Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-02-25
A WEDDING, {
BY MARIE LUNNDMANy. {
sSS$IGseSc>es,- %

"ne ram; IN fact a true November dov.
40 november used to be. The foo
seeihed to penetrate crevices and win
vows, and pressing into the room Law its
oolu hahd upon ones feelings darken-
9ne. "'''''Ai
or dld this feeling of oppression come
IRON the book which / had taken up, a
''ouern novel which reflected the world
10 ~ may be, with Photographic truth;
miserable men, dishonorable or unfor-
ounate women-as sad and unfriendly
Us The world without?
hnally could not bear it any longer,
ana l threw the book away. A card
fell out:
Iuesdny, November 13 at four in the
ul'ernoon in the Church of the Trinity"
was engraved upon it and below, writ
Ten IN Il girlish hand: "Come at least to
Inc wedding, dear aunt; shall expect
YOU"
Looked at the clock. 1t was quarter
before four and l had forgotten this
wedding from which | did not in the
least wish to stay away, as | could not
go to the festivities afterward on ac-
count OF recent illness. had Just time
10 change my dress hastily, and to
throw myself into carriage in order to
reach the church in season.
The fog did not seem so dense, the
sky was less heavy; l was already
cheered by the thought of seeing happy
faces. Yes, Hedwig must look happy,
happier than ever today!
She was the daughter of lifelong
friend, and my favorite from the day
that had held her in my arms for the
first time and she had looked into my
face with her large blue eyes. l had
seen her grow up, sweet, good, charm
Ing girl, and the sunbeam of the house
in her harmless playfulness.
Then came time when size grew
quiet and pale, and when those same
large, dark blue eyes had deeper eX-
preston, as though they shed secret
tears. She said nothing, but we knew
her carefully guarded secret; and yet
we could not bring him to her feet, the
man she loved, who stubbornly kept
away. But her troubles came to an end.
1t proved that he had been too proud to
ask for the hand of the rich mans
daughter, before he had obtained GER
tain position.
Hedwig was very happy. ] had not
met the groom during their short en-
gagement, but what heard of him in
the family circle was well adapted to
increase the good opinion of him which
his proud reserve had given me.
The carriage stopped. The ceremony
had already begun, when entered the
church and mixed with the inquisitive
spectators. could see only part of the
splendid wedding guests, but the bridal
couple were in full view.
Hedwig, with a serious, thoughtful
expression on her sweet face and n
happy loolin her blue eyes, looked quite
as I had pictured her. But the bride
groom did not please me quite so well.
IT seemed to me that he had something
intense in his face and closely knitted
brows, something reckless, searching,
In his eyes; in short, not at all the looks
of happy man.
To be sure, | had friend who main
tanned that there was no being more
miserable than bridegroom on his
wedding day. "Why," he used to say,
s.the poor fellow simply dwindlesawey
beside his bride. For her the day is the
most beautiful Of her whole life, on
which she is revered like queen. He
does not only play subordinate part,
hut an entirely miserable role is the
one which he has to act, and one can
eosily see how uncomfortable he feels"
But nv friend was confirmed bache-
lor. and never believed what he said
about these things, and do not yet be-
lieve him.
I The longer I looked at the groom the
lose liked him. His uneasiness seemed
IN increase, and he heard as little of the
sermon. which was pretty well spun out
bv one of our best preachers, as did l.
Ills eyes-I could have sworn it
seemed to be directed, in their uneasy
search. to just where ! sat.
And yet I could not possibly be the
object of his disquiet, even If he could
have seen me, which he could not, for
was hidden in the shadow of pillar
put for whom were those eyes search
ing?
began to look at my neighbors. Be
side me sat stout woman with good
rotured face and hat covered with
hrioht flowers and ribbons; and little
way from us sat young girl who was
dressed prettily and with taste and who
had n remarkably fine profile, but new
ertbelsss gave me the impression that
she was seamstress in her Sunday
clothes.
when she turned found that size was
ovceedingly pretty. The pew in which
she cat was at right angles with our
-"at co that I could easily look at her
nrettv face and the large gray eyes,
Shaded by long lashes, without being
disturbed, particularly as the girls
mbole attention seemed to be riyeted
IN the bridal pair. Or perhaps on the
,n,sarroom. on And his on her!
The =, thought went like Lightning
through me, and would not leave me
again.
And now I noticed how pale she was
81 that her lids with their long lashes
.nere somewhat red. The beautiful face
told story, and l seemed to understand
- She had been crying, and for him
nho =. lust now was giving his hand to
another!
D;d he. know it? Had she older, per
,ons too. greater, claims on him? And
lid II be that Hedwi.'s father, the
liver man Of the world, had not suf-
sciently searched the past Of his SON
in.lsw? Or we're suck things 50 usual