The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-01-14

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wedding.
"Are YOU tired of my "reminiscences:
No? Then | will 90 on. will pass
over all that is only of interest and Joy
to me, and come to our wedding-time.
Everything comes out so clear tonight
that 1t seems only yesterday, and il all
was so long ago!
"Thirty-cight years ago to-day we
sat waiting, Charlotte and !, in the
garden below. We were to be married
together at cven-f;lll. The boys, who
had com.l need practice in the city,
were to arrive in yacht with party
of frends-invited guests. 1t wasjust
such day as this has been, sunlight
and sweet. We had, with mothers
help, laid out our wedding-gowns and
wells, and had come down to watch for
the yacht, knowing that we should see
it as it passed the point over there. |
was dressed as You see me now. Karl
was fond of forget t-me-nots; my betroth-
al ring was 4 torquoise cut in the form
of that flower. My finger has grown
50 thin that | can no longer wear it,
This dress have h,.pt carefully all
these years. wearing it whenever the
day comes round. 1t is silly, perhaps,
for | am an old woman now, or getting
to be one; but no matter: it p!cases
me. and hurts no one. 1t is getting
worn, and fear will not last much
longer.
She spoke wisttulv, aad smoothcd
the dress. which was of Irish popin,
once heavy and rich, bat now worn TO
the texture of thin silk.
IL am going to do another foolish
thing she added, with smile. and
she smoothed the dress; Il am going
to be buried in my wedding gown and
veil. | shall wear it for The first time
in my coffin. Perhaps | shall be very
old then, and people will wonder and
laugh but | shall not know or care.
want to go into my grave with the in
sigma of that which was denied me-"
She paused again Il moment, then
went on.
"As morn advance towards noon.
there sud,lenlv V came an odd look in the
sky and a close feeling in the atmos-
phcrc; everything took on Il yellow
hue. c.-hrassy and dull Charlotte had
been talking OF her wcddinyoift to me,
| which Il friend had obtained in the city
| and was to bring that afternoon; and
she was trying to make me guess what
| it was SO we neither of us noticed
the change till mother came out and
| spoke to us about it. An hour went
| by The singular look and feeling
passed with it. Then we began to
wonder why the yacht did not come.
| Time passed; still We sat on in the gar
den. Mother had gone back to the
paror. We did not want luncheon.
A little after noon we heard some
children, on their way to school, talk
ing eNcitedly of a steamer which had
been upset beyond the point by big
sQuall, all on board being drowned.
| We looked IT each other. 1T was n"
steamer, but the yacht! | gas. .,r,.
NONSENSE returned Charlotte, though
her faced paled with sudden fear; lit is
only children's talk but she rose as
she spoke. We caught 4 glimpse Of
mothers white face looking out from
one of the parlor windows. She had
heard the chatter, but she did not come
out to us; hoping that it was not true,
and that we had not heard, she wished
to spare us till t'.e truth was known.
| Nor did we 90 to her; we could not
| not lllcn. OoI lllOllltl.
| 81 will 90 over to BeSSics' Char
Iottec had said, rs she got up, and get
my we lding-gilt to YOU myself. and
ask about the accident shall see the
Yacht almost as soon rs YOU do, and
YOU will see me coming back with both
bridegrooms and guests in tow. Queer
doings for bride And she laughed,
but it was choking sort Of laugh.
| knew that she only wanted to reas-
sure herself and me. She kissed me
and went. looked after her, and mar
true. she had lost both brother and
liver. and but one--and yet, O KARL
karl!''
Lor> tia had forgotten me for mo-
ment; then she raised her head. and |
saw in the moonlight. that ncr face was
wet with tears.
~ sat on and waited; it was nearly
one clock when CharOttc lett me. l
kept looking straininglv out for the
yacht. but nothing passed. 1t was
shortly after two when Charlotte came
down the street, walking rs if daZcd.
| went to the gate. She met me hold
ing jewei-case with this little forget
mc-not pin. which she took out and
laid against the flowers on my breast.
"'Ilere is my welding-gift to you,
she said, sobbingly, drearily, but with
dry eyes staring straight into my own.
Our lads drtted in together half an
hour ago. 1t uus the yacht; a squall
struck it; all went over in an instant;
none were saved: some have tloated
t. shore, our boys among them: they
,rn hni,,tr ..arn,l t,r R.S>ir WoS cam.