Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-05-17

and that she didn't envy Francis JET
frey. What! not with fifty thousand
q year to tighten her odditiesY return
ed her companion with shrug which
| communicated itself to me, SO closely
were we packed together. I have q
son who could bear with them under
such circumstances Indeed she has
and all Washington knows 1t, but the
remark passed without comment, fol-
they had not yet exhausted the main
event, and the person they now attack
ed was Miss futile. Why doesn't she
come and see that that bouquet is
taken In? I declare it's not decent
Mr.. jeffrey would not feel complf.
mented if he knew the fate of those
magnificent lilies and roses. pre-.
sumo he furnished the bouquet
Miss Tuttle has looked out Of hel
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 /
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
IT. 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. l know that she heard them,
for she opened the door q 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 1t he bawled for his
answer. and when he got It he stared
and muttered doubtfully to himself as
he worked his way out again through
the crowd, which by this time was be-
10, nh <ho 1a1
stairways.
But why have told you all this
nonsenseY she asked quite suddenly.
ut isn't Of the least consequence that
Veronica Moore kept boy waiting at
her door while she dressed herself for
her wedding, but it shows that she was
queer even then. and I for one believe
In the theory Of suicide, and in that
alone, and IN the excuse she gave for
1t, too; for IL she had really loved Fran
els Jeffrey she would not have been
so slow to take in the magnificent bou-
Quet he had provided for her.
But comment even from those who
had known these people well was not
what I wanted at this moment, but
facts; SO, without much attention to-
these words. l said:
you will excuse me if 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 1t opened again?"
mot for good half hour; rot till
bod
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 hail
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
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
Ill right that day, and, though l have
heard no one comment on the fact, 1t |
has been a mystery to me ever since |
Why she gave that. sudden recoil when |
Francis Jeffrey took her hand after
he benediction. It was not timidity, |
lor was it fear, for she did not know
ill minute afterward what had hap
)ened in the house. Did some sudden /
realization Of what she had done In
marrying q man whom she herself de-
Jared she did not love come when 1t
vas too late? What do you Think
Miss Freeman had forgotten herself;
tut the impetuosity which had led her
nto asking my opinion made her for
ret in another moment that she had
lone so. And when in my turn pro-
FOUNDED question and inquired
whether she ever again saw the boy
Who besieged the brides door with
Message, she graciousV replied:
1.-THE boy; let me see. Yes. saw
lin twice-once in back hall talking
Miss Freeman