The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1900-04-21

liam, Dicks best man, and he mustn't
be late at the wedding"
II can't help that" retortei Mr..
wilson. "My niece mustn't be late at
the commencement, either.''
"Tll tell you" cried Aunt Margaret,
with sudden inspiration, "why can't
they go together? The seminary is
only q little ways beyond Christ
church. l know your niece won't
object if explain"
Aunt Margaret dashed out into the
street toward the carriage, and 1 fol-
lowed, wiping my moist brow, bewail-
ing my willing linen and consumed
with impatience.
In the next few seconds I heard
Aunt Margaret making hurried ex-
planation which concluded with cav
fully good OF you, Pm sure, but
knew you'd consent under the cir
cumstances;" then the door was flung
open, Uncle William gave me q push
from behind, while Aunt Margaret
murmured introductions, and 1 found
myself stepping into carriage which
seemed filed with flowers and fluffy
white stuff, from the midst of which
peered the face of-Dorothy Melton!
"Why-Dick - Mr.. -" she cried,
half rising from her seat.
l started back with confused at
tempt at an apology, but Uncle Will
liam hastily slammed the door, and
with a commanding ''Drive lively
now!" motioned the driver to start.
The horses were of with jump, and
l sank into the seat opposite the young
woman whom six months ago l had
sworn never to see again.
1t was the early dusk of what had
been perfect June day. The street
lamps were not yet lighted, but the
bright moon shone in at the carriage
windows, and l knew Dorothy could
see my hot, flushed face and my uer-
vousness aud embarrassment.
"Miss Melton" l began, feeling
that l must say something, I'm ex-
tremely sorry to intrude upon you in
this manner. had no idea"
"Oh, pray do not mention it," said
Dorothy. II am, of course, extreme
l,y glad to be of any service whatever
to Mrs. Clarkson, and it would be too
bad for you to be late at the we'd
ding"
Dorothy was quite mistress OF her.
self. She held large bunch of roses
n her arms, having gathered them up
to make room for me; the color, which
l think lett her face for an instant
when she saw it was who climbed
into her carriage, returned; her eyes
sparkled, and never had she looked so
lovely. What fool, l thought, bit
terly, what fool had been to quar-
rel with her.
'It's to be quite large wedding, ]
believer" she said, turning her face
full upon me.
The driver was evidently intent upon
reaching the church in time. He turned
a corner SO sharply that just as was
about to stammer out a commonplace
about the wedding we both were near
ly thrown from our seats. Dorothy
threw up her hand, her roses fell in
and as I bent forward her
dainty fingers lightly brushed my
face
"Oh, Dorothy! Dorothy!" I cried;
and then
I'm sure that / couldn't tell what I
said. I only know that ihe words I
had been holding back, the love that
l had been trying to stife for six
burst from me, and before we
reached the next corner Dorothy lifted
her shining eyes, aud through tears
said:
"Oh, Dick! Dick" and 1 knew every.
thing was right, aud wished that
Christ church was 20 miles away
The carriage pulled up at the church
door in the nick of time, and dashed
away again to leave Dorothy at the
yonng ladies' seminary where she had
been teaching for few months.
I found Tom in the vestry, so su-
premely, happy that he had not even
noticed my tsrdiness-but, for that
matter, walked in the clouds all
evening. and noticed nothing what
ever that happened at his wedding,
so we are quits on that score.
Dorothy and I will be married in
and Uncle William, who
insists that his ''good management"
brought it oil about, has promised to
set us up with carriage of our own
on the day of the wedding. Woman's
Home Companion.