Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-11-17

feftions, Lady Caroline not only re-
ceiyed the bridc-elect with kindly
courtesy and made q handsome ado
ton to the list OF bridal gifts, but m
terested herself in the Necessary pre-
parations.
Although she comported herself III
the friendliest fashion. 10 the maniiest
delight of Mrs. Leger and the gfatclii
content of honest Tom. who, untll ne
met Ruth. had sincerely believed MS
mother 20 be unapproachable among
emo and only allowed one saucS
little puss 10 be anything Tx her
equal now.
But il is all mere liberation, Grace.
dear Ruth remarked, as the W girls
stood together AT the French window
watching Lady Cartons carriage pass
out of sight. Her ladyship does not,
aid never will like me-as she does
You. for example; but she almost
turns defeat into victory by her beau
tiful tact. / believe Tom really THINKS
she is-cOntent.'
And is she not?' Grace asked, open
ing her bue eyes IN establishment.
my dear Grace"-and Ruth laughed
Eff | could only find a reasonable
~pretext-if Uncle John would only IN
dulge in n fraudulent bankruptcy, or
mother turn out TO have planned a 1T
tie burglary. or forged Il little check,
or killed a little baby for he coral on
its ~neck-how pleased she would be 10
break off the marriage. even now.
Ruth! ON the bridal ever her Sis
/ ter uttered. reprovingly: but the wild
little creature proceeded recklessly.
and Grace though there WAS a tinge oil
bitterness in her TESTING:
"Certainly-on the altar steps. II she
could manage Il! But, as we have no
scandals To UP OF inquiries 10
hide. and. as she has no wish TO seem
less than the reasonable creature her
son has aIways thought her, she very
wisely makes the best of Il bad bar
gain-aLd OF me"'
Grace looked so troubled and sym
pathetic that Ruth repented her half
! involuntary outburst, and said, light
~:
But do not magnify this little pass
ing shadow into a real trouble. Oh,
| Grace. Grace. what a fauciful little
coward o are!"
But it is a trouble. surelyE'
. MOI Il .Ditll Itsl~i. II AtOtS ~ aAAAENN
me / know that | shall make Tom a
good wife, or j would not marry him;
ard. II the girl who makes her son
happy does not, ooner or later, win
her heart. it is o worth the winning.
| But | feel convinced that She will love
n g dearly before a year has passed"
There was such a CHEEKY confidence
expressed in her bright tone and rad
ant eyes that Grace felt more comfort
| able. After all. she thought, with n
quiet reflection Of the girls own smile,
il was impossible for anyone-even the
most stony-hearted Of mothers-in-law
TO resist her sister Ruth.
1t was a busy day, aud there was not
much time for reflection, sorrowful or
otherwise. on the part of any of the in
mates of River View. Fer the mar
riage was to BE a very different func-
ton from Grace Santley'S quiet we'd
ding. and even at the eleventh hour
| there remained much 10 be done.
The bridal dress had been fitted on
and found perfect. The bridegrooms
gift of lustrous Orient pearls had been
clasped around the girls white throat
and wrists: the bridesmaids had fitted
In and out in their dainty lace and sat
in costumes and big, fiower-crowned
hats; the cake was already installed
In the place Of honor, and the presents
We're duly arranged, forming a daz-
ziing array on half a dozen sideboards
and tables; but, though SO much Was
accomplished, there was in the opin-
ion Of the interchangeable workers, some
thing yet TO be done.
But Grace Erie was a little weary,
not so much of the toll rs of the inces-
sant hum of conversation, the testing
and laughing. that made the house Il
rather ~distracting place just then.
Vincent Erie and Tom Carlton had
gone to town together, and were ex-
pected back by the 8 O'Clock train. 1t
was nearly that time. and the evening
was temptingly fair and bright, the
long avenue looking picturesque and
inviting in the mellow light, when
Grace's inclination conquered duty,
and she flung II black lace shawl, man
| ~tilla-fashion, over her fair head, and
sailed forth into the cooling freshness
of the evening air.
With no special purpose in her mind,
Mrs. Erie wandered on, until she came
10 the pretty wicket gate that opened
on the lane. 1t was possible, but by
no means certain, that her husband
and Mr.. Carlton would take that road
from the station; If so, she would be
the first TO meet them. and hear and
tell all the gossip Of the day. She was
still girl enough 10 take an innocent
| pleasure in this thought, still bride
enough TO count the moments of Vim
cents absence, and aail herself of any
pretext for shortening time.
SO she stood on the top bar of the
gate, her eyes turned eagerly in the di-
rection i'm which the men might be ex-
pected TO come, a fair picture of ex-
pectation and hope.
Never had life seemed fuller of prom
Use than IL seemed 10 her as she stood
in pleasant anticipation in the twilight
Of that soft spring evening. She was
happy in Der husbands love, for all
the pain an trouble of the past seemed
but TO intensity. by force of contrast,
the new feeling of bliss.
And then Grace thought OF that other
happiness that formed d part OF her
own. She glanced back at the red
brick. UNCOVERED house. IN whose dia-
mond-paned easements lights were be-