The record-union., 1896-07-12
THE COLONEL'S PLAN.
It was Rosebud,s wedding.

It was Rosebud's wedding.
The little white bride was running
down the path with her hand clasped
in her husbands. After them raced the
six tail bridesmaids, with their faces
buried in their bouquets; and over them
all stormed a cloud of rice.
The Colonel gave his arm to the bride
grooms mother, and the two proceeded
down the churchyard path. Some mis-
directed showers assailed them also,
and Mrs. Kennedy laughed shrilly as
she shook the rice grains off her bon
net.
"Quite superfluous, she remarked, as
they found refuge in carriage, and
were driven UP to the house. The dress
makers apprentice had been in posses
sion during the ceremony, that all the
servants might go to see Miss Rose
married She had stipulated only to
have policeman on the lawn, because
of the wedding presents, and had
propped all the doors and windows
WIDE that he might hear shrieks II any
thing should happen, or if her terror of
the Colonels wolves heads and tigers
should get beyond control.
The first carriageful drove up to the
empty house, and Rosebud and her
bridegroom stood side by side, looking
down the long room, smiling.
The bridegroom's mother was Wo-
man with a presence; she sailed up In a
rustle of heavy silk and Rosebud put
ND her face nervously to be kissed. She
was a little bit afraid Of her mother-in-
law =
The crowd rushed in and the cham
pagne glasses began their perllous CIR
culation, jingling and totterlng. Inc
Colonel had ordered 4 special brand on
a dryness beyond disputing, and II acted
like a tonic upon the lady guests, VINO
slipped at it soberly.
Rosebud's billowy satin trail was get
ting entangled among other peoples S
feet. When she moved the end OF 1t
whisked round suddenly, and caused
great commotion She looked charm
ing. flushed with the glory of the min
ute: but there was a girlish longing in
her ewes when she glanced at the great
white cake.
"I want "a big place to dream on"
she whispered, squeezing the Colonel
arm.
OH said Archie reproachfully, and
then she remembered that she was
married.
Then she disappeared, little white,
radiant vision, to run down the steps
with Archie a little later, and dash
through a. shower of rice into the car
riage that was to take them away to-
gether. The white rain pattered on
the carriage roof and Rosebud, putting
her head out, smiled and nodded.
"a capital plan," said the Colonel.
He was addressing the aunts and cous-
ms who who had come down for Rose
buds wedding, and who were now scat
tered about the empty rooms Ihe
carriage drive was white with rice, and
some fowls had thrust themselves in
below the edge, and were very happy.
Inside. there were crumbs Of hard, white
icing upon the carpet, and the place
looked bare. The afternoon was draw
ing to a close, and there was to be some
kind of dinner some time; no one knew
when or what The aunts and cousins
|smoothed out their finery, and stretched
their smiles; they were inclined to feel
melancholy. But the Colonel was very
CHEEKY.
"a capital plan," said he. "Old Mrs.
Kennedy will have the place ready for
them. She is going to live with them.
you know, and give them hints, which
will be jolly for Rose"
'Humph,' said the aunts and cousins.
The six bridesmaids turned away from
the window A great deal of rice had
Slipped down their necks, and their
views of life were not quite SO rosy.
Poor thing!" they exclaimed to-
gether.
=
The Colonel was going to see his
daughter. AS the honeymoon was over,
the birds must be settled in their nest,
and he was eager to see his little Rose
in the glow and dignity of her new po-
sition. Driving into the town, he put
up at hotel, and marched down the
street light -heartedly. Archie Kennedy
managed the County Bank, and though
his "house" was over a shop, as often
happened in Scottish towns, the county
came in for afternoon tea, and waited
up there for their carriages after con-
certs, beside showing themselves gen.
orally kind; for Archie was we'll con-
nected.
- L.,
stopping to chuckle upon the mat. 1t
seemed such a funny way of inquiring
for Rose.
He was taken up stairs solemnly, and
put into the drawing-room, Rosebud s
drawing-room. With another chuckle he
iput up his glasses and looked about him,
How Rose used to scold at the shabby
old drawing-room at home, room that
not all her friDperies could brightenl
when / have a room of my own
she would say, 'it will be all pink and
pretty. Pink paper and cushions, and
little crooked chairs, and Dresden
china Waltz
This was, however, not the kind Of
| room that the Colonel had been led to
! look for 1t was long and dark, with
| heavy blue curtains, shutting out the
windows and the sun. The wallpaper
was of a dark-blue pattern, and the
mantelpiece was covered with pea
| cocks feathers, of which Rose had
| such dread and horror that she had
| burned all there were at home
The Colonel walked up and down,
| lost in astonished contemplation. In
| his abstraction he knocked over a
wcrk- basket that had table to itself,
ard stopped to pick up the contents
| reels, scissors, socks and wool and a
big bunch of keys. These keys looked
! business-like; they clattered much as
the Colonel put them back, but he no.
| ticed that the basket was old, and the
! lining shabby; it could not belong to
Rose. He Strengthened himself up and
wondered
| .Fapa,"
! She came flying. up her old, hasty
/ fashion. The door with its heavy cur