The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-06-12


to look like ghost in my gown to-
morrow, and white satin is so trying
to the complexion ~
Next morning the whole house was
stirred to its foundations by the great
event of life, the attiring of bride
in her wedding finery. At last the
actual moment of robing arrived, and
Elva was inducted into the white trail
ing splendors of train trimmed with
founces and old lace held in place by
punches of orange blossoms. Mrs.
Leighton had collapsed and was con-
Quoted downstairs weeping copiously
and two of the bridesmaids had run to
her assistance with eau de Cologne
and lavender salts. Trissimer was
opening jewel cases and handing their
contents to the bride, clasping brace
lets and pinning in brooches; the maid
was carefully stretching the long white
suede gloves which the BRIDE was to
wear, when one of the bridesmaids
burst into the room with an agitated
face.
"Ob, Elva!'' she cried, "whatever
shall we do?"
"What's the matter? Has anything
gone wrong?"
Cob, dear! it S dreadful
Elva turned white and clung to the
bed-rail for support.
us it Lexleyl'' she gasped.
ooh, no; he's all right; the best man
has just been round with his compli-
ments. The bouquets have never
come, and the carriages are at the
door,"
The principal bridesmaid at that
moment entered the room with the
brides bouquet in her hand, followed
by three maids carrying those for the
six bridesmaids; they were of "La
France" roses.
ooh, Lena, thank you for bringing
it!' said Elva, turning TO her half
sister. at is splendid! Why, where
did this lovely holder come from? 1
never saw any thing like it before! I'm
almost afraid to take hold of it, the
snakes look so hfelike; one could al
most imagine those fangs were real ,
they look so threateningly."
"You are nervous said her sister;
"they are quite innocent. 1t is my
present, Elva, dear. You must have
thought me very unkind not to give it
to you before. 1t is very old and has
been in my mothers family for hun
dreds Of years. I sent it to be polished
and the jeweler did not send it back
until this very minute" .
Elva rested her bouquet on her
knees in the carriage because her hands
trembled, and the scent of the orange
blossoms made her feel faint when she
held it close to her face.
After a long drive, which seemed as
if it would never end, they arrived at
the church, which had been elaborately
decorated in honor Of the occasion.
At the sight of her the bridegroom
smiled raptuously, and Elva forgot
her nervousness and walked firmly up
the aisle.
Just as the golden circlet slipped
upon her finger, a sudden darkness
seemed to descend upon the chancel
like cloud, and something black and
sinister almost brushed against her
cheek; horrible giddy sensation seized
her-church, clergyman, bridegroom,
all faded away from her sight; she
swayed slightly, and felt Lexley' s
hand grip her tightly, and saw the
anxious terror in his eyes.
At last it was over; the wedding
march pealed through the building,
and the bridal party retired to sign
the register, Elva wrote herself Elva
Leighton for the last time in her life,
and mechanically passed the pen to
LENA, who stood close beside her, and
as she did so started back at the sight
of her face, which was deathly white,
amid the pallor of which her large dark
eyes sbone with appalling brilliancy.
"Are You ili?' she asked anxiously
"No, it is nothing" the bridesmaid
answered, though her gasping breath
denied her words. She took the pen
in her hands, stepped forward to sign,
gave one convulsive shudder, struggled
to keep her feet, and, with a choking
cry, fell in dead faint upon the vestry
floor
The elder of the two doctors drew
Sir Loxley aside, and said in an under
tone:
"Take your wife away; this is not
the place for her; say nothing to her,
but | IN afraid this is very serious
>.,,o W. .,,,o@ - -