The morning call., 1891-06-27
THREE TIMES
A BRIDESMAID.

ulantiy from her eyelaSheS.
Crying! What nonsense. I'm not cry
ing"
She sat there on the low, velvet-covered
diyan, with the exquisite bridesmaids
d1ess in her lap, while just beyond lay the
wedding cards tied together with snowy
ribbon, like drifted snow.
And Aunt Bessie, seeing that remon-
STRANGE and argument would alike be IN
welcome just at that moment went quietly
out Of :he room with the ivory needle-caSe
she had come to seek, leaving Augusta alone
once more.
Three times a bridesmaid and never
bride" So it was with Augusta Vivian at
eight-and-twenty. People were already be-
ginning 10 speak of her as ian old maid"
the young sixteen-year-Old damsel thought
her "sho.kngly DID," and Lily, her mar
RED sister, patronjZed and pited her.
Poor Gussie," said Mrs Lathrop, II
amt likely that she will marry now. Why,
1 was engaged before / was IS and Gussie
is nearly 80 However always wanted an
old-maid sister to live with me and help
about the children and housekeeping"
Yet Augusta Vivian was lovelier now
than. she had been at Is. Not wrinkle
marred the marble smOOtBneSs OF her brow,
the gOld-brght hair waved in luxurious
masses from her blue-velned temples and
the bloom on her cheeks was red aud ripe as
that of a peach-and Yet she never had one
offer.
And so it happened that Augusta Vivian
had let a bright teaTdTOp or two fall upon
the shining folds Of silyeT-baITed tarlatan
as she sat there all alone.
Augusta" said Aunt Bessie, presently
re-enteTing and sitting herself down to
work 10 the sunny corner of the bay-win-
dow, chow OH is your sister Helen?"
Sixteen next month" answered Au-
guSta, spirite sly.
81 thought So said Aunt Bessie, sagely.
ado you know, Augusta, I've got new
Rink IN my head ]"
What is that?" asked Augusta, forcing
herself at least to appear Interested.
Major CulthOrpe next dOOr-dOn't you
notice that he comes here every day?'
He never speaks 70 me-" said Augusta,
coldly
But he does to Helen. They were out
an hour yesterday looking at the hyacinth
beds. do really believe he means some
thing. Augusta. Helen is yOung, to be sure
only 16-aud he must be more than 30"
"ThiTJy-One," said Augusta, with little
sigh, 50 soft that II was scarcely peTcepuble.
But he's very rich and very handsome
a great deal more brilliant match, ia q
worldly point Of view, than Liy'S husband.
Helen couldn't do better than TO accept him
il lie should happen to propose, and so l
shall tell her"
A keen psng of envy shot through Au-
guSta NIylan's heart, none the less keen in
tnatShe telt how base II was thus TO grudge
the royal crown Of welded happiness to
ker young sisters lover,
Helen is the last Of the flock" added
Aunt Bessie, meditaJively, Except you,
Augusta, and don't suppose you will ever
marry, now"
No Augusta echoed, looking down
dTearly at the white taTlatan folds, u shall
never marry now"
And you'll be very happy, l dare say"
went on Aunt Bessie, in a cOnS0latOry vein.
People that don't have any ups are never
troubled with downs Dear heart alive,
I'm an old maid myself and I'm sure my
life has always been an easy one"
Yes, but you had q lover once"
"'Of course J had; | should have mar
Tied Hugh Revere If the Lord IN his good
providence hadn't seen tit to take him away
the. very month before the day set for our
Wedding. felt badly about II at the time,
but become reCOnCiled to my loss"
Augusta passed quietly cut into the
garden where cTOcuS blossoms spTinkled
the borders with gold and pale snow
drops were already sending up their stars
Of spring bloom across the rustic bridge TO
the solitary walk among the eYergreens.
Augusta fitted along scarcely knowing or
needing whittier she went Some new
shadow seemed TO have come over her
some bTOOdng phantom Of evil, she herself
knew not what. Only that she was very
sorT0wful and l0nged 10 be alone.
Miss Vivian"
She started like frightened fawn.
Major CulthUTpeP
For he had met her at the little wire gate
way which divided the CulthOrpe estate
from the less pretentiOus grounds of the
cottage. a tall handsome man, with Span
ish eyes, a rich, dark complexion and a
brard, soft and long as floss silk. Major
CulthOTpe's cheek was slightly flushed, as
il in sympathy with the touch Of crimson
which suffused Augusta Viyian's whole
face.
did I startle you, Miss Vivian?"
NO, but did not expect"
She stopped abruptly, not knowing what
to say in her confusion
Were you going for a walk%
"IeS-nO-I don't know"
And Augusta blushed more hotly than
ever at the thought Of what goose ste was
making of herself But Major Culthorpe
did not seem to notice it.
MAY | have the pleasure Of walking a
little way with yOu?" he asked.
Helen's up at the cottage" Augusta an
Swered, iIupusiyely.
- Is She? | hope she is very we'll! but
you have not answered my question"
"Of course-cer,ainly-I shall be very
happy" stammered Augusta And she
thought to herself: Now he is going to
make A cOnfidante Of me-"
She walked along by his side in silence for
some distance ana then looked up with a
forced laugh.
You have something to say to me. Major
Culthorpe," she began; $50 you may as
well say on"
"Iou are right" he answered with a
smile; " have"
''Wen?"
DO you know how many years we have
bYed nelghbors TO each other, Miss Wv
lamp
Not eXactly-six or seven, believe"
Seven next November. And did it
never occur TO you that this constant com
panionship might suggest to me the posi-
blLtY VI nearer tie?'
supposed it was possible" answered
Augusta, inaudibly.
DO you think ! am too old TO marry p"
Certainly not"
Augusta, would you take me?"
take you, Major Culthrope?"
1 cs you, Augusta. / have loved you all
lneSe years, yet never until now have mus
tered courage to ask yop to be my wife. l
know IL las been cOwaTdly to keep sile nee
so long, yet when a mans whole destiny
hangs on the answer to a single question he
can but hesita te and tremble. My own
dear One-my Augusta only tell me that
have the right TO call you so AMI l shall ask
no desrer boon Of fortune"
And when Miss Vivian come home from
her Walk IN the woods her accepted lover
was by her side.
so, 1t wasn't Helen, after all. " said Aunt
Bessie, when she heard the news. swell,
men are unaccOuutable creatures-apd Au-
RuSla IS very handsome still But / ALWAYS
did think she would be an old maid.
Inc spell oil the ancient proverb was dis
solved for once, and Augusta Vivian. bav-
Ing been three times bridesmaid, was a
bride after all.-N. I. Weekly.