The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-05
THEIR WEDDING DAY.
How a Brothers Jealousy Caused
It to Be Postponed.

The village of Tong looked fair
enough this June morning. The sun
was bright. the sky cloudless. From
the old gabled, half-timber cottages
near the church the folks had hung col
ored pocket-handkerchiefs, blue cloth,
red flannel and Misunderstanding for
a gala appearance. There was also a
string set across from the elm by the
lich-gate to the house of old Gumm, the
sexton; and real bunting, pennons,
union-iacks, and so forth, hung from
the string and fluttered gently in the
summer breeze. Chief decoration of
all, however, was the arch of ever
greens studded with roses just outside
the red-brick house of the Darlings. 1t
bore the words: "Joy be with theer'
done in white carnations.
Eva Darling was the bride Her
mother had occupied the Retreat-as
the red house with the high walls round
it was called-for about ten years. She
was a widow, and Eva was her only
child
When first the Darlings came to
Tong. the villagers did not half care
for the newcomers. Mrs. Darling kept
herself to herself deal too much for
their pride's comfort. But as Eva grew
from girl of ten to a girl Of fifteen,
sixteen and seventeen, there was no
standing against her charms. There
was a governess for her in those days
Despite the laws of the Retreat, how
ever, on the subject OF intercourse with
the villagers. the girl went to and fro
with a basket, and, in short, played the
part of ministering angel extremely
well. Thus she won the hearts of the
simple but strongly prejudiced people.
1t was only with the gentry of the
Great house that Mrs. Darling cared to
associate The Great house stood a
mile from the church across a spacious
reach of undulating park land, with
pond and a river IN it, and some re-
markedly fine trees. Great house was
just the phrase for it. There were about
fifty windows in front for the sun to
stare at. 1t stretched like white but
tress between the green of the park
land and the dark wooded hill be-
hind it.
No one could say the Great house
was handsome place, but Mrs. Oar
ling was not concerned with mere arch
itectural beauties From the first,
when she knew there were two young
masculine Dantins in the family, re-
spectively three and four years older
than her daughter, this lady was re-
solved that one of them should marry
Eva. OF course the elder son was to be
preferred; but as the younger was rich
by Inheritance from the mother, it
would not matter SO very much which
made the girl Mrs. Dantin.
They were young men of very oppo-
posite characters, these Dantins. 1t is
always the case when there are but
two ia a family Nature seems deter
mined that the type shall then be varied
as much as possible. Philip, the elder.
was studious and fond Of scientific pur-
suits. At Oxford he had kept a me-
nagerie like Frank auckland. He was
q good-loolzing fellow, but wore spec
tacles; slow to be angered, but with q
temper, that, when reused, was cap
able of dark deeds. He was slow in |
CkASl iCSDCCAS dlSO. IuS IOT DIV hAlc
he was sorely distressed when he heard |
that his brother Jack had wooed and |
won Eva Darling ere he had settled in |
his own mind that he himself was ripe |
for marriage with the same girl. Anon |
he seemed to smother the resentment |
he could hardly help feeling; but it |
was mere seeming his jealousy |
burned his heart
AS for Jack Danton, he was the very |
fellow to secure girl like Eva. He |
cared nothing for insects and butter
flies. but everything for athletic pur-
suits and pretty faces. He was hand
some lad, frank and generous. He |
knew early in his courtship that he had
but to ask Eva to marry him. The |
girls dark eyes could not keep their
secret; her checks, too, told of it with
blush every time they met. And 50
they had plighted their troth, and were
duly to be married this June morning.
They were likely to make a very comely
couple at the altar, with great tombs
Of departed Dantins north and south of
them.
Meanwhile, however, though every
thing was ready for the bridal process
sion to leave the Retreat and cross the
road, there was delay. 1t was to be
quiet wedding. A dozen friends of the
Darlings were in the drawing room,
talking and smiling and enjoying the
perfume of the flowers which lay on
the tables. Still, there was clearly
hitch somewhere. The smiles We're
somewhat forced, and the guests fell
silent suddenly now and then.
Mrs. Darling made civil forays into
their midst at intervals. She was evil
lently a strong-minded woman, as was
Indicated by her composed manner, her
lard. incisive tones, and her cold,
blue eyes.
Some one was caught whispering:
Will it not have to be postponed?"
The words reached Mrs. Darling's
,ars. ''Oh. no." she replied, promptly,
With an icy but spar king smile. Dear
Eva Is quite satisfied that John Dantin
If his word
'Yes: but dear Mrs. Darling-it is 50
-ery odd. this sudden disappearance"
objected one of the guests. ,
Three days ago." added Mrs Oar s
ing. Yes: there's no denying it. But !
acll Dautin is an odd fellow, though
n excellent one besides
Here Eva herself entered the draw :
ng-room. and all eyes sped towards
Ter. An audible murnur of satisfac-
ion arose. and certain men of the
'arty envied the bridegroom involun-
arily. She was a beautiful bride. I'M
eniably. Though pale and disturbed
any maiden in her place would