Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-07-21


I had set my heart on it somehow"
she added sadly. You both seem so
well suited to each other"
"Why did you not tell me sooner?
I might have set to work. 1t would
have been hard work, though" He
was still looking at the bride.
'Play the part of matchmaker? And
where my little sister was concerned?
All, no. / could not tell you, but l
did so want it."
THAT is the greatest compliment
you could have paid me. / really
He had turned and was looking down
into her eyes. Suddenly he stopped
as il thought had stifled his words,
and the color left his face for one
short second.
Come" she said, as though divining
1t, you are to make the first toast, |
believe. You must continue your du-
ties as best man"
She led the way down the long hall,
and together they paused on the
threshold of the dining room.
"Did you do this?" he asked.
"Yes. Do you like it?"
He stood silently drinking in the
beauty of the room, with its filmy
draperies of asparagus fern, amid the
delicate green Of which stood forth tall
silver and crystal vases filled with
long stemmed Bridesmaids roses. Here
and there low bowls of green and gold
Bohemian glass were half buried be-
meath the dainty color of the Duchesse
rose yelled in leaves Of maidenhair.
The conventional cake, with Its stream
ers of narrow satin ribbon, shimmered
white amid the colors, and the pink
shaded candles threw soft reflections
over everything.
1t was very beautiful, and he said 80
to her. She was very beautiful as she
moved about in her clinging gown of
palest green chiffon, Strengthening a
leaf here or bending flower there, and
his eyes said so, although she did not
see 1t.
Then the next thing he knew the
room was filed with people, the young
bride was beside him, and some one
was holding a glass toward him, say
ing, "Will you not toast them"
He looked at the bride, bowed and
began.
"Hail to thee, blithe spiritw then
stopped, laughing. THAT won't do.
You are not skylark."
"She's n bird, though" yehemently
interrupted boy who had adored the
girl for years.
"Then / cannot continue at all, for
bird thou never vert won't apply.
What shall say?" He looked at the
tall man standing near, then into the
eyes of the girl bride.
with thy clear. keen Joyance
Languor cannot be-"
he quoted, then, improvising. contin-
ued:
MAY shadow of annoyance
Never come near thee"
He raised his glass and turned to-
ward the groom:
sThou wilt love and neer know loves sad
safety"
And amid n murmur of applause and
clinking of glasses the toast was
drunk. Then some one, taking up the
LHTeuu OF W lllOn Thought, DeSuhs
what thou art we know not
What Is most like thee?"
And the boy who had used the slang
surprised them all by continuing the
quotation:
"She is like glowworm golden
Oh, oh, OH But like star of heaven
in the broad daylight or n rose en-
powered in its own green leaves All
that ever was joyous and clear and
fresh Or
Please" said the bride appealingly,
mo more. 1t is very beautiful, but so
embarrassing. | don't deserve it. l
am going to drink to Shelley, who
taught you to say such beautiful
things"
"With such subject" some one be-
gan, but Margaret and her sister had
disappeared.
Wilton slipped IN the crowded
room out into the quiet halls. where he
wandered up and down. thinking. won
dering how he had not thought the
same thing before. All these months
past how stupid he had been. Yes, he
thought 1t would do no harm 10 try his
luck. All, no: she never would, she
could not love him; ii was too much to
expect. She would look higher and