Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-12-06
CHAPTER XII.

When Gwen was dressing for her
wedding, it never somehow struck her
mother to go to her room, and Gwen
had herself given an absolute COM
mand that no one should ask her to do
so. She made no remark at all on the
subject when she did not come, but
she insisted on going to church in the
carriage with Mrs. FelloWeS.
1t was useless to oppose her, she was
like adamant on this point, which set
Dacre swearing like mad. She was
white and silent as they drove Off
Mrs. Fellowes was silent too, and
rather white but she daren't show any
feeling; they were on the brink of a
general upheaval, and her whole ener-
gy must be concentrated to ward it Off
Gwen felt her situation with such
cruel intensity, that even to herself she
had to pretend to a total stony indif-
ference, but when they got to the
gates she sighed and stirred softly and
put out her hand with unaccustomed
usefulness and laid it on Mrs. Eel
loves. 1t was cold and stiff. Mrs.
Fellowes rubbed it gently between
hers and laid it lovingly against her
cheek, and kept in her tears, she
dared not speak.
"God help her, God help her, and
God help Humphreys she kept re-
peating to herself in a sort of childish
entreaty.
Gwen" she said at last, you must
not look like this when Humphrey
sees you. Gwen, my darling, you have
nothing to fear with such manr'
''Do you think I fear him? I thought
you would have known better, it is
myself 1 fear"
yourself is boyle you have set
up, Gwen, Humphrey will soon demol-
ish that!'
81 wish 1 felt sure of it. I wish l
felt sure of anything. Upon my word,
Mrs. FelloweS, upon my word, l wish
from the bottom of my soul l could
say with any decent show of honesty,
God help us, Humphrey and me! But
God never felt so unreal, such a mere
bubble to please fools. as He does at
this minute-Don't, exclaim, or protest,
or be shocked-not today, my wedding
day, and such a brilliant match, too!'
she added laughing "Ah, we'll! I
won't hurt you, Well leave that part
My father is to go through the farce
of bringing me up to the altar. is he
not?" she asked. thrusting all trace Of
emotion from her face ana sitting up
straight.
IF you don't keep a very sharp
eye on him he is sure to do something
quite unique. If one could only wind
him up and touch springs at intervals!
one can't unfortunately, and l feel
sure / shall be made ridiculous Your
eye must get off him now and again.
so l suppose l may as we'll accustom
myself to the thought" she went on
with a shrug, "'and resolve to swallow
the whole hog without grimacing. but
1 do so loathe5 being made to look like
a fool. Are weshere? Oh. my flowers!
The children have them perhaps? Yes.
lookr'
AS she walked up the church. just
touching her fathers arm, with Mrs.
Fellowes' two little nieces in white
gauze and water lilies. looking like a
pair of lilies themselves for softness
and cool creaminess, trotting after her.
her mother from her chancel pew
caught sight of her for the first time.
For a minute she looked dazed and
frightened, then suddenly with a
broken smothered cry. she leaned for
ward and threw out both her hands to
her daughter, two big tears in her
eyes, and her face tremulous with a
great JOY that was pain.