The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-10
A June Wedding.

Ana so she stopped Cdnclhg, anu, Ank4n
her arm into that Of VIII Tavers. III
best man, she said: For pity sakes, &c
me out Of this room or I'll faint"
He found her roomy seat on bac
stairs that led down into the dining room
and then hurried of 10 get her some re
| freshments.
What bore it is" she said. ''to b
practically compelled to dance with ever,
man who asks you. It's the punishment
accorded our sex that We must sit patient
~ and await the coming of the lordly maj
TO ask US anything-from dancing will
him to becoming his wife,
Tavers looked at her steadily for z
couple Of seconds, and then said. musing
ly, Just think Of the poor man being com
PEELED 10 talk 10 to the girl after thu
dance"
"A man is lucky nowadays" she re
torted warmly. when a girl does him th'
| honor of talking to him."
/ II am overwhelmed with benefits" hs
| said sarcastically, bowling 20 her.
Sarcasm isn't becoming 10 you, VIII
| And" she went on excitedly. "a man who
| rnarries a sweet girl like Lu should never
never look at another woman again.
| know that Fred Dent is your best friend
| and that you'll stick up for him. But sc
was Lu my chum, and your friend got q
more charming grl than he deserved. o,
I've heard lots about him." she added,
! knowingly.
You didn't tell Lu anything, hope"
| he said quickly.
No" answered the girl slowly, never
| told her anything-it doesn't pay for any
one to tell a girl anything that is det-
rimental TO the man she loves. OF course,
think she's too good for him-I've told
her that often enough. But she only an
swered with a laugh that no one was too
good for him.
Dents a thoroughly good fellow at
heart" said Tavers. but. like all men
and most women, he's had a past, Of
course"
Does every man have a past?" asked
the young girl earnestly-"have your?
He looked up and their eyes met. Yes"
he answered, every man has a past, and
am no exception. Some men brag Of it.
some keep silent, and for some the world
does the talking. But don't be so pre-
JUDGED against Fred-remember that your
friendship for Lu will make you a fire.
quent visitor at her husbands house, and
it is far happier for all concerned that
you are friendly with Fred. And a man
who has sown his wild oats before he
marries always makes the best husband"
II really hope so for LUIS sake" said
the girl. Now let's go back into the par
lor."
A little while after all the bridesmaids,
headed by the maid of honor, trooped
I'D stairs to help hinder the bride put on
her travelling gown. The groom and best
man also went upstairs, and the happy
man threw off his coat and waistcoat in
a jiffy, and, throwing himself on the bed,
lighted a cigarette.
Everything went off smoothly, WHIP"
he asked.
'Superbly," was Tavers' response. THE
only unpleasant thing about the whole
affair took place outside the house"
What was that?"
90 a number of the girls that you and
I once knew were hanging around the
awning-doubtless they wanted TO see you
as benedict. Officer Smith ordered them
away. I told him to do So"
There was a silence for few minutes.
Then the groom said: Don't you think,
Tavers, that after mans married he
can live down the old life? Isolate it,
make it a thing apart, SO that it will
never crop UP AGAIN."
1.-The man can do it better than the girl
can" was Tavers sentient answer.
Dent flushed to the roots of his hair. |
Then he rose from the bed, gave Tavers
his dress suit TO take over to the brides |
room to be locked in her trunk, and put
ON his travelling suit.
Then he waited for the ride little |
space. When she came from her room he |
kissed her and together thy ran through |
a storm of rice to the carriage.
Dent helped the bride into the carriage |
and pressed Tavers' hand. Then, just as
he was on the step, the horses gave a
lunge, there was woman's cry, and a
49,.
Quick as a lightning stroke Dent was
under the vehicle and pulled the woman
out from beneath the horses hoofs. He
gave quick cry as he saw her face, and |
Tavers, right behind him, said: MY God,
It's Grace!'
Jump into the carriage, Tavers, with
my wife" said Dent huskly, his face
white as marble. BE quick, be quick,
and tell her that a woman has been
knocked down by the horses-that I'll
be with her in a minute"
With the aid of a policeman the groom
carried the woman to the sidewalk. She
was little thing, pretty, and not with
out some little facial evidence of re-
fnement. But her mouth had grown
eyes were penciled.
There were two ugly gashes in her fore
head-two sunken bloody marks, as If red
She opened her eyes for one brief sec
Ond and they caught those of Dent. The
grave was snatched of its victory for an
space Of time, and then the
blood gushed out Of her mouth. Dent
bent down to grasp her hand in a mute
and everlasting farewell and as he
touched the moist and limp palm his fn-
gers clasped an object-a locket.
He drew his hand away and with Il
came that little bit Of oddly-shaped gold.
he knew what 1t was. He did not need
10 look at it. For he remembered a golden
ngot, followed and with tiny clasps. And
IN one side was her picture, and on the
,ther was his.
''There'n be an ambulance here in q
second" said the policeman. Il think
she's dead, but the hospital will be given
he chance. 1t wasn't the coschman's
ault. She ran right into the horses
seemed 10 do II on purpose"
Dent turned and went to the carriage
'All right, Tavers," he said and the
lest man jumped out, the groom jumped
n. and the horses once more started.
Mr.. Tavers wouldn't tell me what the
natter was" said the bride. but I saw
woman lying on the sidewalk. Was she
much hurt?'
she hasn't even the tiniest pain now"
Dent.
20. I'm so glad said his wife.