The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-10-05
Gold aDd Love
ny Grace Mercedes Juers.

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Ht'he trees stood strless around the
"a ureh, scarce a leaf moving and the
aly sound coming from the closely inter
oven branches, foretelling a night of
rest and turmoil. Across the aisle at
cryals were arches built Of lilies and
s,aes and tied with streamers of white
stin ribbon while In the chancel great
ases Of roses sent out their fragrance
tingushing the close aroma Of incense
.ad making the air heavy with their
sgeetness. Out through the open door
st.le world looked threatening; the feet
!, & sunshine slowly disappeared before
q fast gathering shadows and the roses
Arrest the deor shivered slightly in the
md which found entrance through crew
fps.
As the last of the sunshine fed before
q gloom there was stir in the church,
ID all over the vistas above the chancel
ID around the organ loft light flashed
,Jt from the gloom. Clusters of lamps
- lied with tender vines cast a flood Of
idiance on the central aisle, while mass
4 of glimmering tapers in the chancel
id about the altar, whose only decora-
Ion was the cloth denoting the festa day
e the ecclesiastical year, Aickered their
ure flame in the increasing wind.
Outside also transformation had oc-
arred. The erstwhile deserted street
as blocked with thronging carriages,
II hose lights glimmered and twinkled
lSe convention of stars, far up and
,wn the avenue and clustering at the
ssvighborng corners until scarcely yard
81. .ssss
iocrntic faced ushers, each with droop-
iag spray of lily buds In his buttonhole,
-rent swiftly back and forward in the
aisle, and a glittering. perfumed throng
sled the vacant pews, mingling tints of
ach bloom and turquoise with the snow
az the lilies and sending waves of fash
nable perfumes up to meet the faint
a,tcath of the surrounding blossoms.
Heads nodded, voices whispered soft
~, fans huttered, and the silence was re-
aced by a quivering expectation which
!, rengthened as the organ found its voice
lad began to breathe out soft snatches
of love songs. In which were intermingled
au echo of the "Lohengrin" swan song.
A movement outside the great door,
and the organ suddenly merged It's whis-
,,ers of "Then You'll Remember Me" into
,le stately strains to which the knight of
lie Grail led his royal bride TO her nup-
Gals. The whispering ceased and the
4utter subsidized as up the aisle advanced
he bride. Gowned in sweeping satin,
With the diamond star ut her throat flash
rag fire on every side, and her great bou-
uet of rosebuds seeming to whisper
greetings to the very floor as they passed.
,'ie never once lifted her face. The long
peil which swept the hem of her gown,
,vered her as with mist, and not even
hen she left her satisfied and smiling
llther to lny her hand In that Of the
groom waiting at the altar did she lift
or eyes. Throughout the ceremony they
ero covered by the long dashed lids, and
,aly for single instant. as the couple
trned from the benediction which pro-
,unced them man and wife and bless
~" the union, did she look at her bride
loom.
Bent and shriveled and ugly as he was,
Nth an uglness which not all tho glamour
{ his millions could remedy, and after
a'iat single glance the brides blue eyes
ere dropped again. The joyous Men
clssohn march pcaled out from the or
an loft. and thousand eyes were fixed
W envy on the bride, whose future was
aved with gold: hut still her eyes were
never lifted The bridegroom looked at
t7le fowerlke face as II he would fain
svour its beauty with his hungry eyes.
o tried TO suit his steps to hers. but the
Nrnp which years and inhrmity had be-
WED on him could not be lessened. The
ps were slow--too slow by far for the
t,vous music which seemed TO set the
! co for beating hearts and dancing feet.
Just as the couple reached the entrance
q storm broke and the double door was
lng open by the wind despite the vain
cndeavor OF the ushers to hold 1t closed. A
gust of rain flung through the awning by
he violence Of the wind drenched the
rides white gown, aud she shrank back
frightened into the church again.
Outside, just against the pole which
supported the awning, leaned figure
unobserved by any OF the throng which
clustered about the opening, intent on
seeing the splendor and loveliness of the
bride. II was Il tall and slender figure,
which bent slightly before the wind, but
IN the white. upturned face there was
10 consciousness OF the drenching rain
which beat down on the thin evening
4toat and shabby high silk hat, under
which the clustering dark hair lay damp
against a white forehead,
Some one handed the groom cloak,
"nd with shaking fingers he tried to adj
INST Il about his brides white shoulders
fiis nervous fingers fumhled with the
Wasp, aud MS she raised her head to al
tw him greater facility her eyes met
rose burning dark eyes which looked at
er from under the tlrenched awning
She depth OF agony which was In them
cmed 60 pass like cash TO her heart,
sad, shuddcring, she caught the arm OF
sar newly made husband and was half
Arried TO her carriage, which awaited
or, warm and fragrant with the heaps
favor blossoms placed for her pleas.
are.
The doors were closed, the carriage
v'nved a little, and inside the church
'here was great stir, The echo OF the
hilant Mendelssohu march toated out
Raintly as the waiting figure leaned for.
Nard suddenly and MS the carriage NOV
"a away Cor the last time the bride Of
et'ld looked longiuglS and lovingly into
the eyes OF love. -rittshurg Press.