The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-31
A LAGGARD IN LOVE.

was Only one DGESOn G06 RaIQeflQ&
al party-not the bride, nor yet the groom,
only an attendant-and his name was Jack
Wyndom. 1t was generally understood
that he was disappointed lover, and his
relations a gratefullS Betoicing company.
For the latter Harriet Wagner's momen-
tarily impending marriage to Ben Ellis
would avert a possible misalliance with
the Wyndom name and to save that family
necessary financial prop in the person of
Jack himself At least this was the sup
position which had taken such strong hold
on the congregation that it almost made
itself felt in the silence.
The night was that notoriously evasive
cold one of July, and it was passing over
Jack Wyndom with an aching conclusive
ness that the strange something so con-
! stantly predicted for such an atmospheric
condition had come to him. Moving up
the church he suffered that same sense of
oppression endured by mourners following
the dead to the altar.
In the position assigned him, sidewise
to the people, his commanding form and
strong, young profile, clear against the
bank of palms, offered a fair mark for
many. curious eyes, but the young man s
inward gasping of himself concerned not
them, only the ceremony about to proceed.
| The groom stood already before the
! chancel There was a hutter of tulle and
! chiffon, and the blond bride was also in
her place. Then Jack knew the dread be-
hind him had advanced and stood there in
| prosperous rival.
Those two together. How pitilessly they
! emphasized the loss before him.
The clergyman s muttered service and
| the intermezzo, like sobbing of a dove,
agitated the waiting man almost beyond
| endurance. In the midst of it sounded out
| with peculiar distinctness:
''Wiu you, Harriet, take Benjamin for
| your lawful husband?''
''He is in my place. He is in my place, !"
rushed over Jack with a great, useless
throb of rebellion. His finely turned
mouth lifted slightly with the indrawn
! look of suspense so painful to see in the
| face of youth, and his eyes bent with i'm
! ploring anxiety into the face of the bride.
1t was plain what the answer would be,
| and it came, careless and clear:
81 willp'
The echoing treble notes struck him like
! blow. The minister's stern question
went on. ITO love, honor and obey
| But there was no further need to listen. 1t
was done-done.
Standing there SO still, only jacks heart
moved. An obligingly convenient win
dow across the way fastened his eyes in a
| blurred gaze, and that moment his whole
! S6nJ0uC0 concentrated Ii b10 OnS Of61"
| Whelming realization:
''She has gone from me for life.''
| Then he was conscious of the dissolving
/ party. Some girls hand on his arm, and
Jack Wyndom passed down the aisle with
| head erect, his handsome face whittier than
usual
''I was fool to come I" he felt harshly,
''but, - vaguely in his distress, lone must
| not show the white feather" 3"
| His sight gathered indistinctly his own
stately sister, Katherine, all his clan of
fashionable relatives, present in their sud
! den generous expansiyeness. He knew
| them and their concessions. Now in their
safety, bland, affable, needing only the
| propitious moment to break into smiles
| Of good wishes for the bride Not three
| weeks ago no silence was icy enough, no
gravity disappearing enough for even
mention of her name. It was this attitude
of his family that weighed on him more
than he knew. Now the sight of them re-
called all his old dutifuI struggles. Wheth-
CT he had right to impose another and
unwelcOIne addition on the household,
when it would materially lessen his large
contributions to its support, that had been
tho question. With the inevitable conclu-
| sion, if Katherine would only marry, then
he would be free.
Now, he thought, keeping step to the
music, q have tarried too long"
''You have done her wrong, you have
done her wrong, reiterated conscience,
land Harriet has judged you"
Yes, she had judged him, answered his
old question definitely to herself, "She
could not spend her life waiting on a mere
possibility"
Here Jack and his fair companion step
ped out into the open air. He had forgot
ten all about her in his lonely absorption.
"Oh, Mr.. Wyndom, wasn't the bride
charmingY'' chirped the girl before they
were well out of the church.
10 his surprise the ready answer, Yes,
they all are, tripped easily from his
tongue. He had cooled suddenly. All his
real self seemed shut in, but his voice was
answering the bridesmaid. Luckily she
was a stranger to the town and to his love
He felt no embarrassment with her, only
a sense of being inclosed in a metal globe
with some one striking wild, nerve split
ting blows on the outside, regardless Of
his presence.
They rode along quickly enough to the
house and reception. There was Harriet
animated and to others the least bit hard
but to her old lover something small
sweet, inexpressibly lovable. He looked
away. A feeling of her personal nearness
to him possessed him. The heavy looking
man beside her made his heart quake, and
he had not even greeted him yet.
Only to get away as soon as possible
that was the idea. Then he re1nem bered
AlAS SSdb eAD t4lb DAA1C . tehDACs AAG SSSPEOA g
moment, but there was no way out of it
He had to stay.
''PIay it all out, - he thought with the
first dash of bitterness his sweet nature
had yet betrayed, and he did play it out.
At last the guests departed, and Jack
rolled fast through the darkness. Once il
his room he tore of his coat and wedding
gloves and fell on the window lounge il
complete abandonment. The drenchine
moonlight and cool night air touched
lightly his aching head, buried in his arm
on the window ledge.