The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-04-14
S-9e-R,
Three Faces
By
GEORGE E. PICKETT L
lcOpyright, 1904. by Daily Story Pub. Coz
GEORGE E. PICKETT

ways
In an upper room the heireSs to the
magnificent mansion and the broad
acres surrounding it, arrayed in bric.il
robe, was submitting to the final
touches of skilful hands and listening
to the chatter of her maids.
Il am her maid of honor" said the
tall, dark girl who was arranging her
veil. she must give me her bouquet,
else where are the privileges of my po-
sition?"
That is not fair" replied a maiden,
whose golden curls fell in riotous
mass over the tiny slipper she was fit
ting TO the foot of the bride. You
have highest place and will be the most
observed and admired She must throw
her bouquet fairly and let chance select
the fortunate one"
If you do not go away now and give
some attention to your own adornment
you will not pc ready to go down with
ME and there will be no fortunate one
to receive my flowers. Had | known
you were going to quarrel like this
NOuld hOl nave dllOMCu gOu W Stuu
my dressing maid away so you might
practice the art of costumery at my
expense. Go off now. every one of
you"
Putting them out and shutting the
door, she came back to the center of
She room and stood looking about her.
She was taking leave of that room, the
sanctum of her maiden life, and of all
the beautiful things in it which had
been her pride and Joy in the happy
days she had spent there. Tears came
to her eyes as she thought that those
days were going away from her for
ever. She would leave everything ir
the room just as it had always been
and come back to it sometimes, but
it would never be the same 1t would
belong only to her little episodes then;
never again to her life.
She knelt and said prayer for the
happiness of that coming life-for it's
true happiness. Not that it might be
free from the thorns that are the lot of
all who tread well the path of life, but
that two might walk hand in hand and
bring blessing each to the other that
would heal every wound and light the
darkness of the road until it should
merge into the shining way She re-
membered in her petition, too, the little
life that was being given to her care,
for Alan Warrington had once had a
lovely young wife, who had died and
left little boy to comfort him for her
loss.
She stood by the window and looked
out at the ripping river in the distance
and away over to the horizon where
the dreams of her childhood had taken
form in the days gone by. She heard
carriages driving up to the door. She
could hear them bowl around the curve
and turn into the drive There the
heavy, arching trees hid them from
view Some one came running down
the winding road. She observed him
idly, scarcely consciou, of his presence.
He came on up the pathway to the
door.
How still the house was. The MUIR
muir of moving forms and light voices
had suddenly been stilled. 1t was the
hush OF expectation, she thought Alan
would soon be there. 1t had been a dis
appointment to him that he could not
nave had one sweet hour with her to
close the old life before they had en-
tered on the new. He was stationed at
fort in the west with his regiment
and weddings were not included in mil
ltary duties; especially when there was
an excitement on the border So he
was to arrive just before the hour set
for the ceremony.
Something was coming down the
road, moving slowly. AS it came near
err she saw four men carrying a stretch
er covered over with dark cloth.
Why was so gloomy thing coming
now?
After long time her mother came
in, all the light gone out of her face.
Ginevra held out her hands.
You need not tell me-" she said in
a voice softer than a whisper, yet more
lnsistent than a thunder-tone. allan
is dead and you have come to tell me.
| will go to meet him. He cannot come
to me-"
She walked steadily out of the room
and down the stairs, her white robe
trailing in a silvery billow on the floor.
Her mother followed and tried to de-
tain her, but she broke away from the
OBTAINING arms. She crossed the va
cant room at the foot of the stairs and
opened the door opposite On couch
within lay the still form and beside ii
stood her father, a physician and two
OF the guests. They stepped forward
to intercept her, but fell back in awe of
her stiffness and the majestic air with
which she waved them away. She stood
upright and looked for an instant at
the white face on the crimson cushion.
She turned and walked with the same
stately step and moveless face back
to her room, the maid of honor fol-
lowing her, weeping and clasping her
hands.
A cab came rapidly up the drive. A
young man with arm in sling hastily
entered the hall
"Alan!" exclaimed Mr.. Vernev
'Where-why-how did you Gomez"
Did you think I should not come?
1 was near thinking so myself. If ever
man was pardonable for being late at