Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-04-27

NC[SEESI had responded. "Yesr'
1g@yx-6u oh. yes; she was con-
tent indeed. Through the
cloud OF costly lace which enwrapped
her In It's snowy transparency she saw
the vast church all dotted with lights.
Respondent in the dark CLEAN of mo-
saics upon golden backgrounds. anil
mated by the slight movement OF the
very elegant crowd that filed II. light
ed by oblique rays descending from the
nave. all n glitter OF gold, silks and
brillants. and IL 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 II not been the dream for which
she sighed? She the ideal blond. OF
eighteen years. with the tall and proud
figure, the pure. dlsdainful profile un-
der heavy curls like those OF an arch.
angel. with naughty eyes sparkling
like blue gems under the golden frlnges
of her long eyelashes.
She had been for long time a 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
tormentlng thoughts OF money-she had
experienced them all. and In her little
heart. eager for pleasure and enjoy
ment, swollen with unsatisfled long
fngs. a dream was arisen little by little.
occupying all the room. rendering her
lnsensible to all the rest-the dream OF
at last becoming rich.
She wanted II absolutely: she was
born for II; 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 II appeared to her II was
all a dream: that her Mechlin veil was
a cloud that transported her into the
realms OF the impossible, across a
Bidereal 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 mustache. and a
still fresh color that gave him some
thing the look Of an actor. He re-
manned none the less old, with his
powerful shoulders a little bent, with
his eyelds 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 WEAKNESS
was more conspicuous beside that radi
ant and blond spring.
Forty-seven years! How was II pos
slble? 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 Comma.
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
ut a ball to which the employees of hi:
bank had invited him. he must needs
be smitten by the exquisite. vaporoui
grace OF that blond girl, dressed sim
ply In white. entering on the arm Of
n funny little man with a baby fac'
and a big silvery beard-her father, &
modest clerk In the bank; a rather
ridiculous little old man who. beside
that divine apparitlon. slender in hei
robes OF snow, made one think OF thu
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
WIN IN uOhtSN IitlAti. VI re
sisting the assIduties Of the director
20 his pretty daughter. the sutton haC
been greatly pleased with the consen
or that little maiden OF eighteen. tina
beautiful creature. that blond being
10 become his wife. Now he tremble,
with Joy. His eyes were misty witt
vivid emotion-not perceiving tina
that. too. was sign OF old age-and |
was a voice choked with JOY that Z