The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-06-25
THE PHOTOGRAPH.

Tse door closed softly behind the quiet
little maid, and the girl, standing before
the long mirror and TRANQUILITY rearrang-
ing bit of lase that had gone astray upon
the white gown, turned, with strange ex-
preston on her beautiful face, and looked
thoughtfully after the maid. Then the
beautiful girl crossed the room quickly and
locked the door. The wedding dress rus
tied family as the key turned in the lock,
and the sonnd, slight as it was, brought
flood of color, exquisite in its hue, into
her cheeks, but with sigh of relief she
went resolutely back to the tiny writing
desk which stood near the dressing table
and sank quietly into the chair before it.
Once again the pink roses gave way to the
white in her cheeks, however, and for
moment her fingers lowered in a half hest
tating, half doubtful way over one Of tbs
heavily carved drawers, then, with little
neat toss of defiance to the thoughts that
were advising her against her heart's wish,
she pulled the drawer slowly open and
drew from its plush lined recess a small
photograph.
1t was the picture of a man, but man
neither handsome nor striking in appear
ance.
For moment the girl looked down at
the plain face before her, with the dear,
really, without emotion; then, with halt
suppressed little exclamation of infinite
love, she pressed the picture to her sweet
young lips again and again.
Up the wide stairway and along the hall
came the subdued strains of the orchestra
humming softly to itself behind the palms
in the balcony, and the ripping melodies
mingled reluctantly with the sound of the
wheels of the late Corners carriages as they
rolled hurriRdlV IN to the door
The girls beautiful eyes, still upon the
photograph seemed to grow dreamy with
recollections, and she forgot the waiting
men and women of her set below Two
years ago-two short yearsI Yet in that
time what century of love woman may
live, and what an eternity of happiness or
! painl
Two years ago, and life held only happi-
| ness and hopes, and now But she would
| not permit herself to think of now; the
| present is to be lived not thought Of
| Whatever happened in that present made
! little difference. The past was hers, secure
| and not to be disturbed. And to that past
| she crept back for one long, last look ere
| it was put away, forever perhaps. She
| knew it must be; she had been told so
time and time again, but not until the
| very night when she was to give her hand
| to her brothers best friend had she fully
realized it all.
With her heart throbbing as it had never
throbbed before, though she had listened
to the hating story from other mems lips,
she heard but dimly what this plain, ear
nest man whispered and when at last she
raised her happy face to his and he kissed
her passiSnately heaven indeed seemed not
so far away.
For long time they sat there-longer
than the gull had the patience to wait, for
it finally flew away-and when they went
back at last, walking slowly along the
beach to the little inn, her heart seemed
to sing to itself the love song he had sung
the night before, with new meaning in
the tender words And she felt and real
lied that love had crowned her life
And now? She wondered dimly if he
remembered all this, or had he forgotten
as men will forget such things? Gould he
do that, could hep She looked again at
the picture held in her warm trembling
hand, and the deep gray eyes looking
straight up into her own seemed to say
Chop while the firm lips might have been
whispering over again those sweet per
juries which even now rang in her ears.
The sharp click of a closing carriage
door sounded below, and moment after
the hurried tread of feet upon the stair
told of the arrival of groom and best man,
! but she did not hear them. Again the
picture was pressed to the girls lips, and
the blue eyes grew brighter still with I'M
shed tears. Gone though it all was if
revocably past, it was still her privilege in
these last few minutes to bring it back if
she chose and to live for moment in the
shadowy long ago. Only few short mo
ments more and the girl would be the
wife, and then
A gentle knock upon the door, and the
little mothers soft, anxious voice called;
itAre you ready, dear? He is here"
The girl started to her feet, clutching
the picture in her nervous fingers until it
almost bent. The orchestra was throb-
bing in musical rhythms below, the chatter
of the guests came up to her as if they
were far away and she but an idle listener,
and the dreamy look in her sweet eyes
: deepened for moment. Then it passed
quickly, and pretty air of determination
and resolve came over her. With one last
yearning look at the face between hel
white fingers she hesitated single second
and then, with eyes alight and cheeks
burning, she slipped the picture into The
bosom of her gown, and the lace fell gen
thy over it.
eyes, mother" she answered quietly
forcing back with great effort the little
sob THAT rose to her lips, and walking
steadily across the room again she unlock
ed the door and stood before the nervous
= chattering bridesmaids with a calm, swee
face and quiet dignity which hushed thel
8 words and set them to silently admirins
her.
81 am ready, !" she said.
, AS the carriage bowled away from tn
door amid a shower of roses and good wish
es and a worn little slipper or two the cir
leaned forward, and drawing the pictur
, from its hiding place slowly she looked a
it and then into the face of her husband
who sat watching her with quiet happi
| | ness. Then, with happy, girlish laugh
she answered his implied question:
eyes; 1 carried it there all during tn
- service, right next my heart. But, Frank
dear, you are much handsomer than YOU
: were two years ago.''-E. j. Appleton il
, Cincinnati Post.