, 1888-01-14

lace and some new bracelets"
"Oh, papal' exclaimed Nan.
"That is Just SO, my dear; and when
you came home did not you find q cup
Of hot broth waiting for you? and a fire
in your room?~ Who do you think or
dered that?''
Nan looked at her father with dimmed
eyes and blew a kiss at him across the
table; she just began to realize the care
that had surrounded her all her days.
But h must answer that note.
"What shall 1 say to Aida, mammal"
Mrs. Campbell was a quiet, sweet,
motherly woman; but, more sympathetic
than the doctor, she better understood
how powerful fashion is with girls-how
few nave strength of character to with
stand its stringent if absurd demands.
81 don't think you can drop her,
be unkind and needless. She is to be
first bridemaid, and therefore stand next
to you; and as you are to wear a high
dress hers will not be as conspicuous as
If she were among the others. 1 agree
entirely with your father, and 1 am glad
1t was not at your suggestion that the
rest shoul wear low dresses"
So the matter was settled, and in due
time the wedding came off. 1t was a
pretty wedding, as Nanny had assured
grandma it would be; but the old people
of Traverse did not come down for it;
the To- lay deep over all the country,
the thermometer sank to depths unusual
even in New England and keen winds
swept across the shining drifts that
seemed to pierce the heaviest clothing.
eve love you just as much, dear"
wrote grandma, ''as though we come to
see you married; but we're old folks, and
the weather is considerable cold for any
body to be out in, and he is threatened
with some sciatiky, so we dursn't resk it.
So we send you o little matter to buy a
weddin' present with, bein' you're all
the %gran'child we've got, and do We get
something real useful or comfortable
with it for to remember your very lovin'
grandpa and grandma"
A cheek for $500 fell from the letter.
"Ohl" exclaimed Nanny. 'tNow I
can ave a sealskinI 1 didn't want to
ask father for it."
While theb bridal procession was form
ing-I am afraid ever at the altar, GER
tainly at the after reception-the ''best
man. was observed by a disinterested
spectator to turn his eyes very often upon
Aida Van Alstyne. No wonder; she was
a very lovely girl, and tonight was at
her best; the delicate rose satin that
clothed her stately 1.-the figure up to her
throat and down to her wrists shone like
q pale sunset through the flmy lace that
was draped over it and caught up with
blush roses; where the lace crossed her
bosom in soft folds from either shoulder
a bunch of the same roses nestled, and
the frill of rich lace that stood up about
her throat was held in place apparently
i nv n collar of silver 6lipraa Gna 10 frDSt-
work, clasped by n rose of pink coral in
whose heart sparkled a diamond dew
drop; the short veil that rested on her
coronet of dark hair was held by a rose
and its bud; the whole dress was exquis-
lite. And best of all, a warm natural
color lit her fine face, and she % as
she felt, comfortable and at ease.
But the ~others-poor souls, how could
thep help it?-were pinched with cold;
their cheeks colorless, their pretty noses
absolutely blue; and Rosina Leavitt could
not smother with her utmost efforts and
her lace handkerchief the incessant little
cough that made DR.. Campbell knit his
forehead and stir uneasily in his seat, for
he knew the girl had a sad inheritance of
blood; her mother came of q consumptive
family.
DIR. Everett Adams did not forget his
aullllIdIlOn lOG Ile 'IlTSU DTlueIlllu
when this wedding was over. He be-
came more and more devoted, and the
next September society in B. was
pleased but not surprised to hear his en-
gagement to Miss Van Alstyne announced.
By a rather odd coincidence their we'd
ding too was fixed for Christmas eve.
Aida Van Alstyne was very wealthy, if
h was very sensible. She had as many
"maids" to attend her as Nanny Camp
bell, and she gave them their dresses,
They were of rose satin, too, but made
high in the neck and long sleeved, the
quantity cut basques trimmed with white
fur, a broad band of it edging the short
full skirts; poke bonnets of the same
satin wreathed with short white ostrich
tips, and punches of white roses on the
left shoulder, completed the charming
and warm costumes. Not one among
the pretty group had ever looked so
pretty or been more comfortable. And
the bride was ~lovelier than ever in her
close robe of spotless satin, with no
sparkle of jewel or glitter of gold about
her, but profuse white roses garlanding
from throat to hem her long dress, and a
crown of them fastening the veil of
Mechlin that was all the drapery that
fell over the solid moonlight folds of her
train.
Mrs. Jack Norton looked out from n
chancel pew, and thinking of her own
wedding, gave a silent sigh to poor
Rosina Leavitt, sleeping in her southern
grave. That troublesome little cough
had lone its work. She had taken cold
in the church, and gone down to death
so fast no human power could stay her
steps.
"Do you know what first fixed my
young affection on you, as the novelists
say, Alida2n asked DR.. Adams, as he sat
with his bride on the walls of the old fort
at st. Augustine two weeks after their
wedding.
81 suppose it was my beauty" she
answered, with a look and laugh of CO.
quettish mischief, for Everett Adams had
always said that he never could or would
marry any woman merely for her good
looks.
mo, indeed, madam. Though 1 don't
deny the self evident act of your lady
ships loneliness. But the first thing that