Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-04-01
|DECEPTI0NS

lGlH HEN before the altar thu
priest asked her, care
wv you content% 1t wal
with all her soul Gemma
IENES5v had responded. "Yes!"
uESEEG9 Oh, yes; she was con
tent indeed. Through thu
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 1t, light
ed by oblique rays descending from the
nave, all a glitter Of gold, silks and
brilliants, and 1t 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 unsatisfed long
ings, dream was arisen little by little,
occupying all the room, rendering nsr
insensible to all the rest-the dream OF
at last becoming rich.
She wanted it 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 30 content, so
happy, that it appeared to her 1t was
all dream; that her Mechlin veil was
a 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 size 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 mustache, and
still fresh color that gave him some
thing the look Of an actor. He re-
ma!ncd none the less old, with his
powerful shoulders a 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
slble? Hr felt his heart so palpltat-
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-
ment! 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
a funny little man with baby face
and a big. silvery beard-her father, q
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-
cerning 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 perceiving that
that. too. was a sign Of old age-and 1t
was voice choked with JOY that to
the question Of the priest. Are you
eontrnt?" replied. "Oh. yes"
Now II Is done. United-forever unit
ed. Having risen to their feet. she
with all elegant and light impulse. like
lily wind-lifted ON It's stem. he with
little effort and difficulty. wearied
by emotion. they 60 down from the
altar arm in arm. Now they pass
through the church amid the murmurs
Of compliments which arise amid the
shadows Of the aisleS. among the dull
scraping Of feet and the rustic OF
gowns. There on the peristyle. among
the white columns. is u living wave OF
sun and air which comes TO meet them.
like recall to real life outside of the
mystic dream Of the church. the crrak-
ing of the line of carriages that ad-
vanced. the slow descent Of the steps.
with the white train of the bride
That
Tired Feeling.