The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-02-23

piled that abe knew II was something
uncomfortable. and then the suggested
that we should change the subject.
"And please tell dear old Frank not
TO bother. II he wants the ring he'll
have TO saw on my finger to get H. and
suppose he doesn't wish TO do that"
From that hour we dropped the sub
iect, and cannot remember any fur
Their alluSlon 10 It being NSnade. sup
pose the young peope l'hme to some
satisfactory understanding. for Frank
never again asked me 10 interfere In the
matter. and ! was thus spared any
repetition Of what Is always an I'M
grateful az well as an unpleasant task.
Time passed on. and the wedding day
was liked. and cecile. like most brides
elect, lived In a whlrl. Between dress
makers. and friends. and bridesmaids.
and relatives mot to mention Frank.
she seemed TO be ION the 90" morning,
noon. and night. and began to recog-
nile the truth Of one OF the unfayor-
able remarks had heard. She was I'M
queatlonably extremely delicate. She
seemed 10 grow thinner day by day.
and sometimes. when my eye fell on the
offending little ring with It's curious
green stone would tell myself that
soon Il would not be a question OF being
impossible 10 keep Il on However,
Notwithstanding her thlnness and her
pallor she was In excellent spirits. and
laughed our fears 10 scorn.
One morning. about week before
the day for which the wedding had
been fixed. went up TO savile Row
with the Longs 10 see the Anal trying
on OF the bridal costume. Cecile lookefl
lovely In her marriage garment OF soft
rich satin. the dead white OF which was
relieved here and there by the dark
green OF the myrtle leaves with which
both the bodice and train we're
trimmed. The whole strength OF the
company was summoned from the
aielier above 10 admire their handi-
work and its wearer. who was all
smiles and gracious responsiveness for
time. until suddenly. without a word
or a sign OF warning. she ela.ched hold
Of the chair against which she was
standing and fell back In a dead faint.
We were not long In restoring her
70 consciousness but before leaving
the house learned. 10 my grief and dis
may. that this was not the first time
that Ceeile's strength had suecumbed
under a similar strain.
But some young ladies never can
stand for long" said the graceful. fair
haired modiste. who looked hersel.
ready 10 drop with exhaustion. How
ever" she addsd quickly. 1T cannot b
helped One must stand for a certain
time II one wishes 10 be properly nt-
ted"
II faut souffrir pour etre belle"
murmured sadly. as | followed CecilC
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 falleE
snow--a wedding garment or a winding
sheet according 10 the mood OF the be
holder The wind. which was from tn
east. howied dlsmally down the chin
nsy the whole time I was arraying my
self for the fcstivity. and the SCUM
allied me with a melancholy / eoul
neither Danish nor ignore. II was Tx
the cry OF a woman In pain.
when entered the church, lavish
decorated with white flowers and al
tumnal leave1. the view was dulled an
came cree9ing down the aisles. blur
ring the lamps and changing the oil
lars into shadows.
I had a good view OF the bride a
she passed up the aisle. aud I though
she looked CHASTITY. Her face va
white: her trembling lips were almos
blue: and there were purple ring
round her large. dark hazel eyes
The service commenced. but coal
not Ak my attention TO listen. NJ!
nerves we're on edge. The air seeme'
dense, as n a storm were brewing.
looked without seeing. listened with
out hearing Suddenly my hushani
touched my arm and whispered TO me
"How nervous she lsl She Il drawinl
on the wrong glovel Why don't the.
tell herr"
Then heard tlnkllng sound AZ o
coin falling on the hard mosaic fool
and ! saw the smallest BRIDESMAID
stoop and pick up something. The
came a cry which rcsounded through
out the church. DO Eobaczenla. Paul!
saw the bridesmaids fall back as Mn
Long rushed between them-and ! n
member no more.
when came to myself was In N
schoolroom which communicated wit
the church. Ny husband was with m
a. we'll as Mamie Grey. my niece. VII
had ofiiciated a. chief bridesmaid Sh
was very pale and her eyes were ia
Of tears. had no need TO ask the Que'
ton. 1t IL all over" said. Il know,
Minnie burs, into tears. 1T was II
Simultaneous the doctor told Us, Aun
And see what Isabel picked up" an
she handed me the ring that | Ia
looked At 90 often with doubt and n
gret. The center stone-the euelase-
had fallen GU. Inside the band
broad one-I read: DO Eobaozenl
Paul"
Only words, II was the spirit thl
had given them life-and death.
The sultan aud Electricity.