Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-17

said, "and it will be no inconvenience tt
you, hope, as you have engaged another
maid. When you spoEe of it the other day
/ thought this other maid would do fol
YOU"
Il wish you may not regret this, Miriam,
replied Mrs. Clyde, warningly. az do moi
like Ford; do not trust her; take care you
do not trust her too much"
But Miriam knew, as her mother saiG
this, that she had already been forced te
trust Ford ''too much" She knew, too
to a certain extent, she would be obliged to
go on trusting her. And therefore she was
forced to disregard her mothers warning,
and Mrs. Clyde left the room with that
strange uneasiness in her heart about hel
daughters future which had lately troubled
her so much, considerably augmented.
But the marriage morning dawned-and
the sun was shining-and everything seemed
to look promising and prosperous for the
bride. 1t was a quiet wedding, but the
stalwart, good looking bridegroom seemed
so completely happy, and the bride so fair,
that every one who looked on them ought tc
have been satisfied. That Sir James was
there there could be no doubt, and tina;
shadow of hidden fear was not visible in
Miram's face. Yet as she entered the
church in her trailing white garments, lean.
ing on her fathers arm, she did for moment
| glance quickly round. But the dark, hand.
some face. that perhaps she dreaded to see,
was not there. Only a few spectators at.
tracted by the carriages outside, only the
eager lover waiting for her within. And
nothing interrupted the ceremony. There
in the presence Of her nearest friends-hel
father and mother, and her sister and her
husband-Miriam Clyde promised to be
James Mackennon's wife, "and forsaking
all other, keep truly unto him."
And Joan Conrav heard these solemn
words, and gave little shudder, knowing
how she had kept her troth. And the
grey-haired General, whose wife she was,
looked at her with softened eyes. remem-
bering the day when they too had taken
these vows, and when his young wife had
been given to him 'to love and cherish. "
And in his way-for he was naturally re-
served and somewhat stern man-General
Conray had truly loved his wife. She, to
| do her justice, had never fathomed the
| depth and strength of his feelings toward
her She had married him against her
| girlish will, and she had always thought of
him as an old man, and her heart had ever
been cold to him. But she respected and
feared him. She dreaded above all things
that he should ever suspect that dark Sc
cret and its tragic end that had blighted her
life. She gave him no cause for suspicion
now; she lived indeed as it were above it,
and the General was proud of her beauty
and her stainless name.
But presently 1t was all over. and Lady
MacKennon passed down the aisle on her
husbands arm, and the small party re-
tnrned to the hotel tor the wedding break
fast, Here they were Joined by Colonel
Lowrey and two other old comrades OF
n1n nal d. A III = 4ha al -.
belonged to the service and had grown gray
in it, except the bridegroom And Sir
James spirits were absolutely boyish dur
ing the meal which followed. He was
elated beyond measure as it were, for had
he not won his hearts desire? He was in
the morning of his life, but these gray
haired soldiers around him smiled little
grimly perhaps as they watched his exuber-
ant content. They knew if he did not that
shipwreck may come on the life voyage as
the storm strikes the bravest vessels on the
sea. None of us indeed here need to be too
full of jov. Troubles lurk everywhere, and
let us be thankful if they pass our door.
Thankful but no: elated. neither by success,
nor wealth, nor beauty, for all these things,
if they come, may pass away.
Nevertheless, Colonel Lowrey, when he
rose to propose the health of the bride and
things of earth. He was an old bachelor.
kindly but frosty, and had known Colonel
Clyde's children in their long clothes. He
also liked Sir James; liked his ingenious
and open devotion to his young wife
''It is like glimpse Into the past, /" he
told them, land makes old soldiers like the
rest of us, and he looked smiiinglv round,
recall the time when we, too, did not
think of our wine, nor our dinners, nor our
easy chairs, but of bright eyes and rosy
lips, like our gallant bridegroom is doing
now. And certainly Sir James MacKennon
has some excuse for losing his head, and 1
only wish was young enough once more to
lose mine! Blu. no such luck. 1 admire a
pretty face still, but 1 look upon it very
calmly and soberly, probably from the fact
that no pretty face ever looks at me; or if
by any chance a pair of bright eyes were to
rest on my furrowed visage, they would
rest very calmly and soberly, too. 1
have let my time for good things
slip past, but Sir James has
taken time by the foreloek. Here is this
lucky young man married to lovely young
girl, in the very bloom of her womanhood,
and so no wonder he looks delighted. AS
for the bride, she was a sweet little baby
not so many years ago, my friends, and in
those days l once had the privilege of kiss
ing her, which 1 must honestly say she re-
sented so deeply that she screamed for an
hour afterward. know never attempted
to take such liberty again, and ever after
at the sight of me she hid her face on her
ayah's shoulder. But 1 must not 60 on
with these tender recollections. You all
know what she is to me; the daughter of an
old and valued friend, and / should not
have been at all pleased if had not liked
her husband. But do like him, and so 1
now propose the health and happiness and
long life, and every blessing to them, of
Sir James and Lady MacKennon. If all
the good things come to them that wish,
their cup will be full indeed"
Colonel Lowrey having ended his speech,
which was received with much cheering and
good humor, sat down, and Sir James
presently rose to reply to it.
Colonel Lowrey, ladies and gentlemen, "
he said, smilingly, ''Colonel Lowrey has
just told you L look very much delighted.
1 do not know what 1 look, but 1 know
what feel. 1 feel perfectly happy, and
very proud of myself; for have L not won
the sweetest and loveliest bride that 1
think a man ever did win? And she was
not very easy to win either; so it's no
wonder 1 am a little bit off my head.
Therefore 1 won't trespass any further on
your time, as 1 cannot be expected to talk
very sensibly to-day, but thank you most
heartily in the name of my young wife and
myself for all the kind things you have
said of us, and can only add that L hope
my wife may some day soon have the
pleasure of seeing you all in her new home
at Kintore."
These simple kindly words were naturally
very well received, and indeed the whole
entertainment passed off in the pleasantest
and most joyous fashion. Then the young
pair started on their journey, and before