and the people whom they
cared to meet. No other wedding of
the season could hold candle to his;
he felt quite satisfied about that. He
knew himself to be superb creature,
and he was pleased with Dame Fortune
for showing her appreciation of the
fact. The morning came, and when
Verriner rose he felt nervous for the
first time in his life. There certainly
is something very trying about we'd
ding morning, even to the most hard
ened. He ate no breakfast, but began
at champagne before he dressed, and
went on with it during the process.
His best man, the young Marquis of
Broadlands, came in to look after him.
He found Verriner trembling; he had
never done this on the morning of a
duel, or after a night over the cards,
or the moment before race was run
on which his all was staked.
''What is the matter, Verriner?' in
quired the young Marquis, in much
amazement.
Suppose the Prince shouldn't
GOMEZ
''Oh, nonsense; he always keeps his
word. Make haste, or We shall be late
at the church"
Ferriner drank another glass of
champagne, and they started. The
church was already beginning to fill as
a church only does fill on such occas-
ions as this, with the stream of the up
per ten thousand. Verriner was
pleased, for in his heart this apparent
cynic was as vain as the schoolgirl.
Soon after he arrived the Prince came,
and at last "every one" was there ex-
cept the bride.
The wedding-dress did not come
home till the very last minute, and
then it was found that the white silk
lace with which the lovely little flower
adorned bodice was fastened had been
left out in the hurry. Hetty's maid
went off in hanson to the milliner's,
and at last all was right, and the pref
test and brightest-eyed bride of the
year was ready. And quite cool. too,
though she was SO late. For Hetty
was a girl who never got fevered or
Hurried. She took life very easy, spite
of her vivacity of manner. Certainly
she was late, and it was very shocking,
considering what an august throng
awaite her; but it could not be helped,
and she thought Verriner valued her
greenbacks sufficiently to bear the trial
in patience.
But by the time the bride and her
mother reached the church Verriner
had lost his head. He read the thing
simply as an insult put upon himself,
and that before the only audience in
the world be cared straw for. He be-
gan to feel like horse with the bit
between his teeth when sharp spurs
are struck in by an ignorant rider.
Broadlands, who knew. his temper,
looked at his face and wondered what
he would do. They were waiting in
ambush in the vestry. At last there
was a faint murmur; the bride had ar
rived. Verriner hurried around and
reached the church door just in time to
meet her as she stepped into the porch.
"How dare you put such an insult
upon me??" he Kissed into her ear
"you, the daughter of dirty oil mer-
chant! BY Heavens, Tllmake You pay
for this when We get away"
Hetty looked straight in the face of
this furious man, face hideous with
rage. No lady had ever seen such a
look on his face before. But he thought
this girl was absolutely in his power
now. No one heard what he said but
himself; and it was all over in an in
slant. Broadlands seized his arm as he
iSo hiAH ava 1iu tliC UiluC w DIS tdhcu
possession of by stately looking Am
erican Qike Hetty's father. he, too. had
struck ile) who was to give her away.
Bride and bridegroom met again at
the alter. Hetty looked quite cool.
but her gray eyes were very pale. Yer
riner. by tremendous histrionic effort,
had recovered himself. and wore his
usual soft languor. The ceremony
went on. and every body assumed the
right depression. The bridegroom was
asked whether he would take this wom-
an, etc. He answered quietly. but clear
ly Il will" When, however. the Dig
nitary who officiated turned to Hetty
and asked her the same quest ion an
awful thing happened. Quite coolly.
without apparent emotion. she replied:
Il will not..''
Her high-pitched American voice
penetrated right through the church,
and every body heard the appalling
words. The whole asscmblage stood
still as if petrified. for moment; and
then Mrs. Leigh broke the silence by
rushing to her daughter and Selling her
arm.