, 1898-11-11

earl. officers in glittering uniforms, lords
whose names filed the simple country
people with awe. The bridegroom's moth
er was not there; she, it was rumored,
was busily engaged in experimenting the
wedding fetes given at the Castle. There
was a whole string of bridesmaids, the
prettiest girls in the county, who were
proud of the honor of attending one who
was so soon to be Lady Selwyn.
The old parish church, with its tall spire
and r walls, looked it's best; it was fill
ed with a brilliant crowd. Little chill
dren flung flowers under. the feet of the
bride. flowers whose therns pricked her
sorely in the sad after days; and then, as
she stood in the center of that magnih-
cent group, while the words of the mar
rage service were read over her, every
one saw from the eastern window a gold
en- sunbeam streaming in and forming a
halo round her fair young head.
Some smiled as they saw it, but it
brought tears into other eyes. People
looked at each other and said:
Happy the bride the sun shines on
While, as they went into the vestry to
sign the books, Vivian whispered to his
wife:
Even the sunbeams kissed you, my
darling, and no WONDER
Horace Temple was like a man in a
dream; he had been in a dream ever since
the night Lord Vivian Selwyn asked aim
for his daughter, and he could. not re-
cover from it, and now the grand climax
had arrived; his little VioIante,, his fair
! faced, sdnny-haifed' child, whose laugh
and song were both wild las o. bird, was
married; married to q rich and handsome
young nobleman whom any lady IN the
and might have. been proud to hspe' called
her husband. = r. 80 ~ f"''
lie, was 80 bewildered' that he did~not
even recognize his own houses Lord
Vivian, had. done as he liked. even with
that, 4. ~
"'Take no. heed, give yourself no trouble
ABOUT the wedding breakfast" he said.
1.-THE easiest and simplest, plan willA be
for me to send to Gunter; he will supply
everything needful." ,n
SO Horace Temple, on this his daughi-
ter's wedding day, sat at the Head of his
own table-a table laden with delicacies,
with ripe fruits from every cline under
the sun, with rare wines, the names Of
which had never penetrated WoodeavesA
Il table whereon silver shone, and richly
cut glass spanked, andahe said Ito HIM
self it must be a dream. ),
When she remembered it in after years
it was to Violante a dream of sunshine,
and song, and fragrance; of love, that she
thought almost divine in its tenderness;
a dream whereon brilliant figures and
strange faces were all confused; only her
fathers face, shining out from the group
with the wondering, anxious expression
she remembered so well, and the hand
some face of her husband shining down
on hers.
The speeches were ended. The sun was
full in the sky when the travelling car
riage that was TO take the bride and bride
groom ava drove up to the door. Most
of the guests were going by train a few
minutes afterward.
There was no mother to clasp her low
ing arms around the young girl just cross
ing the threshold of another life; no sister
to kiss the f~ast-paling face and whisper
golden prophecies. But when his daugh-
ter had changed her dress and stood in
her room, looking round forlthe last time,
Horace Temple asked if he hight come in.
= ANy.-sa.x t. - NJ -