Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-05-24

such an arrangement.
silly is my only daughter - she said,
"and four months from the day of your
engagement is the earliest date l will even
consider"
The day was sst and preparations went
on on a most extensive scale.
The best man and the maid of honor
had mutually agreed that Early should
not appear at the altar until the noon
hour, and that Lily should be punotual to
the minute. Both Of these officials were
persons whose minds were evenly balanced,
and they thought the habits of Early and
Lily most unreasonable. They had long
consultations together, and as the eventful
day approached both felt confident that at
last the bride and groom would tick at the
same minute with the rest of the world.
The day Of the wedding dawned bright,
clear and springlike. The best mar was
obliged to go for the minister, but he had
spent several minutes impressing upon
e Early the fact that he must not leave the
house for three-quarters of an hour ut
least, and that he, the best man, would be
waiting for him in the anteroom of the
church. Early seemed in no hurry and
ch%eerfully agreed to all he proposed.
The maid of honor herself superintend-
cd the dressing of Lilly, and saw that she
was ready in ample time. Then she drove
to the church with the bridesmaids, leav-
ing Lilly standing in the hall waiting to
follow in the next carriage.
The best man had to wait for the minis
ter and did not reach the church until
1850 o'clock. He rushed into the room
where he expected to find EARLY. 1t was
empty! He looked through a small OPEN
ing between the curtains which separated
him from the church proper and his heart
sank within him, for there in full view of
the incoming relatives stood Early To
all outward appearances the groom was as
calm as If he were waiting on a corner for
u car.
The best man consulted with the minis
ter.
st isn't right to leave him there alone,
but If l join him l shall act like an idiot,
and I'm fully convinced he will never re-
treat until Miss Latily arrives"
1T Is a strange case surely" murmured
the minister. 1.-THE only thing for you to
do is to wait for the bridal party and join
him as they approach"
The majority of the people who had been
asked to the wedding expected it would be
different from any other they had ever at
tended and after they had been in the
church a few minutes they became accus-
toned to seeing Early Rapidio standing
alone at the altar facing them.
Immediately after his friend, the best
man, had left him Early had caught up
his hat and gloves and had dashed from
the house. Upon arriving at the church he
had walked sedately in and had taken up
his position in front of the altar like a
general who will never leave the field un-
til his mission Ia accomplished.
At II O'Clock precisely the bridesmaids
arrived at the church. They turned to see
If Lily was behind them, but she was not
there. They entered the vestry and could
hear the choir singing from within.
well have to go in in about five min,
utes," whispered one usher to another, ''as
the singing will stop and something must
be done to support Rapidio. He has been
there nearly an hour now"
The wedding party formed themselves
in line and waited anxiously for the bride.
As the singing ceased the two ushers in
front, thinking they had received a signal
to start, walked slowly up the aisle to the
strains of "Lohengrin." They thought the
rest of the procession was behind them and
did not realize they were alone until they
reached the steps leading to the altar,
when, upon turning, they saw their posi-
ton. They remained where they wore,
however, and apparently were not discon-
certed.
BY the starting of the first two ushers a
plan was rapidly developed in some one of
the bridal party's heads. The organist
was notified and once more the wedding
march was played. As the opening chords
were again heard two other ushers went
up the aisle. This was repeated until the
eight ushers, two at a time, and the four
bridesmaids, also two by two-walked
calmly up to the ohancel railing. Then the
march was played again and the maid Of
honor appeared alone. The case was des-
perate, but the assembled people must be
kept quiet, and she came bravely on.
The best nan had long since been de-
serted by the minister, who felt it his
duty to take his place as the first two ush-
ers appeared. Left alone behind the sur
tain he had worked himself up into a ter
rible fldget. When he saw the maid of
honor come in alone, however, he rushed
out and stood by Early's side. People aft.
erward remarked that he was the only agi-
tated IL in the whole party.
All this time Early had stood like a
statue. The coming in of the bridesmaids
and ushers had not disturbed his serenity
At this moment there was a commoticn
at the entrance of the church. Tho wed
ding march pealed forth again, vibrating
through the edifice, as Lily, leaning On
the arm of her father, and wearing q dia
nlond sunburst, the gift of the groom.
majestically and as If she were ON time
sailed grandly up the aisle.
There were signs of returning life In
Early. He hastily led bis bride to the altar
The ceremony began. the minister had
reached the words:
IF any person see just cause WHY.
when Early began to back away frcn lht
altar. He kept firm hold of I4ily's Laid
The maid of honor snatched up the
BRIDES train. The best man, nervously
clutchirg the ring, kept as close to Early
as possible Tho minister walked facing
them and spoke as rapidly as he could and
the bridesmaids and ushers followed Mr.
Latily gavo his daughter away at tho first
pew, then he slipped into a seat beside his
wife.
Thus the whole party became a moving
body, keeping step to the minister's voice
Half way down the aisle the ring was rut
on, and as the bride and groom reached
the threshold Of the church the blessing
was pronounced.
Early conducted his wife to the car
riage, and they drove to the Latilys' house
to racaiva the CONGRATULATIONS nf their
friends.
AS the best man and the maid of honor
were refreshing themselves with chicken
%croquettes ut the reception she mournfully
confided to him.