The morning call., 1893-09-04
EVA DARLING.

The village of Tong looked fair enough
this June morning. The sun was bright,
the sky cloudiess. From the old-gabled,
half-timber cottages near the church the
folks had hung colored pocket-handker.
chiefs, blue cloth, red flannel and what
not ANYTHING for a gala appearance.
The chief decoration Of all, however, was
the arch of evergreens studded with roses
just outside the red brick house OF the
Dariags. 1t bore the words Joy be with
theeI" done in white carnations.
Eva Darling was the bride. Her mother
had occupied the Retreat-as the red house
with the high walls around it was called
for about ten years. She was e widow and
Eva was her only child.
When first the darlings came to Tong
the villagers did not half care for the new.
Corners. Mrs. Darling kept herself to her.
sell deal too much for their pride's com.
fort But as Eva grew from a girl of lC
TO girl of 10. II and Is there was no stand
ing against Ter charms.
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 undulat-
ing park land. No one could say the
Great House was handsome place. Mrs.
Darling was not concerned with mere
architectural beauties, From the first,
when she knew there We're two young
masculine DaEtins in the family, resi- ect-
lively and years older than her daugh-
ter, this lady resolved that one of them
should marry Eva.
They were young men of very opposite
characters, these Dantins. 1t is always
the case when there are but two In fam
ily. Nature seems determined that the
type shall then be varied AS much as posi-
be. Philip. the elder, was etudlous and
iona of ScIentllc pursuits. At Oxford he
had kept a menagerie. He WAS good
looking fellow. but wore spectacles; slow
to 0e angeTed. but with a temper that.
I'D reused. was capable of dark deeds.
&a&uas slow IN other respects also. Thus,
nile, he was sorely distressed when
rd that his brother Jack had wooed
an on Eva Darling ere he had settled in
his O%n mind that he himself was ripe for
marriage with the same girl. Anon he
seemed to smother the resentment ecould
hardly help feeling; but it was mere
seeming; his jealousy burned his heart.
As for Jack Dantin, he was the very fel-
low to secure a girl like Eva. He cared
nothing for insects and butterflies, but
everything for athletic pursuits and pretty
faces. He was frank and generous. He
knew early in his courtshIp that he had
bur to ask Eva TO marry MIN. The girls
eyes could not keep their secret; her
cheek, too, told of it with blush every
time they met. And so the had plighted
their troth, and were duly to be married
this June morning.
Meanwhile, however, though everything
was ready for the bridal procession TO
leave the Retreat and cross the road there
was delay. 1t was to be a quiet weddn ing.
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 a
hitch somewhere.
Some one was caught whispering, "Will
it not have to be postponed ??
The words reached Mrs. Darling's ears
ron, no. she replied promptly, with an
icy. but sparkling smile. Dear Eva is
quite satisfied that John Dantin Will not
fail to be present. He is a man of his
Eyes; but dear Mrs. Darling-it is so
very odd, this sudden disappearance" OBJ
jected one of the guests.
Three days ago, added Mrs. Darling.
"Yes. there's no denying il. But Jack
Dantin IS an odd fellow, though an excel
lent one besides"
Here Eva herself entered the drawing
room and all eyes sped toward her, She
was beautiful bride, undeniably. Though
pale and disturbed-as any maiden in her
place would have been-tbere was such
sweetness in her expression that for the
moment people forgot that she had cause
for anxiety.
"My dear" said her mother, sit is
quarter to IL. We had better start"
Eya's eyes asked the question that every
one else was asking. HAS he Gomez"
And so the procession formed and walked
over the crimson cloth which stretched
from the porch to the garden gate.
Twenty PAGES brought them to the
churchyard gate. The graves were nice
and green, and the sheep nibbllng among
them aid not seem a. all frightened by SO
ftan I'm mo-
into the church, not without many fur
tive glance over the park toward the
Great House, which, at Mr. Dantin's bid
ding, was flying the royal banner, in spite
of young Jacks absence.
Inside, they were met with almost
caressing tenderness by Mr.. Dantin and a
sad shake of the head. Il am sorry" he
said To Mrs. Darling, ''thatyour re- olution
was not 10 be shaker"
The lady tossed her head slightly and
seemed disposed to be angry. ut is most
extraordinary thing" she exclaimed. LOOK
Ing at the clock in the west Of the church
1t wanted eight minutes of the time.
The old rector put gay face on the busi-
ness. Why, in truth, should he not? He
had buried and welded so many people
that be had come to view neither ceremony
as so very important.
you will have TO come again another
day, my dear Miss Eva" he said, that is
all. You must not mind. 1t is the linked
sweetness Of expectation, long drawn out,
that is ALL"
"But'-and for once there was a touch
of petuiance IN the girls voice as her eyes
clouded with tears-''it is so unlike him.
fear something must have happened to
him. Philip" she added, making a sadden
appeal To the man who was To be made her
brother-in-law, 'have you any idea what
it means?"
81? How should -" was the reply. as
the elder Danti sbuffied awav.
Philip's lace was unusually pale. There
was no candor in his eye-eyen seen
through his spectacles.
Three minutes to II and still no BRIDE
groom!
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