Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-10-27
TbQ Bride /,
Of Day..

with her still-Rnd answered. with a
confident smile
Grace Is a good child, and has
never yet disobeyed mel do no;
think she will begin now
II. too, thought ii Improbable, re-
Numbering how. three years back. the
child had been head V . ears in love
with. Vincent Erie, and how meckly
and tclrfully she lad suffered her
lover to he sent from her. She was a
! girl to be easily managed. and ! felt
! pretty sure that Rhoda was pesuading
| her in this aase--but that could hear
! from her own lips later. The first
| thing was to find out all about her
lover"
And the result Of your inquiries
was. of course. satisfactory
Decidedly; Herbert Santley Is q
| very wealthy man, of excellent fam
| lily; and. though from the first never
liked him, / was compelled TO admit
| that his were good, While in
the matter Of settlements he vas lib
| crafty itself. / told him at the first
| snt-off that I could give my niece no
fortune. and he dismissed the sub
ut with an Indifference that was all
but insulting"
~ love Miss Leger, he told me, and
I can AFFORD to ask for nothing but her
self
1T was very neagnanimous, no
doubt. but l am hanged Ii / liked him
any the Letter 70 his fine airs! l. too,
could afford to be generous. IL / chose;
but | was not going to force a fortune
OH any ne.
However, we ended tho Interview
with nary smirks and smiles and pre-
lenses Of mutual satisfaction, But IL
went straight to Oracle. and put the
matter fair and square to her.
Now, Oracle. / have come TO have
n talk about this lover Of yours! Would
1t break your heart to give him UP! L
said.
"She sprang UP from her seat in the
chimney and let her euibroid-
cry. with all it's needles and silks. fall
in confusion to the ground; her color
cane ard went. and | will swear that
IT was the light of hope that caused
her blue eyes tD shine so.
what do you mean. Uncle Johng
she asked. rs Mr.. Santley poorer
than mother thinks, oT-not what he
represents himself to be-
mo. no-nothing Of that sort, child.
lie Is n most eligible parti; but what
| want to know is-do you care to
marry himT
Oracle ave me a curious look. then
resumed her work, nd answered
quietly
~.of course I shall marry him, I'm
Gle john
After that there was nothing to be
said. for. IL there had appeared any
thing OF the martyr in her words or
manner | would have interfercd to
protect her: but. as it was, ! could
only loosen my purse strings n make
the best Of the matter"
.You arc the hest Of mclcs and
bruthers." Mrs. Mackenzie said, with
enthusiasm; but she eyed her stout
ponpous nciglibor Il little %curiously all
tn. same, for she had not thought
there WAS such sympathy with scntl-
ment 10 be found in the stock broker
nature.
Then she glanced across at the bride
and bridegroom. only wondering wheth-
or The former would have Thanked her
uncle for separating her from the
dark handsome man by her side.
...In joining contrasts He loves dc
lights" the lady quoted. with a smile.
The quotation vas apropoS enough.
though rather wasted on Uncle John,
who received and Acknowledged 1t by
Il broad stare.
A more strongly-contrasted pair than
Herbert Santley and his wife never
knelt together on the steps of an altar.
Oracle was a small pale girl. seeming
younger than her two-nnd-twcnty
years by roascn OF her extreme fair
ness and a. certain look Of fragility;
her yellow hair was wound in heavy
coils abomt her small graceful head,
her eyes, OF n clear, not very dark
blue. were large and innocent and
trusting in expression, but not spe-
cially bright; while. In the opinion of
those who did not know her intimately
Grace Sankey's face was relieved from
absolute insipidity only by the dark
brows aud lashes. which gave a
piuuant touch Of character TO her
countcnance.
Mr.. Santley was a tall. stern-looking
man. nearer forty than thirty, with
boldly modelled features. crisp curly
black hair. Il heavy black moustachc,
and somi,er-looking eyes.
He was not looking his hest to-day
no man perhaps ever does upon mis-
wedding moaning. But it was appar-
entity neither a foolish happiness nor
II bashful terror that oppressed him,
az he sat moolily gnawing his nous
taciie. barely answering any questions
addressed to him. and rot seeming
conscious OF the fact when his bride
rose To prepare for their departure.
"DM You yer see such n bridegroom,
mother.r Ruth Leyer paused TO wills
per in her mothers ear. as she passed
her ut the foot of the stairs.
Mrs. Legcr answered only with a
! quick fruwn aud a warning glance in
tile direction of the bride.
What 10 you know OF b~r.degrooms.
child? Don't chatter in that silly fash
ion. and make your sister unhappy
Isuth's blight hazel eyes flashed, and
she tossed the glossy brown curls-
on which q velvet jockey cap was
iauntily set-a little Indignantly.
81 SHALL not make her unhappy" she
| declared pcrtly. Poor dear Grace,
am too sorry for her! l wish she had
married Vincent Erie"
"Ruth..' A look terrible IN its
rcsprobation finished the sentence, and
sllenccd even saucy Ruth. The girl
laughed and ran up the stairs after
her sister: and for the next half hour
toilette duties occupied bride and
bridesmaid alike.