The Iola register., 1901-12-27
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VS8gZGA Oh, yes; she was con-
tent indeed. Through the
cloud Of costly lace which enwrapped
her In its snowy transparence she saw
the vast church all dotted with lights,
resplendent in the dark CLEAN of mo-
saics upon golden backgrounds, ami
mated by the slight movement of the
very elegant crowd that filed It, light
ed by oblique rays descending from the
nave, all n glitter of gold, silks and
brilllants, and It was her own future
that she seemed to see thus-the years
of luxury and wealth which her rich
marriage was preparing for her. And
had 1t not been the dream for which
she sighed? She, the ideal blond. OF
eighteen years. with the tall and proud
figure, the pure, disdainful profile un-
der heavy curls like those of an arch.
angel, with naughty eyes sparkling
like blue gems under the golden fringes
Of her long eyelashes.
She had been for long time poor
girl the daughter of citizens who had
seen better days, that marvellous hui
man lily. She had experienced all the
petty troubles, all the cruel daily suf-
ferings of misery that conceals itself.
The poor and inelegant gowns, painful
ly remodeled every year; the insolence
of creditors, humiliations, continual
tormenting thoughts Of money-she had
experienced them all, and in her little
heart, eager for pleasure and enjoy
ment, swollen with unsatls6ed long
ings. dream was arisen little by little,
occupying all the room. rendering her
insensible to all the rest-the dream of
at last becoming rich
She wanted 1t absolutely; she was
born for 1t; she was rich now. That
yes which she had just pronounced
had by its three magic letters changed
her destiny, and she was so content, so
happy, that it appeared to her 1t was
all dream; that her Mechlln veil was
n cloud that transported her into the
realms of the impossible, across a
sidereal heaven. of which the diamond
pins thrust among her laces formed
the flaming stars, and in order to re-
turn to reality she must cast her eyes
toward her husband, Luigo Marchis,
kneeling beside her in the mystic. vel
vety shade of the altar lit by the trem-
ulous brightness Of the candles.
All, there was nothing ideal about
him, poor fellow! In vain he straight
ened his correct person of an elegant
man, with his accurately shaved face
with slender brown n.ustache, and a
still fresh color that gave him some
thing the look of an tor. He re-
mained none the less ord. with his
powerful shoulders n little bent, with
his eyelids grown heavy and crows
feet toward his temples, with the gray
locks that appeared here and there
among his brown hair, with his forty
seven years, Of which the weariness
was more conspicuous beside that radi-
ant and blond spring.
Forty-seven years! How was 1t pos
sible2 He felt his heart so palpitat-
ing, full of tears as in youth, and he
could not comprehend how so much
time had passed. He could not per-
suade himself of the incredible fact
forty-seven years passed without know
ing Gemma.
For they had been acquainted with
each other only two months! Marchis,
however much he had frequented So
ciety, drawn there by his banking con-
nections, had never let himself be talk
ed TO Of marriage. What! A wife,
children, troubles, cares, disappoint-
mentl Not even by idea!
And at forty-seven years one even
ing, present from motives of curiosity
at ball to which the employees of his
bank had invited him, he must needs
be smitten by the exquisite, vaporous
grace of that blond girl dressed sim
ply in white, entering on the arm Of
n funny little man with baby face
and big, silvery beard-her father,
modest clerk in the bank; rather
ridiculous little old man who, beside
that divine apparition. slender in her
robes of snow, made one think of the
gnomes of folk tales, always crouch
ing at the feet of fairies.
All, weakness of hearts growing old!
That apparition was enough to shake
all the Ideas OF Luigo Marchis con-
corning matrimony and as the old
gnome, despite his absolute nullity,
was an honest citizen, incapable of re-
sisting the assiduities of the director
to his pretty daughter, the suitor had
been greatly pleased with the consent
of that little maiden of eighteen, that
beautiful creature, that blond being,
TO become his wife. Now he trembled
with joy. His eyes were misty with
vivid emotion-not percevlng that
that. too. was sign of old age-and it
was n voice choked with joy that to
the question of the priest, Are you
contentP replied, "Oh, yesw
Now it is done. United-forever unit
ed. Having risen to their feet. she
with an elegant and light impulse, like
lily wind-lifted on its stem. he with
a little effort and difficulty, wearied
by emotion, they go down from the
altar arm I'm arm. Now they pass
through the church amid the murmurs
of compliments which arise amid the
shadows Of the aisles, among the dull