Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-07-04
THE PHOTOGRAPH.

little maid, and the girl standing before
the long mirror and TRANQUILITY rearrang.
ing u bit Of lace that had gone astray upon
thu white gown, turned, with a strange OK.
preston on hor beautiful face, and looked
thouShttully after tho maid Then the
beautiful girl crossed the room quickly and
loekcd tho door, The wedding dress rus.
tied family as the key turned In tho lock-
and tho sound, slight MS Il was, brought
flood W colby, exquisite In It's hue, Into
her checks, hut with n sigh OF relief she
went r~olutoly back to tho tiny writing
desk whio& stood near the dressing table
and sank quietly into tho chair hcforo Il.
Once again tho pink roscS gave way to tho
white In her chcokS, however, and for n
moment her fingers hovcrrd In n half hest
tating, half doubtful way over ono of tho
heavily carved drawers, then, with u little
neat toss Of defiance to tho thoughts that
wero advising her against her heart 5 wish,
she pulled the drawer slowly open and
drew from it's plush lined rcceSs n small
photograph
II was the picture of u man, hut u man
neither handsome nor striking In appear.
nucc
For " moment tho girl looked down a.
truo oyrS returning her earnest gaze So
really, without emotion; then, with u half
suppressed little exclamation of infinite
Iowa she pressed the picture to her sweet
young lips again and again,
Up the wtdc stairway and along the hall
camc the suhducd strains Of tho orchestra
hummiug softly to itself hchind the palms
in tho balcony, and tho rirpltng molodics
minplcd rrlurtautly with tho sound OF thu
whTlS Of the late oomors carriages as they
rolled hurrtcdly up to the door,
Tho girls beautiful eyes, stu upon thu
photograph, scomrd to grow dreamy with
rerollcctlnns, and she forgot the waiting
men and wumru nf her set below. Two
wears ag0-two short years. Vet In that
ttmo what u century of love awoman may
live, and what an eternity W happiness or
paint
Two years ago, and life held only happi
ness and hopes, and now But she would
not permit herself to think of now; tho
present Is to Inv lived not Thought Of
Whatever happened In that present made
little dillcrcncc Tho past was hors, secure
and not to he disturbed. And to that past
she cropt hack for ono long, last look orr
II was put away, forever perhaps. Shr
knew II mnst hr; she had boon told ~
ttmo and tlmn Again, but not until tho
very night when she was to give her hand
tn her brothers hest friend had she fully
realized II all.
With hor heart throhhinR NJ II had novor
throhhcd before, though sho had listened
Ia tho hating story from othor mon = lips
she heard but dimly what this plain, ear
nest man whispered, and when ut last sho
raised hor happy faco 20 his and he kissed
her pasSlonntcly heaven Indeed seemed not
81 far away,
For n long time they sat thoro--lonpor
than tho gull had tho patience To walt, for
II finally flow nwny---nnd whom they went
bnck Mt last, walking slowly along tho
beach to tho littlo inn, her hoart seemed
to sing to itself tho lovo song ho had sung
tho night before, with now meaning In
tho tender words. And she felt and rcAl
lied that love had crowned hor life
And nowS Sho wondered dimly II ho
remembered all this, or had he forgotten
IA mon will forget such thingsY Could no
do that, could HOP She looked again at
tho picture held In her warm trembling
hand, and tho deep gray oyos looking
straight up into hor own seemed To shy
"No'" whilo tho firm lips might have been
Whispering over again those sweet per.
jurios which even now rang In hor ears.
Tho sharp click Of closing carriage
door sounded below and n moment Rftor
tho hurried tread of feet upon tho stair
told Of tho arrival Of groom and best man,
but sho did not hear them. Again tho
picture was pressed to tho girls lips, and
tho blue eyes grew brighter stlll with un.
shed tonrs. Como though II nll was, ir
revocably past, 1t was still hor privilege In
these Inst fcw minutes To bring IT. back II
she chose and To live for u moment In tho
shadowy long ago. Only n few short mo
ments moro and tho girl would DO the
wife, and then
A gontlo knock upon tho door, and tho
llttlo mothers soft, anxious voice called
Arc you rNtdy, doarY llo IL hore. =
Tho girl started to her foot, olutchinR
the picture Ia her nervous fingers until IL
almost bcnt Tho orchestra was throb
bling IN musical rhythms below, tho chatter
Of tho guests cnmo up to her ~ II they
wero far away and she but nm idle listener,
and tho dreamy look in her sweet eyes
deopencd for moment. Then II passed
quickly and II pretty mir Of determination
and resolve came over her. with ono last
ycarnlng look mt tho face between her
white fingers she hositnted single second,
and then, with eyes allght and checks
burning, she slipped tho picture into tho
bosom of hcr gown, and the laco foil gen
tly over II,
Yes, mother, she answered quietly,
forcing bank with IA great effort tho little
sob that rose To her lips, and walking
steadily across tho room again sho unlock
oil tho door and stood before the nervous,
chattcring bridesmaids with calm, sweet
faeo and quiet dignity which hushod their
words and set them to silently admiring
her.
II AIN ready" she said.
Al tho carriage bowled away from the
door amid shower Of roses and good wish
es and worn little slipper or two tho girl
leaned forward, and drawing tho picture
from its hiding place slowly she looked at
1t and then into tho face Of hor husband,
who sat watching her with quiet happi.
ness. Then, with u happy, girlish laugh,
she answered his implied question:
YES; carried II there all during tho
service, right next my heart. But, Frank,
dear, you aro much handsomor than you