The Osceola times., 1888-06-02


one OF her four bridesmaids.
| her fdnce came of fine oil fam
lly, ~ did she herself; and scores of
relatives were expected to the wedding
which promised to be very grand and
brilliant affair. Mother hesitated to
have the dress made; but girls then
wore much older gowns than in these
wiser times, so she finally consented.
as expected, for of her six children /
was the only girl, and was INDUCED
accordingly.
''lf you would know how looked.
study Dolly here. had the same pur-
ple-black hair-which could never be
kept in decorous order. so curly was it,
the same pink checks and creamy
skin. But my eyes were black instead
OF brown, and Twas smaller than She"
Yes. and you had the loveliest
hands and feet ever seem" cried Fam
ny, ''as you have now"
"And I've heard grandpa say.that you
were the belle of the county, and there
was many n broken heart when you
married him." laughed Nell.
81 was thoughtless girl" sighed
grandmamma, ''and caused deal of
trouble by my vanity, as you shall
hear"
"Well, the dress was made, and very
proud was, as nrrayed in it turned
myself before the great mirror; and
when the dressmaker assured me that
no such face and form had been re-
ilected there Stree the days of my great
grandmother famous belle and beau
ty, ! was almost content
"Amost-not quite. For the gor-
geous gown put to shame any slippers
that possessed, and nothing would
satisfy me but a new pair made of the
same material. So next day father
rode to T, twenty miles away, and
ordered the slippers of a fashionable
shoemaker, my brother agreeing to
call for them the following week.
"But that very night began n storm
of snow and slect, which lasted for
days, and the roads were not open for
travelling until the day before the we'd
ding. Then brother John started for
T. with long list of commissions
from both families.
John, said |, standing at the door,
If you let any thing happen TO my
slippers, I'll never forgive your
"'Tll be careful, Fairy, run in. he
answered.. They used to call ME Fairy
because was so light and small.
.At noon of the next day was anx-
iously Watching the road, for the we'd
ding was to be at six o'clock, and John |
had not yet returned. But soon / saw |
the slGi,h drive up, and | rushed to the
kitchen, where John was stamping the
snow from his boots.
"'Ohl where are my slippcrsr /
cried. tossing over the parcels.
They're there, all right said
John.
but l could not find them, so
mother came to my aid; but we hunted
in vain. John looked on in growing
dismay and perplexity, but suddenly
cried in a tone of despair: 4 have it!
was to get them this morning, as the
man was out last night, but had so
many other errands | forgot I'm so
sorry, dear. but it's too late to go
back.
IL burst into storm OF tears, be-
wailng my disappointment and VOW
ing that | would not 90 TO the we'd
ding in those old slippers. Turning,
Just then, saw Guy Burton in the
doorway. and fled to my room, where
| sobbcd till tired out. Soon l heard
a horse feet on the ice. as Guy rode
off; and thought angrily of standing
up with him that night in my old white
satin slippers. Guy was Sally's only
brother, older than herself. | had
thought him cold and reserved lately,
though we had been good friends in
the days when he took me coasting.
But he had been at college for four
years, and had seen little of him, ex-
cept that he always seemed TO be about,
book in hand, during the last few weeks
when had been to see the girls.
Mother came to console me, and by
five clock was in a plcasantcr frame
of mind. though painfully conscious of
the old slippers, on which | could not
look with equanimity.
ARRIVING at the Burtons ! found
the girls in great flutter There was
the usual number of things to be done
at the last minute, so it was only at
the hour of the ceremony that we be-
gan TO look for our escorts. All were
ready but Guy, and he was not to be
found; in the general confusion his alb
sence had passed unnoticed.
"'lIe must have gone on some errand
at the last minute said Mrs. Burton
in a worried tone, looking into tho
darkness outside; for heavy storm
had come up.
I'VE waited in growing uneasiness
as the servants were questioned, and it
was found that his horse, Saadi, was
gone, and that Guy had not been seen
since morning.
"As m hour passed and he did not
come, grew angry at the thought that
| was the only one to be annoyed by
the detection of my escort, and al
most wished that something might
happen to him. Sally declined to be
married in the absence of her brother
As it grew later and later. she sat
weeping with her bridesmaids. while
her fance began TO fear some serious
4 l.; 4. fr;ap1 |