Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-03-05

with n blush every time they met.
And SO they had plighted their troth
and were duly to be married this June
morning. They were likely to make
n very comely couple at the altar, with
the great tombs of departed Dantins
north and south of them.
Meanwhile, though everything was
quite ready for the bridal procession
to leave the Retreat and cross the
road there was delay. 1t was to be n
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 table. Still there was clearly a
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
evidently a strong minded woman, rs
was indicated by her composed man
ner, her 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 8
ears. "Oh, no" she replied promptly,
with an icy but sparkling smile. Dear
Eva is quite satisfied that John Dan
tin will not fail to be present. He is
man of his word" "
"Yes, but, dear Mrs. Darling, it is
so very odd, this sudden disappear
ance, objected one of the guests.
| sGNhraa lava
Darling. "Yes, there's no denying it.
But Jack Dantin is an odd fellow,
though an excellent one besides. "
Here Eva herself entered the draw
ing-room, and all eyes sped towards
her. An audible murmur of satisfac.
tion arose and certain men of the party
envied the bridegroom involuntarily
She was u beautiful bride undeniably
Though pale and disturbed, as an,
maiden in her place would have been
q there was such sweetness in her eS
h preston that for the moment peopl
?. forgot that she had cause for anxiety
t, Three or four damsels of her own ag
l. crowded about her, voluble with con
d gratulations.
r 'My dear, said her mother, cit i
e quarter to II. We had better start.
S Evas eyes asked the question tina
d every one else was asking -"Has h
: Gomez"
;, 'Do not fear, was Mrs. Darling
It reply. "Of course he will be there
a He will not dare Then she stopped
=. There had been momentary flash i
n her eyes of very pugnacious kind.
,e And SO the procession formed an,
II walked over the crimson cloth whicl
o stretched from the porch to the gar
J. den gate, where the motto, SOY be
). with you - looked down on them.
S gust of wind set the pocket handker
\ chiefs and bits of flannel hutterin1
e merrily. A murmur of voices alsc
greeted the bride'sappearance About
: once in half century Tong saw we'd
ding of this kind. 1t was a spectacle
by no means to be lost certain
bedrdden villa3er had been carried
J into the bit of a garden in front of hi,
cottage, bedding and all, to behold
5 the sight.
Twenty PAGES brought them to tn
, churchyard gate. The graves wer
Q nice and green, and the sheep nibblin,
t among them did not seem at all fright
+ eued by so much human company
a Thus they passed into the church. no
# without many II furtive glance owe
e the park towards the Great House
. which, at Mr. Dantin's bidding, wa
e flying the royal banner in spite q
70 young Jacks absence.
e Inside they were met with almost
! caressing tenderness by Mr.. Dantil
] and a sad shake of the head. 81 an
: sorry" he said to Mrs Darling, "tha
4 your resolution was not to b
shaken
The lady tossed her heal slightl,
, and seemed disposed to be angry. 81
| is a most extraordinary thing" sh
1 exclaimed, looking at the clock in th
= west of the church. 1t wanted eigh
minutes to the time.
E The old rector put gay face on tn,
- business. Why, in truth, should h,
e not? He had buried and welded 81
, many people that he had come to view
, neither ceremony as SO very import
f ant.
"You 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 {
touch of petulance in the girls voice
as her eyes clouded with tears, sit il
SO unlike him. l fear something must
have happened to him. Philip" she
added, making a sudden appeal to the
man who was to be made her brother
in-law, "have you any ilea what it
means?"
q? How should l? % was the reply,
RS the elder Dantin shuffled away.
Philips face was unusually pale,
) There was no candor in his eye-even
seen through his spectacles.
Outside the church and in the body
) of the building the whispers were of a
more emphatic nature. The village
gossips claimed to have very pro.
found knowledge OF the iniuuity OF
! z-.,,nr. MAJ, II r.og Z,;I 4,