Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-02-05
FOR A FLOWER.
A Story of the Time Of the Reign
of Terror.

Count Clairville had just given in
marriage his only daughter Yolande to
the marquis of Kergouet of an old and
proud Breton family.
The ceremony was over and the
church doors were flung open, display
ing the high altar decorated with
flowers and lights, and in the garland
ed doorway appeared the young pair,
while the bells pealed joyously. All
nature seemed to be in festal attire,
for the sweet odors of spring filled the
air, the wild birds were singing mer-
rily and sunbeams fell like halo
across the foreheads of the bride and
groom. She was fair and graceful and
in her white gown and veil seemed
like an angel strayed from Heaven; the
bridegroom, noble and gallant, looked
with love unutterable at the fair girl
who leaned upon his arm.
The country people were dressed in
their Sunday clothes, the men wearing
rosettes in their buttonholes, the wom-
en- with lilies of the valley in their
bodices, and all waved Towering haw-
thorn branches and made the air ring
with acclamations.
Long live Mile. Yolande! Long
live the bride! God bless our sweet
young lady," they cried, and from time
to time they added; Long live the
marquis!'
The church of Clairville overlooked
the village, being built on rocky emf
nence and was approached by steep
winding path and stairway; rich and
poor, noble and simple, dead and liv-
ing, all must enter the church by way
of paradise road" The wedding
party, glittering in gold and silk and
velvet, and followed by the cheering
crowd, walked down this rustic path
way to where the carriages were wait
ing, and the bridegroom, pleased by
the enthusiasm of the people and their
evident affection for his bride, said to
her, tenderly:
"You see, my love, how dear you are
to these people. They will never for.
get you. fear they owe me grudge
for stealing their good angel from
them"
The bride smiled and raised hei
sweet eyes to his face for a moment
and then she turned to her father say
ing:
at is such beautiful day, papa, may
we not walk home"
Certainly dear, you wish it." hi
replied, glad of an opportunity o
pleasing his child from whom he mus
soon part, and accordingly the brida
pair and all the young persons of thu
party walked through the village t.
the chateau of Clairville, which wa
situated at the other end, while Il
dowagers and other persons followed
in their carriages
Yolande, leaning ON her husband
arm, stopped repeatedly at the humble
cottages where the poor old men an,
women whom age or infrmity rendered
unable to 60 out were waiting in thei
doorways to see the bride pass. Fo
each one she had word and a smile
and many trembling hand and weak
thin voice was raised to bless her.
The joyous procession now reached
turn in the narrow road and came to
standstill, being met by funeral party
1t was very poor affair; there was n
coronet emblazoned on the white pa
which covered the corpse of n youn
maiden, and not flower was see
there, not single blossom, in spite c
the warm springtimel Behind the bic
poorly clad man, the only mournel
walked slowly, looking, with his hea
bent and his face covered by his hands
picture of despairing grief At sigh
of the Clairville wedding party, tn
men carrying the bier stopped an
would have turned out of the road, bu
the mourner raised his head and gaze
fiercely at the happy throng, who wit
their rich gala clothing and smilin
faces seemed to offer insult to his so
row.
"Go onr' he said, in hoarse voice
the porters, as if he would have like
70 crush the fine lords and ladies b,
meath his feet, but the men did nj