The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-07-08
THEIR WEDDING DAY.
How q Brothers jealousy Caused
It TO Be Postponed.


enough this June morning. The sun
was bright. the sky cloudless. From
the old gabled, hslf-timbcr cottages
near the church the folks had hung col
ored et-handkcrchiefs blue cloth.
red flannel and Misunderstanding for
gala appearance. There was also "A
string set across from the elm by the
lich-gatc to the house of old Quinn, the
sexton; and real bunting. pennons,
union Jacks, and so forth, hung from
the string and fiuttered 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 Darliugs IL
bore the words: Joy be with thee
done in white carnations
Eva Darling was the bride. Her
mother had occupied the Retreats
the red house with the high walls round
1t was called-for about ten years. She
was widow, and Iva 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 prides comfort But rs 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 basket. and. in short. played the
part Of ministering angel extremely
well Thus she won the hearts of the
simple but strongly prejudiced people.
Ii was only with the gentry of the
Great house that Mrs Darling cared 10
associate The Great house stood a
mile from the church across a spacious
reach of updulating park land, with a
pond and river in il, and some re-
markably 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
trcss between the green Of the park
land and the dark wooded hill be-
hind il.
No one could say the Great house
was a 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 in 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
a good-looking fellow, but wore spec
tacles: slow to be angered, but with a
temper, that. when reused, was cap
able of dark deeds lie was slow in
other respects also Thus, for awhile
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 hat he himself was ripe
for marriage with the same girl. Anon
he seemed to smother the resentment
he could hardly help feeling: but il
was mere "seeming;" his jealousy
burned his heart.
As for Jack Danton. he was the very
fellow to secure a girl like Eva lie
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 10 ask Eva To- marry him. The
girls dark eyes could not keep their
secret: her checks. too. told of il with a
blush every time they met. And 50
they had plighted their troth. and Were
duly to be married this June morning.
They were likely 10 make 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. Ii was To be a
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 q
hitch somewhere. The smiles were
somewhat forced, and the guests fell
silent suddenly now and then.
Mrs Darling made civil forays into
their midst at intervals She was evi
IDENTIFY a strong-minded woman. As was
indicated by her composed manner, hcI
hard. incisive tones, and her cold
searching blue eyes.
Some one was caught whispering
'Will it not have to be postponed?'
The words reached Mrs. Darling's
ears "Oh. no." she replied, promptly
with an icy but sparkling smile. Dear
Eva is quite satisfied that John Dantir
will not fail to be present. He is MAJ
Of his word
Yes; but dear Mrs. Darling-it is =
very odd. this sudden disappearance
objected one Of the guests.
Three days ago. added Mrs Oar
ling. Yes: there's no DENYING it, But