Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-22

tho bonored stranger We imagined lhe
couple would wait until all were sed'eu'
tbon they would come into our presence
with an "air" that would be quite o'S'
coming. perhaps. The bride Woeiu Ds
oreeulv and her handsome groom woulu
present her proudly to US IN the must
stately manner. o,d
What was our astonishmeht u ny
that Mr.. and Mrs. Swanberg had passeu
into the room quietly with the rest 81 u',
and had seated themselves at table as
Though they had always been with us.
The gentleman told Us simply that no
was clad to see rs all again, ana trusted
we would soon become acquainted WIN
his wife. The lady OF the house thcn
invited us to a little reception IN the
parlor that evening.
The new husband and wife chatted
naturally and pleasantly with those near
them at table. The bride was OF me
dunn height weight, and complexion.
She was simply ard becomingly dressed,
without the least attempt at display. Her
features were ordinary, but her EXPIRES
SION was sympathetic. CHEEKY, bright, and
tuoughtful She was neither q blue
stocking nor a hirt. She did not tais
much nor pose any.
After dinner we ladies declared among
| ourselves that the bride was mystery,
as we could not see how she had ever
captiyated the exquisite Mr.. Swanberg.
! She certainly was plain, and at least 80
! years of age. Doubtless she had hidden
talents that had bewitched him. Per
B haps this simplicity was only for effect,
I and she would come out of her shell in
the evening and take US by Storm as
it were.
OF course, We all fixed up in party array
7 for the reception. Will you believe it?
3 That provoking bride had only added a
/ rose 10 her pretty brown hair, and placed
/ a bunch Of white roses IN her beltl Was
, she trying 70 create a sensation? She
was succeeding, surely. Yet she did not
look nor act as though trying to play
a part" Wen, you should have seen us
show off, before that bride, and Go
our best TO discover her charm, or
| talents, or secret whereby she had, with
no apparent effort on her part, won such
! a prize we all would have nearly died TO
! gain.
| Wen. we discussed every popular sub
iect Of the day and exhibited our knowi-
edge. conversational powers, cultivated
voices. &c The more we talked the more
| delighted and attentive Mrs. SwanDers
appeared She really acted as though
honestly glad to gain so much intorma-
| ton and meet 50 many wonderful women
She could listen attenuvely enough TO
please the greatest talker in the room. II
we had not been burning TO have her
show US what she could do. We asked IL
she could play. or slng, or recitt. one
inquired il she had taken up art as spe-
cial study. Another wanted 10 know II
she had travelled much To all these
questions the bride answered NO as
pleasantly as pleasantly as though she
thought We would be pleased to know she
lacked these points OF interest. Finally
one lady asked her outright what her
profession had been. She quietly replied
that she had only helped take care OF her
sick father before marriage. She further
added that her plan had been 10 become
a trained nurse. but Mr.. Swanberg had
persuaded her TO change her minc. she
did not seem conscious that we were all
mentally critcisng her, and Sizing her