Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-02-26
CHAPTER VI.


Victorine and | were up in the great
open garnet, putting quilt into the
frame. 1t was silk quilt, composed
entirely of brides wedding dresses.
Sister had been making it ever since
could remember anything. 1t was
much talked of in the neighborhood and
was very beautiful design. The dress
es We're almost all white or cream,
though there were silver grays and pale
bluffs and lilac and blue tints where the
bride was married in the morning and
in her bonnet All this was backed up
by a soft neutral tint that seemed to
chime in with anything, and it was lined
with pink and was to be quilted in
flowers with pink silk.
When any one in the county was
married, some one managed to get bit
of the stuff left in cutting the dress
Worn at the altar for Victorine. Moth
ing was more common than for bride
who had no personal knowledge of us
to forward the scrap herself, with her
compliments. 1t was considered an
honor to be placed in that quilt, where
each brides name was written across
the center of the patch-in her own
hand, if possible. The quilt had a patch
which we sOlemnly believed to be
piece Of Martha Washington wedding
gown in the very center, and about it
other relics of the costumes of RevOlu-
tionary brides. Then there was a frag-
ment of the robe of the Empress Eu-
genie and that Of the Princess of Wales.
| could make quite a catalogue of @ele
brated brides were l to begin, and, as
to the brides Of Virginia families, they
at least We're authentic, without
doubt. For good while FictOrine had
been very mysterious about two empty
spaces. When those were filled, she
declared, she would call the quilt fin
ished, not before.
AS l helped her pull and pat and
draw the delicate thing into shape,
saw that the Corners had something
written in them, and STOPPING read in
one, "A hope that died, in the other,
"A dream that vanished"
you understands asked Victorine.
l shook my head.
Those We're to have been filled with
pieces of our wedding gowns, " said my
half sister solemnly. Il meant
meant -
She put her handkerchief to her eyes
and sobbed. Then she rushed to me
and kissed me.
II would do more for your" sake,
Persis," she said. And l only did my
duty. This is the last time that shall
refer to myself"
For my sal1e?" The speech puzzled
me.
Don t think l regret it," she added.
He was the salt of the earth and
true as steel. But my duty was clear.
my poor wronged, i'll used sister"
l began to wonder if Victorine were
quite sane.
We stitched away in silence for some
time. Then l said:
"Victorine, would you like to trav-
~ Would you like to go to Europo?"
i, would be good for you, darling"
she answered. Yes" Her eyes be-
gan to shine.
Il think Miss Null can make a very
pretty travelling dress, she said. 'Get
something snowy, make yourself as
handsome as possible. AS likely as
not there'l be a nobleman or SO on
board the steamer, and they always
fall in love with southern young ladies.
Before you reach the shores of Eng
land, you may be affianced to duke,
and even if his mother is a duchess
she cannot object to our family. Oh,
dearest, l could die happy could 1 but
see you welded to duke" And Vic
torine clasped her hands.
"A duke! How can you say such
dreadful things. What have l ever
done to you, Victorine?" remonstrat-
ed. She did not laugh.
II feel as though my soul were pro-
phetic," she went on; 'as though l
were clairvoyant or had Scotch second
sight. l can picture the scene. sup
pose you would be married in West
minister abbey"
AT least am sure will not be bur-
led there" l murmured.
Ever so many bishops-perhaps the
queen would be present. Is that court
etiquette? l forget. And he would be
feet 8. They always are. And his
mother, the dowager duchess, and his
sisters, plain but aristocratic, and all
eyes fixed on you. An American bride
is she not beautiful 1 fancy hear
one say. From the south, some one
answers. Northern ladies never have
such eyes.
'Oh, what triumph! l should like
to see him when he hears the news-the
false wretchl Why, can hardly wait
to start. I'm SO sure you'll come back,
Persis, duchess of-what's its name?"
Really, Victorine, said, 81 should
prefer a prince, if all the princes are
not married off, and you don't mind.'
Dem Princesl Ike Prince de las lef'
in town, an he done got put in de pen
nytenshary yes day." said Emily, her
turban arising above the floor as she
assembled the we'll staircase. mo count,
poor white trash hull OBJ dat Prince
family. Gamblin an goin on, an shoot
in folks an kitin about, seekin who dey
kin devour."
Then we both laughed-one can
laugh with the heaviest sort of heart
sometimes.