Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-20
THE FATE OF AN USHER.

| From Harper's Bazaar
The scene was young mans boudoir, IL such
an anomaly can exist, the time, late in the
evening. when condolences find easiest express
sion; the people were the boudoirs owner, in q
negfige compounded of dress clothes and a
smoking jacket, and the friend of his bosom,
somewhat similarly attired, with the comforta-
bic abomination Of q cigarette between his
fingers.
Just let me read it to you again." said he of
the smoking jacket, Strengthening himself in
MS chair, and taking a worn-looking paper
from the table. Something may suggest it
self to you. / want to have it all right, you
know, so that when the notice is mentioned ]
shall be ready with good suggestion. Now
then, listen: 'Miller-Waldron.- Wednes-
day, the 2Sth instant, at the Church of the
Seven Angels. by the Right Reverend Arthur
st. John Forbes, d. D., assisted by the Reverend
Francis Willard Mason, George Northup Mil
Ter and Alkaline Bell, daughter of the late Maj.
Gen. Sylvester Waldron, United States army.
How is it? Does it go?''
! $50? should think so. All those capitals
| will sparkle like diamonds in the sun. But
| Miller, l wish you would count me out of the
! affair. How many weddings do you suppose
have played usher for this spring! Six-no
| less"
We'll, make it seven. There's luck in odd
| numbers"
There wouldn't be in this case. was lust
| ready to swear off from all social designations
and go into training until fall for the sake of
my health: There s Green, he's good fellow;
| have him."
Miller shook his head. Il won't have Green
| nor anybody else" he said clasping his hands
behind his head and throwing himself back in
his chair TN have you. I'm sorry if you're
| tanh IA r IL. 4
plenty to get and little to do in that situation;
! but Adaa brother-confound him-I had to
| ask him. ~
''Of course. don't grudge him the honor;
but you know Wednesday is drill night for me,
and"
III pay your fne."
Hang the fne!''
| With pleasure; but if you don't mind the
| fine, I'm sure l don't see why you mind cutting.
They will work you harder than shall. 1
won't obiige you to carry gun"
Thanks. I'm equal to the gun. believe"
I'm tell you what it is, Brooks, you have
| been In no end of a sulk since there was a
| doubt about Miss Howards being maid of
honor. l must say think it's shabby of you
| TO desert me on that account. Still, will be
magnanlmous, and tell you the news, although
1t would serve you right if 1 didn't. She has
accepted, after all; her father has consented to
her coming to town for the occasion. Why he
wanted to refuse at all can't imagine. But it
Is like him; everybody knows what he is"
Brooks laughed with a more interested man
ner than he had shown heretofore. II DON'T"
he said; ''what is he?'
why. haven't you met him?"
Yes but only once or twice, and then not
for more than a minute. He is a handsome
man."
oh iron-gray hair gives any man a distin-
gulshed look, and he is tall and straight, which
helps out the idea but he is a perfect tyrant l
have heard that he rs positively cruel to his
daughter; that he bought this place out of
town purposely to keep her shut up, and that
he won't let man look at her. Now there was
Radford. 1t seems that he went out there to
offer Miss Howard his hand and heart and
was fairly rushed off the place by his host"
Sensible man, Who told of it-Radford?'
II don't know; 1T was told. / admit that
excepting financially, Radford is not much of a
catch. He hasn't as much strength of charac-
ter as a little wee monkey; but l must saw I
think that he might have been declined with
thanks. l suppose it sounds heartless but
peculiar advantages belong to girl who hasn't
any father"
Brooks rose to his feet and dropped his cigar
cite end into receiver; then turning an ami
mated countenance toward his host, he grasped
his hand and shook it firmly .rll see You
through, Miller" he said, ''if it takes the last
prop of my failing constitution
After this the wedding preparations went
merrily on. One evening. however, hardly q
week before the great day, the happy BRIDE
groom sought out his friend Brooks, with
wrinkle on his brow and a troubled sympathy
IN his manner. Its all up, old man." he said,
with desperate frankness.
Great Heavens! what do you mean?" ex-
claimed Brooks, aghast.
Miller laughed little. "Oh, it isn't as bad
as that" he said, 'only Miss Howard can't
come; she has sprained her ankle. I,ucky IL
was no worse. She was thrown from her horse.
Her father must be an idiot to let her ride
horseback. suppose he wanted to break her
neck"
Brooks laughed in spite of his disappoint-
ment. ''Oh, you're not yourself at all, Miller
dear, Miller dear" he said; land small blame
10 you. However, as you say, it is lucky it is
no worse"
Eyes; but what shall you do?"
TT L shall send her out some flowers, and q
note to say that am sorry"
Miller looked relieved. "And you'll be on
hand yourself all the same?" he said
do you take me for a child?" answered
Brooks, with some asperity. "Of course I
will
He was as good as his word.
you're trump, Brooks, Miller said to him,
in hasty aside at the reception "You have
outdone yourself tonight"
Don't say word" returned Brooks, in a
low. delighted voice. II have a note from
Miss Howard in my pocket, asking me to come
out tomorrow afternoon and tell her about it.
So am playing society reporter tonight. see
| ing everything and everybody"
Miller laughed. "Alas poor Radfordr' he
said, significantly.
On the following afternoon, therefore,
pretty young lady with an interesting pillowed
foot was relating circumstantially the story of
her lnvalidism and its cause to a brown-mus-
tached young man seated near, who showed an
absorbing interest in the subject
1t was an attractive picture for contempla-
ton on warm day. A shady veranda, with
the gentle breeze coming toward it over an
odorous velvet lawn; a small afternoon tea
table set forth with fruit and cooling bever-
RACES, and young and attractive pair Of peo-
pie luxuriously disposed to enjoy their beautiful
| surroundings and each others society.
1t was reality doubly fair in the eyes of the
young man, who vas exchanging for it the
monotony OF business routine in the dusty CITY.
Not that his lot was hard one. An only son in
business with his prosperous father is in the
majority OF cases rather overpaid than oye
worked; still, such day, such situation, and
such companion formed an unusual combina-
ton. 1t was the first tete-d-tete that he had en-
joyed with her wherein the certainty of an in
terruption was not imminent. But now-now
no carriage waited at the curb to bear her from
him, no partner all too prompt would come to
claim his waltz. Brooks had known for many
day that there was more happiness to be
found in the society Of this young lady than in
that of any other, but the difference had never
shown SO plainly as now.
Presently she raised a great bunch Of rare
roses which lay on the couch beside her, and
held them admiringly above her eyes, '"These
are the second you have sent already" she said.
Il understand something from them"