The evening Republican., 1902-08-08
THE STORY OF A
BRIDAL BOUQUET
r. eBY SUTHERLAND WALKER.

\ nfe ana stretched nef toes luXuf'
iously to the warmth. Her dearest
friend and bridesmaid lifted hel
her head from the brides knee and
looked into her eyes.
Don't you feel nervous, dear, now
that it is getting SO near? To-mor
row at this time you will be Lady
Lexley Thornton, on your way tc
the Italian lakes, via Paris andRome
as the papers say. Do try and for.
get that wretched palmistry non,
sense"
II never expected anything would
happen; don't believe in clairvoy.
ants and never shall"
But all the same you wish the
prophesied calamity was safely over
Do tell me ali she said, Elva.'
st was really too silly for any
thing. l don't know why I went.
persuaded aunt toilet us fill in the
half hour by consulting Valma, just
| fol the fun of the thing"
! "Oh, Elva, did not you feel
creepy"
mo not at all, until she describ-
ed Lexley. That was rather funny.
She must have seen him some
where, for she told me the clothes
he had on when I saw him last, and
mentioned his blue tie. which l
scolded him for wearing at the sta
ton. Suddenly she dropped both
my hands and said: DO you wish
me to tell you everything see
! about the future, or would you
rather not know itI Certainly l
should like to hear it all. l don't
mind what it is; don't believe in
it, said with laugh. She looked
at me very intently with her bright
eyes--they are green, I am certain
OF it, they gave me shiver-and
said calmly: No, but you will do,
and one day soon you will come
and tell me that you believe in it,
and that all | have told you is true.
You are threatened by very great
danger which cannot be averted.
1t comes to you through the hatred
of a dark woman whom you trust.
Shs is madly jealous of you and has
tried repeatedly to take your lover
from you. She will not let an OPP
portunlty pass to injure you. She
will not stop at murder il only by
SO doing she can gain her ends She
processes love and friendship for
you but her heart is full Of hatred,
and the hour of your marriage will
be the hour of your greatest peril.
The risk which you run is very
terrible, but aethc last moment the
evil which she has planned for you
will come upon herself aud you will
escape When she said this, |
really could not stand it any logger,
but laid the half sovereign fee upon
the table, and said: 81 do not want
to hear any more. it IS too rid tedious
to be even amusing. but | must say,
madam, that you, at any rate, give
your clients plenty FOR their money!
'For a moment the green eyes
blazcd into mine. and then with a
smile she drew herself up and said,
oil, SO quietly: "You will think diff
fercnLly before your wedding day is
over, and when yon are next in town
you will come and apologize to me. -
"Eva, how dreadful"
"Absurd nonsense. AS If it were
likely that any of my friends would
try to murder me; such things only
happen in pennydreadfUIs. Now
must go to sleep. Turn out the
light. Triss. there's u good girl; l
don't want to look IL ghost in my
wedding gown tome row, aud white
satin 10 so trying to the complexion.
Next morning the whole bousc was
stirred to It's foundations by the great
event of u life, the attiring of a
bride in her wedding linery.
At last the actual moment OF rob.
ing arrived, and Elva was indicted
into the white trailing splendors OF
Il train trimmed with flounccs and
old lace held place Of punches of
orange blossom. Mrs. Leighton had
cola psed and was conducted down
stairs eepiag copiously, and two OF
the bridesmaids had run to her as
slstance with eau de Cologne and
lavender salts. TriSsimer was OPEN
ing jewel cases and handing their
Contents to the bride, claspng brace
lets and pinning in brooches; the
maid was carefully stretching tho
long white suede gloves which the
bride was to wear, when one of the
bride smaids burst into the room with
an agitatsd face.
"Oh, Elva!. she cried, "whatever
shall we do?'
"Wha,s the matter? Has anything
gone wrong?"
"Oh, dear! its dreadful
EIva turned white and clung to
the bedraiI for support.
sis it Lexley?" she gasped.
"Oh, no; he's all right; the best
man has just been round with his
compliments. The bouquets have
come and the carriages are at the
door.
The principal bridesmaid at the
moment entered the room with the
brides bouquet in her hand, followed
by three maids carrying those for
the six bridesmaids; they were OF
'La France" roses.
'Oh, Lena. thank you for bring
ing 1t" said Elva. turning to her
alf.sIster. 1T is splendid! Why?
where did this lovely holder come
from? l never saw anything like it
before. I'm almost afraid to take
hold Of it, the snakes look to lifelike;
one could almost imagine those fanss
were real, they lock SO threateningly.
you are nervous" said her sister:
''they are quite innocent. 1t Is my
present, Elva, dear. You musr have
thouUht me very unkind not to o i've