Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-12-01
Gold aDd Love



The treeS stood ssirless arcuaa the
church. scarce leaf moving and The
only sound coming from the closely inter-
woven branches. foretclliag night Of
unrest and turmoil Across the sisle at
Intervals were arches built of lilies aud
roses and tied with sereamers u white
satin ribbon. while III Che chaneel great
vases OF roses SAINT cut their fragrance.
distinguishing the close aroma OF incense
aud making the air heavy with their
sweetness. Out through the open door
the world looked threatening; tine feet
inr sunshine slowly disappeared befure
the fast gathering shadows anf the roses
nearest ne door shiyercd slightly in the
wind which fuhua entrance through Grey
ices.
Astlse last Of the sunshine aed before
the gloom there was a stir Ia the church.
and an over the vistas above the chancci
nnd around the organ loft light dashed
out from the gloom. Clusters of lamps
yelled with tender vines cast a flood "
radiance on the central aisle. while mass
es of glimmcring tapers in the chancei
and about the altar. whose only decora-
ton was the cloth denoting the festai day
of the ecclesiastical year. flickered their
pure flame in the INCREASING Wind.
Outside also a Transformation had oc-
Cured. The erstwhile deserted street
was blocked with thronging carriages.
whose lights giimmered and twinkled
like a convention of stars. far up and
down the avenue and clustering at the
neighboring corners until scarcely yard
cf space was left. The soft footed, aris-
tocratic faced ushers. each with droop-
Ing spray OF lily buds in his buttonhole,
went swiftly back and forward in the
aisle. aud glittering. perfumed throng
filed the vacnut pews, mingling tints OF
peach bloom and turquoise withVthe snow
Of the lilies and sending waves Of fash
ionahle perfumes up TO meet the faint
breath OF the surrounding blossoms.
Heads nodded. voices whispered soft
". fans futtered. and the silence was re-
placed by quivering expectation which
strengthened as the organ found its voice
and began to breathe out soft snatches
of love songs. in which were intermngled
an echo Of the "Lohengrin" swan song.
A movement outside the great door,
and the organ suddenly merged its wliis-
pers Of ssThen You'll Remember Me- into
the stately strains to which the knight Of
the Grail led his royal bride TO her nup-
tials. The Whispering ceased and the
Autter subsidized as up the aisle advanced
the bride. Gowned in sweeping satin.
with the diamond star at her throat flash
ing FIRE on every side. and her great bou-
ouet of roscbuds seeming to whisper
greetings to the very floor as they passed.
She never once lifted her face. The long
veil. which swept the hem Of her gown,
| covered her as with a mist. and not even
when she left her satisfied and smiling
father to lay her hand in that OF the
groom waiting at the altar did she lift
| her eyes. Throughout the ceremony they
4 were covered by the long dashed lids, and
| only for q single instant, as the couple
turned from the benediction which pro-
nounced them man and wife and "bless-
! ed. the union, did she look at her bride
| groom.
/ Bent and shriveled and ugly as he was,
4 with All ngIiness which not all the glamour
Of his millions could remedy. and after
| that single glance the brides blue eyes
were dropped again. The joyous Mem
delssohD march pealed put from the or
gan loft, and a thousand eyes were fixed
In envy on the bride. whose future was
paved with gold: hut still her eyes were
/ never lifted. The bridegroom looked at
/ the owerlike face as IL he would fain
| devorr its beauty with his hungry eyes.
| He tried to suit his steps to hers, but the
limp which years aud inirmity had be-
slowed on him could not be lessened. The
steps were slow too slow by fur for the
Joyous music which seemed to set the
pace for beating hearts and dancing feet.
Just as the couple reached the entrance
| the storm broke. and the double door was
flung open by the wind despite the vain
endeavor of the ushers to hold II closed. A
gust OF rain flung through the awning by
! the violence of the wind drenched the
brides white gown. and she shrank back
| frightened into the church again.
Outside just against the pole which
supported the awning. leaned a figure
unobserved by any Of the throng which
| clustered about the opening. intent on
seeing the splendor and loveiiness of the
bride. II was a tall and slender figure,
which bent slightly before the wind. but
on the white. upturned face there was
no consciousness of the drenching rain
which heat down on the thin evening
coat and shabby high silk hat. under
which the clustering dark hair lay damp
against white forehead.
Some one handed the groom cloak.
aud with shaking fingers he tried to adj
just it about his brides white shoulders
Ills nervous fingers fumbied with the
clasp. and as she raised her head to al
low him greater facility her eyes met
those burning dark eyes which looked at
her from under the drenched awning.
The depth OF agony which was in them
seemed to pass like a fash TO her heart,
and. shuddering. she caught the arm OF
her newly made husband and was half
carried to her carriage, which awaited
her. warm and fragrant with the heaps
of favor blossoms placed for her pleas
ure.
The doors were closed. the carriage
moved little, and inside the church
there was great stir The echo OF the
jubilant Mendelssohn march Hoated out
family as the waiting figure leaned for
ward suddenly. aud as the carriage NOV
ed away for the last time the bride OF
gold looked longingly and lovingly into
the eyes of iove.-Iittsburg Press.