Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-04-23
THE WEDDING DRESS.

How well remember all. We were
sitting round the fire in the oak parlor
of the old Dover house at Cromer--
mother, Aunt Lettie and I. Dear Aunt
Lettie! how beautiful she was still
despite her snow-white hair; and
though she was 3s, her complexion was
as fresh and bright as any young girls.
We were chatting over the peace just
proclaimed-the peace that ended the
long war with France; the war that
lasted 20 years. ~eb @'a <t&
/ was at my mothers feet watching
the faces gather among the glowing
cmbers-they were ever the same face
to me, the face of dear Jack Pendarves.
Perhaps I ought not to say ne was my
lover, though we had been sweethearts
since we were children; but he had
been away at the wars three years,
and my mother would hear of no en-
gagement, and would permit me to do
no more than write and receive an oc-
casional letter. Still, 1 had broken a
sixpepce with Jack where we parted;
GAld, as I softly touched my half, which
/ always carried, prayed that my love
had been true to me, as 1 knew l had
been to him. Yet I feared; for had
he not been everywhere, and surely he
had seen many faces fairer than mine?
''I suppose" said my mother, Maj
Pendarves will be coming home now.
Well, Sir John and Lady Pendarves will
be thankful. Come in, Martha, what is
ftp"
"Please, ma'am, letter from Sir
John; a man from the hall has just
ridden over with it."
"See that he has some refreshment
before he goes, Martha, and give him
this" taking some money from her
reticule.
"What is it, Mary?" inquired my
aunt of my mother, who was reading
the note through a second time. mo
i'll news, trust"
ooh, no; read it yourself, Letitia,"
passing the letter.
"Of course, the child cannot go; she
has nothing to wear; there is not even
time to get her dress from Norwich,
still less from London, as you know /
intended"
Cannot go where?" ventured. as
1t anything about me?"
eyes, my dear. Sir John writes that
the masquerade given to celebrate the
return of their son is to take place &
month earlier than was at first ar
ranged, in fact, is fixed for to-day week,
as Jack-Maj. Pendarves, should say
is expected on that day.
Jack coming back on Wednesday!
Oh, mother, cannot I go? must &c.
I have been so looking forward to it.
And I have not seen Jack, dear Jack,
for three years. I wonder if he has
altered, If he has forgotten me. Oh,
only seven days more, and he will be
here and shall see him again. Oh.
mother, cannot l go?"
Aunt Letitia, who had been turning
the letter over and over thoughtfully
in her white hands while we talked,
said:
MARY, there is that dress, you know,
which was to have been my wedding
gown. If Lettie likes she may wear it.
Hoops and powder would do for mas
querade; they were worn 20 years
ego"
"My dear Letitia," cried my mother,
betraying her surprise alike in face and
voice, you surely cannot mean that"
Eyes, Mary; it may as well be of some
use at last. Lettie is good girl, are
you not?" patting my head; "and ]
don't want her to be disappointed"
I must tell something of my dear
aunt's life, that you may understand
why my mother and were touched to
surprise. Twenty years before, my
aunt, then 18, and the belle of Dawlish
(some said of Devonshire), was en-,
gagged to be married to handsome Count