Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-10-21
".A1iss futile has looked out of he,

miss futile has looked out of her
room once l heard the other reply.
She is in splendid beauty today, but
pale. But she never could control We
ronica.' Hush! You speak louder than
you think This amused me, and do
believe that in another moment I
should have laughed outright If an
other boy had not appeared in the hall
before us, who, showing aside the first
raped on the door with spirit which
called for answer. But he was no more
successful than the other boy had been.
So, being brisk fellow, with no time
for nonsense, he called out: Your bou-
quet, miss, and message which am
to give you before you go downstairs!
The gentleman is quite particular about
1t! These words were literally shout
ed at the door, but in the hubbub of
voices about US don't believe any one
heard them but ourselves and the
bride. I know that she heard them,
for she opened the door a very little
way-such very little way that the
boy had to put his lips to the crack
when he spoke and then turn and place
his ear where his lips had been in or
der to catch her reply. This, for some
reason, seemed long time in coming,
and the fellow grew SO impatient that
he amused himself by snatching the
bouquet from the other boy and thrust
ing 1t in through the crack, to the very
great detriment Of its roses and lilies.
When she took it he bawled for his
answer, and when he got 1t he stared
and muttered doubtfully to himself as
he worked his way out again through
the crowd, which by this time was be-
ginning to choke up all the halls and
stairways.
"But why have told you all this
nonsense?" she asked quite suddenly.
1T isn't Of the least consequence that
Veronica Moore kept boy waiting at
her door while she dressed herself for
her wedding, but 1t shows that she was
queer even then, and for one believe
In the theory Of suicide, and in that
alone, and in the excuse she gave for
it. too; for If she had really loved Fran
els Jeffrey she would not have been
20 slow to take in the magnificent bou-
Quet he had provided for her."
But comment even from those who
had known these people we'll was not
what wanted at this moment, but
facts; so, without much attention to
these words, said:
"You will excuse me II suggest that
you are going on too fast. The door
Of the brides room has just been shut
upon the boy who brought her mes
sage. When was it opened again?"
--Nor FOR good half hour; not till
every one had grown nervous and Miss
futile and one or two Of her most init
mate friends had gone 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
WEAKNESS was general and people were
asking what kept the bride and how
much longer they were to be kept
waiting, her door suddenly opened and
! caught glimpse of her face and
heard her ask at last for her maid. Oh,
repeat that Veronica Moore was not
all right that day, and, though have
heard no one comment on the fact, 1t
has been mystery to me ever since
why she gave that sudden recoil when
Francis Jeffrey took her hand after
the benediction. It was not timidity,
nor was it fear, for she did not know
till a minute afterward what had hap
pened in the house. Did some sudden
realization Of what she had done in
marrying man whom she herself de-
clared she did not love come when 1t
was too late? What do you think?"
Miss Freeman had forgotten herself;
but the impetuosity which had led her
into asking my opinion made her for
get in another moment that she had
done so. And when in my turn pro-
pounded a question and inquired
whether she ever again saw the boy
who besieged the brides door with a
message, she graclously replied:
1.-THE boy; let me see. Yes. I saw
him twice-once in a back hall talking