The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1897-04-29

piled that she knew 1t was something
uncomfortable, and then she suggested
that we should change the subject.
And please tell deal old Frank not
to bother. If he wants the ring he'll
have to saw off my finger to get it, n
l suppose he doesn't wish to do that
From that hour we dropped the sub
ject, and I cannot remember any fur
Their allusion to it being made. l sup
pose the young people came to some
satisfactory understanding, for Frank
never again asked me to interfere in the
matter, and l was thus spared any
repetition of what is always an un-
grateful as well as an unpleasant task.
Time passed on, and the wedding day
was fixed, and Cecile, like most brides
elect, lived in a whirl. Between dress
makers, and friends, and bridesmaids.
and relatives mot to mention Frank.
she seemed to be ION the go" morning,
noon, and night, and l began to recog-
nize the truth Of one of the unfavor-
able remarks l had heard. She was I'M
questionably extremely delicate. She
seemed to grow thinner day by day,
and sometimes, when my eye fell on the
offending little ring with its curious
green stone 1 would tell myself that
soon it would not be a question Of being
impossible 10 keep it on. However,,
Notwithstanding her thinness and her
pallor, she was in excellent spirits, and
laughed our fears to scorn.
n morning, about a week before
the dav for which tho wedding had
been fixed, l went up to Savile Row
with the Longs to see the final trying
on of the bridal costume. Cecile looked
lovely in her marriage garment of soft
rich satin, the dead white of which was
relieved here and there by the dark
green of he myrtle leaves with which
10Th the bodice and train were
trimmed. The whole strength of the
company was summoned from the
atelier above to admire their handi-
work and its wearer, who was all
smiles and gracious responsiveness for
a time, until suddenly, without a word
or a sign of warning, she clutched hold
of the chair against which she was
standing and fell back in a dead faint.
We were not long in restoring her
to consciousness, but before leaving
the house 1 learned, to my grief and dis
may, that this was not the first time
that Cecile's strength had succumbed
under a similar strain.
But some young ladies never can
stand for long," said the graceful, fair
haired modiste, who looked herself
ready to drop with exhaustion. How
o,nr,b che oI1aJ u,;o1,1,, S;t oo-ro+ 10
helped. One must stand for a certain
time If one wishes to be properly fit
ted"
I'll faut souffrir pour etre BELLE" I
murmured sadly, as 1 followed Cecile
and her mother down the wide, hand
some staircase.
The wedding day dawned dark and
cold. The sky above was one still,
gray cloud, but around us everything
was clad in the white of freshly fallen
snow-a wedding garment or a winding
sheet according to the mood of the be-
holder! The wind, which was from the
east, howled dismally down the Chin
ney the whole time I was ~arraying my
self for the festivity, and the sound
filled me with a melancholy I could
neither Danish nor ignore. 1t was like
the cry of a woman in pain.
When l entered the church, lavishly
decorated with white flowers and au-
tumnal leaves, the view was dulled and
came creeping down the aisles, blur
ring the lamps and changing the pill
lars into shadows.
l had a good view of the bride as
she passed up the aisle, and I thought
she looked CHASTITY. Her face was
white; her trembling lips were almost
blue; and there were purple rings
round her large, dark hazel eyes.
The service commenced, but l could
not fix my attention to listen. My
nerves were on edge. The air seemed
dense, as if a storm were brewing. l
looked without seeing. 1 listened with
out hearing. Suddenly my husband
touched my arm and whispered to me:
How she is! She is drawing
off the wrong glove! Why don't they
tell herr"
Then I heard a tinkling sound as OF
a coin falling on the hard mosaic floor,
and I saw the smallest bridesmaid
stoop and pick up something. Then
came a cry which resounded through
out the church. do Zobaczenia, Paul!'
saw the bridesmaids fall back as Mrs.
Long rushed between them-and l re-
member no more.
When l came to myself l was in the
schoolroom which communicated with
the church. My husband was with ms
as we'll as Minnie Grey, my niece, who
had oficiated as chief bridesmaid. She
was very pale and her eyes were full
of tears. l had no need to ask the ques-
ton. ut is all over" l said. Il know
Minnie burst into tears. ct was in.
Simultaneous the doctor. told us, Aunt
And see what Isabel picked up!' an6
she handed me the ring that l ha6
looked at so often with doubt and re-
greet. The center stone-the euclase-
had fallen u Inside the band-s
broad one-I read. do zobaczenia
Paul"
Only words! 1t was the spirit tina