Evening star., 1903-07-01

Moore kept boy waiting at her door while
she dressed herself for her wedding; but it
shows that she was queer even then. and
L for one believe in the theory of suicide
and In that alone. and in the excuse she
gave for 1T, too; for if she had really loved
Francis Jeffrey she would not have been
so slow to take in the magnificent bouquet
he had provided for her."
But comment. even from those who had
known these people well. was not what 1
wanted at this moment but facts. So
without much attention to these words I
said:
You will excuse me If suggest that you
are going on too fast. The door Of the
brides room has just been shut upon the
boy who brought her message. When was
1t opened againT'
Not for good half hour not till every
one had grown nervous and Miss Tuttle
and one or two of her most intimate friends
M haa gone IN more than once to her door; not,
In fact till the hour for the ceremony had
come and gone and Mr.. Jeffrey had crossed
the hall twice under the impression that
she was ready for him. Then. when weari-
ness was general and people were asking
what KEEP the bride and how much longer
they were to be kept waiting, her door sud
denly opened and caught glimpse of her
lace and heard her ask al last for her maid
On 1 repeat that Veronica Moore was not
all right that day. and. though I have
heard no one comment on the fact it has
been mystery to me ever since why she
gave that sudden recoil when Francis JEFF
1t was not timidity, nor was it fear for she
dld not know till a minute afterward what
had happened in the house. Did some sud
den realization of what she had done in
marrying man whom she herself declared
she did not love come when 1t was too Iate9
What do you think?"
Miss Freeman had forgotten herself: but
the impetuosity which had led her .n.o
ASKING my opinion made her forget in an
other moment that she had done So And
when In my turn l propounded a question
and inquired whether she ever again saw
the boy who besieged the brides door with
message, she graciously replied:
The boy; let me see. Yes saw him
twice; once in back hall talking earnestly
TO Mr. jeffrey. and secondly at the carriage
door Just before the bridal party rode AWAY
1t was Mrs. Jeffrey who was talking to him
then and 1 wondered to see him look SO
pleased when everybody in and about the
house was pale as ashes.'
DO you know the name of that bov2.
carelessly inquired
His name? Oh. no. He is one of Rauch-
er,s walters: the curly-haired one You see
name. Do you flatter yourself that he can
tell you anything that other people don't
know! Why. If he knew the least thing
that wasn't In everybody's mouth. you
Those men are the greatest gossips In
town. wonder what she thought of her
seif-.and so proud to be Of any impor-
lance. This was true enough. though /
interview was closed and went away. l
have no doubt she considered me quite the
most heavy person she had ever met. But
TINS did not disturb me. The little facts she
had stated were new to me and. repeating
my former method. I was already busy ar
ranging them in my mind. Witness the
result:
l. The ceremony of marriage between
Francis jeffrey and Veronica Moore wa,
fully three-quarters of an hour late.
q This was owing to the caprice of the
bride who would not have any one in the
room with her, not even her maid
3. The bridal bouquet did not figure in
the ceremony. In the furry Of the moment
1t was forgotten or purposely left behind
by the bride. AS this bouquet was UNI
doubtedly the gift of Mr.. Jeffrey, the fact
may be significant
4. She received a message Of a somewhat
peremptory character before going below.
From whom? Her bridegroom? It would
so appear from the character Of the mes