Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-05-29


that please your
Yes" she answered. with the gay
bright smIe he always liked to see. 81
did not think II was very nice to be mar
ried in this old muslin dress"
He bade her adicu. aud went ut once tc
purchase q wedding dress for her. Tn,
purchase did credit to his taste. liz
bought n pale gray costume of rich silk
aud II pretty bonnet. with gray dropping
| plumes-a dress AZ once rich. quiet and
distingue. II was sent to her AZ the no
| tel, with note from him. asking her 10
wear 1t on the morrow He sent AZ the
same time II beautiful bouquet OF white
and crimson flowers.
After that ii was all like dream to
her--thc long, slccpIcss night. when
dreams Of home came to her, the slow
| waking. when the nose Of the distant
city WAS 40 strange to her
She could not at first remember where
she was-rising and dressing. looking ut
herself in hcr new dress with startled.
half-shy wonder. sitting down and trying
to drink the warm. fragrant tea prepared
| FOR her.
| For years aftcrward she rpmem bercd
| the fierce. wild beating Of her heart as
| the carriage drove up TO the door, and
| she heard the sound of her lovers voice
on the stairs, Her first thought. poor
| child, was prayer.
| Mother" she cried. you are among
the angels. aud | am all alone. am go
ing to he married: send me blessing
| from heaven. there WAS no one to give
me unp here
h.,.,
room, and everything was forgotten in
| the delight Of seeing him.
He was bewidered with surprise. The
poet who sung that beauty unadorned
was adorned the most" made a mistake
in this case. The costly, shining silk the
rich lace, the dropping plumes made n
wonderful difference.
My darling" he cried; "why, you look
like a queen. Why do | say a queen !
No queen ever looked so fair How proud
| am OF YOU. my darling. All the world
will envy me the possession Of that fair
est face"
Il am glad you are pleased with me-
she murmured.
| Pleased. he said laughngly: that is
not the word, sweet am proud won.
der at my own fortune. For me life holds
nothing, the world nothing half so fair.
Pleased. why. my darling, can YOU not
see that your beauty drives me mad?''
The rest was like dream to hcr-ex-
cept that she trcmbied with fear. with
awe, with reverence. She remembered
how Sir Hubert. holding her hand with
la loving clasp, led her to the carriag
that as they drove IN silence through
the sunit streets. his arm was thrown
round her. as though he dctied death even
to take her from him; that they drove Tor
long way until they rteached tall,
gloomy house in the midst of n GLOOMY
square.
1T does not look like a clergyman
house she said, and then wondered why
his face grew so deadly pale.
! You must not expect to see country
vicarage, covered with flowers" he said.
Irene, throw this black cloak over your
shoulders; | do not want everyone to
know what is going on; and, my darling,
you do look so much like a bride. be-
. lieye you would look just the same. sweet.
fair and blooming, if you were dressed
in black crepe"
No, not quite the same" she said
drawing the black cloak round her shout
ders. Where are my flowers? Oh, sir
Hubert, give me my lowers there they
lie, on the seat. | could not be married
without my beautiful flowers. Other girl.
have sisters aud friends on their wedding
day have none, save my flowers, AND
they seem to understand"
You have me, Irene he sadi. hall
reproachfully. What more do you want.
You have me.
For long years afterward she remcm
bered every detail of that scene. The,
entered large, square, gloomy room
plainly furnished, yot with every evidenc,
that clergyman Inhabited it, She re
membered every detail OF II. Over th,
mantelpiece hung an engraving OF tn,
, Good Samaritan opposite to that hun,
wrctched copy of Leonardo da Vinci'
Last Supper" Il few good steel engrny
ings of various subjects finished the lis
OF worss vi are. The greater part of th
walls was covered with books: there WA
II reading chair, a writing table, one a
: two bronze statuetteeS; a few large folio
, lay open on the table; the dark blind
+ and dark curtains gave somber aspec
T to the room.
p The door opened and the minister en-
A tered She gave one keen. half.frigh
r ened glance at him. He did not imprcS
e her favorably; he was tail and thin: h
wore II long coat and white collar. h,
4 something was wanting in him. 81
| could not tell what. lie bowed TO y
Hubert in II distant cold fashion
You appointed half-past ten he sal,
J. "and now it is eleven. My time is va
d nabe; II Is as we'll to be careful an
pnnctua In these matters
d 81 am sorry" said Sir Hubert car
n lessly, hut the drive was longer tina
n | thought"
That may be, hut it has nothing to {
;. with me, Have you the icenseY Give
. to me-"
|. Sir Hubert gave him folded pape
q which he read attentively from begiunir
A to end.
= That is right he said. "Now, ha,
: you the wedding ring?"
Il Yes, did not forget that" said $
Hubert, as he drew the little gold rii
,e from his pocket.
), Take this lady's hand and stand b
a fore me-" said the stranger. briefly.
e Aud then he went over the beautif
words OF the most solemn service Z
s. church knows. For richer, for poor,