The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-08-05

lowed the rivers bank to the limit Of
the government house grounds and are
now returning by the high road
AS they round the corner past the
church two of the party linger behind.
They are the governors eldest daughter
and the private secretary. The others
go on, but presently discover that somo
are missing, and the aid-de-camp re-
turns to look for them. He approaches
gently, walking on the grass by tho
roadside He calls, but no one answers.
From the church comes the sound of
music. The amateur organist has been
holding choir practice and is now
playing on in the dark by herself She
plays low, sweet voluntary, but pres
emily breaks into the Wedding March. "
As the aid-de-camp advances he sud
denly describes two figures, close beside
him, standing under the shadow Of a
spreading banyan tree near tho church
gate. They are the private secretary
and the eldest daughter, and their backs
are toward him. Before he has time to
speak ho hears manly voice say,
'That is good omen, is it not, my
darling?' and sweet, girlish treble re-
plies: Eyes, and l shall love Mendels-
sohn's Wedding March all my life be-
cause lG seems so bound up with you
and with my happiness. Do you re-
member that first Sunday But the
aid-de-camp has turned on his heel and
is out of hearing by this time. He re-
ports that the stragglers "are all right
and coming on. They have only been
listening to Mrs. Mobiles playing"
| The moon continues to shine and the
waterfall to sparkle in her rays and to
splash unsteady down into its rocky
bed, but to the aid camp black
shadow of great darkness seems to have
spread itself over everything, and the
roll of the falling water and the noise
of the breeze among the filoa trees have
a mournful, moaning sound.
|
1t is noon on brilliant day in Christ
mas week and consequently in the mid
die of the hot season. Outside tho grass
is beginning to look burnt up, and tho
roses and geraniums are too much ex-
hausted from the heat to put forth any
more flowers, but the hardy begonia is
still in full bloom, and the oleanders
havo large punches of pink blossoms OH
the tops of their tall, willowy stems,
which wave back and forward in tho
breeze and exhale delicious perfume,
like that of bitter almonds. In one cor
ner of the churchyard large Transplant
tree bears waxy clusters of pale yellow
flowers at the ends of it's cactusliko
branches, while shining out among the
foliage i'll the government house
grounds opposite is tall f1amboyant
tree, which, with its flame colored bios
SONS covering the whole top of the leaf
less tree, looks like veritable "burn-
ing BUSH"
Inside the church has been turned in
to a bower, everywhere palms and
ferns and sweet smelling white flowers.
Tho bare, barnlike walls are completely
hidden by il mass Of greenery, the Win
dow stills are filled with blossoms and
the altar rails festooned with maiden
, hair and stephanotis, while the lower
half Of the east window is perfect
bank of ferns and flowers, above which
may be seen the clear blue sky, flcckcd
with white clouds, and the tops of tho
trees.
All is pleasant hustle and confusion
within, for Il great wedding is about to
take place, and all the beauty and fash
ion of the island colony have been sum-
moncd to do honor to the governor S
daughter.
The ladies arc i'll tho brightest and
| freshest Of toilets, while varied uni
forms help to enliven tho scene.
Everywhere there is buzz of sub
ducd, pleasant talk and Of delightful
expectation.
The bishop is ut the altar, the bride
groom and his best man near the rails
The bridesmaids await the bride in the
! porch, and in and out and everywhere
among the regation-arrangin
everything, showing guests to their
seats, talking to every one and making
himself generally useful and agreeable
-fiits the aid do-camp. He has been at
work since before daylight and yet does
not seem ut all fatigucd, but has II
| pleasant smile or Il kind word fer every
| one.
Now the music strikes up, and pres
emily the bride appears, leaning on the
arm of her father. The marriage scrv-
ice proceeds, the bishop joins the young
couples hands, the vows are taken, the
ring put on. the hymns sung and the
address delivered. Then comes Il mo-
mont of silence while the newly mar
ried pair still linecl ut the altar rails,
and when one can distinctly hear the
champing of the horses in the carriages
waiting outside and the signing of the
breeze i'll tho tops of the filoa trees.
Then as the young couple rise from
their knees there break forth the joy
GUS strains of the Wedding March. "