The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-02-05
The BRIDES
VnderSfzxdy
BY JULIA N. Knight.

WOodlandS ana outlying nils, was
alive and astir with preparations for
the momentous occasion. 1t was the
first break in the family of girls, and
Daisy, the bride-elect, the prettiest
and most winsome of the happy-heart-
ed circle; thee envied of all for the
strange chance that had transformed
her uneventful life from prose to poe
Try and romance.
She had met her fate the preceding
winter while on pleasure trip TO the
gay metropolis, and after a short WOO
ing had yielded her girlish love and
consent to an early wedding. And now
loves young dream was for the mo-
ment superseded by the demands of
fashion and time-honored custom; the
house was invaded by dressmakers, the
trousseau, dear to the feminine heart,
was discussed in all its details, the
bright spring days all too short for
The work in hand.
One young girl, an artist of the
needle, made her home with them for
the time, and under her fairy fingers
the wedding finery blossomed as by en-
chantment She was sad, silent
young thing, and seemed i'll at ease
in the midst of the merry circle who
sought to win her confidence and share
their pleasures in careless girl-fash-
Jon.
Nan, the madcap, dubbed her the
brides understudy, for when Daisy
was busy or tired, the dressmakcr
found her capital substitute. In
deed, so far as height proportion and
sylph-like grace went. the two girls
might have been counterparts; but
there the resemblance ceased, for
Daisy's wild-rose beauty, as the dewy
freshness of the dawn, had no affinity
with the rare, haunting charm that
clung, as perfume to flower, to the
pale, poetic face, the wistful dark eyes
of the stranger.
Actresses and singers all have an
understudy,' quoth saucy Nan, "why
not brides as well? So if anything
fails at the critical moment, Daisy,
Miss Milton can step into your shoes,
also your clothes, which fit her to per-
lection; and every one knows n trous-
seau is paramount to all else in a we'd
ding"
SO the brides understudy she re-
mained to the careless girls, who kept
the great house alive with their laugh
ter and pranks through the sunny
spring days, when nature was awaken
ing in green lane and byway, and the
robins thrilling their glees and mad
rigals across the blossomng orchard
lands.
One day the lover came from New
York on flying visit, and took them
by surprise. Led by the sound of mer-
ry voices he found his way to the sew
ing-room, where the girls were con-
latest creation, blue and white
diaphanous muslin, like bit of sum
mer sky and cloud drift, paced up and
down for inspection.
In the furry and excitement of the
moment, the chatter of many voices,
Miss Milton shrank in her corner, pale
as a ghost, and the flash of startled
emotion on the lovers face, as his eye
sfell upon her, passed unnoticed. Later
when the girls had dispersed to help
Daisy exchange her finery for more
suitable garb, the lover and Miss Mil
ton were alone for a few moments,
face to face in the silent room.
'Irma-you here?" he said in tones
of bitterness. what strange fatality
brings us together again, and at such
q timer"
'Lester, forgive me-" answered the
girl, as she held out her hands with n
pleading gesture. at is my misfor-
tune, not my fault that | am here. |
never dreamed that you were her low
er. / must work"
The man took step nearer, the fire
faded from his glance, look of pity
and bewilderment softened his hand
some face.
"Irma-you working for livelihood
here among strangers, you poor, pale
and struggling, what does it NEAR?
Whatever your fault, however much
have suffered, | did not desire this ~
Lester" faltered the girl, "after
you left me, one misfortune followed
another, father failed and died, my
home was shattered, and l cast adrift
upon the world. | have suffered and
through no fault of my own"
mo fault?" hotly. "Irma, why did |
leave you-tell me, child?"
Lester" and the wistful eyes met
his bravely, "for mad, headstrong
jealousy without cause or reason, for
pride that refused all explanation, for
lack of faith in love that had never
failed you. You cast me off without
word, went abroad for many years,
left me to my fate"
"lrma," and he caught her hands in
an eager clasp. IF this be true, what
punishment is heavy enough for me
10 bear. L who have condemned you
to lifelong suffering and servitude,
and linked my fate with that of an
other, equally innocent"
Hush, Lester!" exclaimed the girl,
as she lifted a face transtigured with
plying love to his darkened one "The
mast is nnrc Itlpia6 IN, ,,,,, l,o,,..