The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-03-02

ana his lips parted 70 emit some lnois.
tinct cultural sounds. / really believe
that he was on the very point, Just then,
of breaking out into one of his camp
FIRE songs. He preceded me on the
staircase, and Just before We reached
the top he turned around and caught
me by the shoulder. His face was
flushed now. instead of being pale, and
there was wild light in his eyes.
II say, old man." he said, chow
would you feel il you were coming TO
this wedding in the character of Young
Lochinvar, or the Master of Ravens
wood. or something of that sortP You
wouldn't manage to look quite so douce
and well-behaved then, / fancy"
don't know how looked, but / re-
member very well how felt. Digby's
strange words and reckless bearing
seemed to threaten some horrible ca-
tastrophe, and could not rid myself OF
the idea that was in some way resp0n-
sible for him. In an another 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. must 60 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
presenl: she was assisting in the adorn-
ment Of the bride, and her place as
hostess was. for the moment, filled by
Q Mrs. Cochrane, who seemed to
be q sort of second cousin to
nearly everybody there. This lady
was all smiles and amiability, as be-
fitted the occasion. She welcomed me
effnsively, 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. l suppose that no woman could
have been present at such ceremony
without being at the pains to make
herself acquainted beforehand with
dozen details, of which I remained
contentedly ignorant. My masculine
cursoriness took everything for
granted. Perhaps / might have con-
cerned myself more about these TO-
mantle accessories which popular
imagination has grouped around the
everyday fact of q wedding, il the
bride had ever inspired me with any
interest. But / 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. I was told
that she had been the belle of her
native township in Australia; but
neither her looks, style nor manner
commended themselves to NV taste.
The bridegroom / 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 dies conuenanees.
For the present, 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 70
me, and / answered her at random,
while my eyes wandered off every
other minute in his direction. He was
apparently behaving very we'll. talking
politely to q feminine fogey, the
brides great aunt After while / 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 seat on the opposite side of
the room, where also could command
q 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 tim
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.
/ was never at 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 q cunning Demon" whispered
an incorrigible bachelor at my elbow.
Just then. q late guest, VINO had missed
bis train, came in. His entrance caused
q little hustle; and when it had subsidized,
/ looked round, and saw that Digby had
disappeared. A moment later, and our
ears were greeted with an hysterical
scream.
"Ah, poor darling! it has been too
much for her nerves." the ladies ex.
claimed. and rushed out pell-mell into
the corridor; while the men looked at
each other In bewildered discomfort.
II followed the feminine part of the
company, and beheld my cousin Fam
ny srrayed in her bridal robes reclin-
ing In 8 fainting-ft upon sort of di-
van, and partially supported by Lance
lot Digbys arm. - I'D $50. ia'p d.
@ip There was the usual sfatuous attempt
to suffocate the sufferer by lcrowding
around her, and the panic-stricken
cries for water. smelling salts, Q, fan.
Some one asked, Where Is her
motheri" and as soon IS the words
were uttered, Mrs. Dasher appeared
upon the scene She hsd gone to her
room 10 make her own toilet, after
~ A n