Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-04-12

II
ing light.
A great cluster of passion flowers
stood near the gate which led from
the lawn to the coppice. The coppica
led to the woods, and Laurie was wait
ing there for her, she knew full well
She stopped to gather some Of the
sad, grand, mystical flowers. They
were all wet with dew, which she flung
from the leaves, looking into the flow
ers' depths and admiring the sweet
symbols. Roses were growing there,
too, and large white lilies. and long
sprays of blue convolvulus; but she
passed all these, and filled her hands
with the passion-fowers.
My wedding-dayi she thought to
herself. What would my father think
II he knew this was my wedding-day ?''
Some little shadow fell over the
brightness OF the morning when she
remembered that today Helen Dlgby
would meet with her fate. Then at the
end of the coppice she saw Laurie Nu-
gent, with an impatient, eager look
on his handsome face. She had just
time to note that he wore a beautiful
white hyacinth, and then he had
caught sight Of her, and fastened to
clasp her in his arms.
my darling Ethel, how beautiful
you look this morning! You shame
the sun and the flowers. Oh, Ethel.
the sun may well shine so brightly-it
is our wedding-day!
They walked on side by side, and the
beauty OF the scene deepened In the
wood. The dew lay more thickly on
the grass; the sunlight fell brokenly
through the thick foliage, producing
varying lights and shadows. The soli-
tude deepened, too, and they seemed to
be walking away from the rest OF the
world into a fairy-land of their own.
Laurie turned to take her hands ia
his own.
Shall we ever see anything 80 fair
as this woodland scene, or be so happy
again in this world?" he asid. Lay
your hands in mine, Ethel, and let us
talk. Smile your brightest, my darling
II Is our WSuulnB-udy.
l She gave him one hand only.
I Il cannot spare the other" she ex-
e planned. You forget my flowers"
= His attention had been so entirely
/ absorbed in her beautiful face that he
= had never even looked at them: out
? now he bent forward, and she wa.
! startled by a low cry from his lips, by
. the sudden pallor of his face.
, Why, Ethel" he cried, these are
; passion-fiowers! Who ever heard OF a
bride with a bouquet of passfon-aow-
: ers? What an evil omen, my darling!
: am not superstltious, but 1t has
frightened me-"
Nor am | superstitous, she said
laughing
|, Why did you gather them?" he
asked. "Passion-fowers on a wedding
day! Why did you gather them.
Ethel"
Il do not know. They were shining
with dew and close to my hand. can
not give you any other reason than
> that
You will throw them away, will YOU
not. Ethel?"
She looked admiringly at them.
l / think not she replied. that
9 would be giving away to superstition
come of race that know no fear
g that never looks back that abdes by
n what is done. The motto of our house is
GORDON abides by what Godron does. >
gathered these flowers thoughtlessly.
= | own, for my wedding boquet but |
: shall take them with me-"
1T is an evil omen. Ethel"
e We will pay no heed to H. have
= no faith in omens."
{ But he gave her no smiling smile.
e Throw them away. Ethel. implore
L you"
The idea seemed to her both weak
e and cowardly
= They must go with me- she re-
n turned. What influence can il have
r on my future life that / was married
r with passionhowers in my hand?"
Seeing that she would not yield.
d Laurie said no more. They walked on
through the dewy brightness OF the
: summer woods until the spire OF the
!. old church came in view. and then
i Ethel stopped, and her face lost It's
v color
Laurie, il is 4 serious thing. mar.
i riage, am almost frightened at il
{ now.
Gordon abldes by what Gordon
d does. he quoted You have prom.
Used. Ethel; YOU must not break your
word"
II have no thought of doing so. she
replied, haughtily. but am fright.
ened, had forgotten how solemn s
A thing marriage is. We are going into
8 church. and churches always seem &c
= me so near TO heaven. oh, Laurie
e Laurie" she cried. marriage lasts un
I Ill death. and am not sure Il low,
e you well enough"
n But he endeavored TO calm her.
: My darlnig Ethel you are nervous
r You are usually brave my love. VOi