Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-03-12
be Is .ide'
fzldY
~ JULIA n. KNIGHT.

THE wedding day was fixed for
June, the month of roses, and the
great country house, with it's dusky
\ woodlands and outlying hills, was
alive and astir with preparations for
the momentous occasion. It 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; the envied of all for the
s strange chance that had transformer
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 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ment superseded by the demands OF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
I house was invaded by DIRE ssmakers, the
trousseau, dear to the feminine heart,
was discussed in all it's 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 a 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 girlfash-
ion. ,- n.
a Nan, the madcap, dubbed her the
brides understudy, for when Daisy
was busy or tired, the dressmaker
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
chung, as a perfume to a 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 wcll?, 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 trous-
seau is paramount to all else in we'd
ding"
So the BRIDES understudy she re-
ma'ned to the careless girls, who kept
the 81 eat 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 blossoming orchard
lands. r. s
One day the lover came from New
York on flying visit, and took them
by surprise. Led by the sound Of mer-
~ voices he found his way to the sew
J. ing-room, where the girls were con-
gregated, and Daisy, arrayed in the
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 ghost, and the flash of startled
emotion on the lovers face, as his eye
fell 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 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
time?"
Chester. forgive me-" answered the
girl, as she held out her hands with a
pleading gesture. 1T is my misfor-
tune, not my fault that I am here.
never dreamed that you were her low
e.. must work"
The man took a step nearer, the fire
faded from his glance, look of pity
and bewilderment softened his hand
some face. u
"Irma-you working for livelihood
here among strangers, you poor, pale
and struggling, what does it mean
Whatever your fault, however much
I have suffered, did not desire this
"Lest.:r," faltered the girl, latter
you lets 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"
NO fault?" holly. "Irma, why did
leave you-tell me. child"
Lester" and the wistful eyes met
his bravely, "for mad, headstrone
jealousy without cause or reason, fol
pride that refused all explanation, fol-
lack of faith in love that had never
failed you. You cast me off without
a word, went abroad for many years
left me to my fate"
"1rma," and he caught her hands II
an eager clasp. "If this be true, wha,
punishment is heavy enough for m.
to bear. I who have condemned yo,
to lifelong suffering and servitude
and linked my fate with that of an
other, equally innocent"