The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-24
BEAUTY'S SECRET.
By ALAN MUIR.
author of "Tanity Hard,care," A." Golden
Girls" Etc.

IN March the two weddings came off; first
Cars, and then SibyIs. Egerton Doolittle
had made special request that the two
should be celebrated on the same day; but to
his request the great Goldmore declined to
comply-possbly lurking suspicion that the
thing might look ludicrous led him to say no.
Accordingly, we married Caroline and Eyer
ton first: and pleasant wedding it was
everything being done in most elegant style;
and little Mrs. Barbara Temple looked not a
day more than forty. And Rector Brent
between the OCCASION the champagne and
his own amorous disposition, cast so many
chances at her, and these so warm, that it
seemed as if he was being captivated anew.
Car, | must say, looked splendid that morn
ing: flashing with wit, fire in her eyes, and
her attire faultless. She wore a bridal dress
of brocaded satin and her head-dress, which
was somewhat original-those girls had
tasteful way of being slightly out OF the COM
mon-peased all the ladies; the men, L be-
lieve, looked more at the head which carried
it. Her veil, streaming over her superb
shoulders, made her dress complete, and
we all pronounced her lovely bride She
went through the service without any ner
vousness; indeed, l thought with slight
audacity, as if she would challenge anyone
to say she had made a foolish choice Eyer
ton Doolittle lisped his responses, and the two
were man and wife together. Breakfast, as
/ said, went off well. Little Mr.. Brent pro-
posed bride and bridegroom, to which, with
many blush and litter, and hand sided to
his mouth, Egerton responded. He thanked
them all He believed that he qcaS very
fortunate man. Here came a long pause
Fact as-confdentially-it had been his
great aim in life to find d tremendously
clever woman-a woman who would be able
to point out whether any given work was
erroneous or not. He did not like erroneous
works He might read an erroneous work
without knowing it, and get his mind upset
He had married a wife who could and would
tell him if given work was erroneous, and
he was very happy. He thanked everybody,
and wished everybody in the room would
soon be married like himself, except those
who were married already. There was
no heed to wish then, married, because
with a sly expression-they were married al
ready. Here champagne effects became
slightly prominently He believed he had
married tremendously clever girl-woman
he meant-wife he meant-and he was very
thankful. He hoped his wife would try to
make him happy-he meant he hoped he
would try to make her happy-no, he meant
that he ,could try to make her happy, and
he hoped he would do it. Man was strong
Woman was weak. The man should use his
strength to make the woman comfortable
and happy, you know. AS the poet had said
it was tyrannous to have a giants strength
but it was excellent tO-no, that was not it
exactly. He forgot which came first. He
l.
quotation by post. Anyhow, whatever th9
poet had said if it was a manly act, he
pledged himse to 10 it, but not otherwise,
and he believed that was the safest way to
leave it. Here he sat down with a kind of
movement as if he were going to pieces, and
we all applauded heartily.
Sibyrs wedding came fortnight later
more sedate, and even more splendid Archi
bald Goldmore loaded his young bride with
presents so costly that, think, to have had
then, some of the girls would have married
Methuselah. Goldmore looked dignified
enough during the service and not old; and
he walked do TN the aisle with a vigorous
tread, so that IN the whole, the disparity in
years did not appear great as we expected
Sophia had been chief bridesmaid, of course
and, in spite Of her sisters faultless beauty
in my eyes she looked the lovelier of the two
While they were kneeling sunbeam fell on
her, and when it touched her head, heaven
seemed choosing her as bride at the same
moment. Wonderful it was how the posture
of prayer became that girl-the warmth and
seriousness of her face seemed framed for
worship, or for pure exalted love. But are
tie two sentiments alien?
No blunder about Goldmore's speech, YOU
Vf,nU
phantine, and thoroughly Great British. The
language in which his revered friend had
proposed the health of himself and his wife
was in the highest sense gratifying. On his
wife's part and his own he thanked them sin
cerely. He felt indeed, that the lady who
had that morning bestowed her hand upon
him was all, and more than all, that his rev.
cred friend had called her. He felt the honor
she had conferred upon Linz He could as
sure his wife, and her friends, that whatever
lay i'll bis power should be done to make her
the return whit h she deserved 1t was a sat-
isfaction to them both to know that marriage
would not part them from their friends, nor
from that locality. 1t would not be long be-
fore they should be among them as neighbors;
and he could only say, as one of the pleasant
est incidents III that propinquity, that his
wife and himself looked forward to seeing
the present company gathered round their
own table
One thing was noticed at the wedding
feast; little Mr.. Brent, usually the loudest
Laughter III every company, appeared grave
and abstracted indeed, more than one per-
son remarked a strange pallor about him
which suggested suspicion that he was
struck with illness Percival, happy with
his Sophia, and with a thousand tender
thoughts awakened by the ceremony of the
day stirring in his breast, was not likely to
observe anything except what enforced at
tention; and no cloud dimmed the brightness
of the lovers joy Had Percival noticed his
fathers face he-uSed to its expression
would have perceived that it was not illness
which was impending. But Fate was kind to
these loving two. 1t was for them day of
tender and undimmed delight-not cloud,
not breath, not a doubt-only playful
railery, soft looks, gentle touches, signs and
all the train of lovers little pleasures Their
love increased wonderfully that happy day;
and it was well, for trouble was at hand