The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-30

red The guests dwindled away few
at Time except some of the more
intimate friends who. were going to stay
until the bride went to the train at z
O'clock BY and by the dancing stopped
and someone began to play plaintiye airs
from Heller's Studies" and Martha"
and part OF the Pathetic Sonata" which
1tted in. The people sat down on the
sofa and the chairs. then on footstools,
and the men on the floor. The bride
nestled down at her fathers feet and
leaned against his knees, arranging her
dress around her In the way girls have to
keep It from getting soIled, until she
appeared like a fluffy nautilus
Some listened to the music, and some
talked softly OF tho wedding and of the
brides chances for happiness. They
were those who had married and lived
unhappiy ever after; yet the woman who
had suffered most was the most Optlrnis-
tic, TO the hero 1t seemed long time
that the heroine required lin to be soo.
He was really moro unhappy than II she
had not given him the hope Of driving
In with her; he kept telling himself that
there was not the faintest chanCe--he was
Polycrates throwing his ring into the
sea.
AT last she came and stood beside him..
II will come if can, !" she said in a
low tone: then moved n step away from
him, and raising her voice spoke OF other
matters, for the room to hear She asked.
him one or two questions without getting
an answer: stopped and looked lnquir-
ingly at him.
You may as well go on talking for the
gallery" he said; II am paying abso-
lutcly no attention. except TO what you
said first; there Is nothing else I care
for now--if 1t Is only true.
She moved a step nearer TO him. and
stopped down to examine tho ferns on the
mantelpiece, "Plense don't look at me
like that" she whispered, its such a.
such y giveaway.
He dropped his eyes to her hands ner-
vously arranging the ferns. II must be
good with my eyes, too, must ]? But
ii Isn't polite to gaze at the ceiling while
talking with-now don't give the obvious
retort that in that case 1t would bo wiser
not to talk
They were standing very close together,
ms people who examine ferns sometimes
do, She raised her eyes to his; she who
could preach SO well had better practice,
for her soul was in her eyes, and much
protestatlon would be needed to unsay
what her eyes revealed
she left him standing by the ferns and
the candles IN front of the mantelpiece.
70 him 1t all was background to her eyes.
It and tho people and the lights, and
4 luTlHsr DtCN lnt' a1HuslN, uiiu I.NfSi' 49,
wedding ceremony itself, lie felt as
though he had been lost and drunk up
in her eyos--as though there remained
but the husk OF himself, now that she
was gone.
Next came the getting ready to drive
to the train, Some men who had waited.
half sentimentally, 10 80 down with the
bride, BUSTED about cheerfully. glad OF
the nearer prospect of sleep One or
the girls called To know In. which carr
ragn the heroine was going snnd the
heros heart stopped as he waited 70
hear her answer, certain that she would
not dare, before them all, TO say that
she was going With him, But the hero
inc was upstairs, and the hero kept on
telling himself that at the last minute
something would happen TO prevent.
Al last she came down. There was q
block Of various vehicles driving up 10
the door end lac asked hcr In a low tone
II she would mind walking to where his
horse WAS tied TO tree "iIe does not
stand WE'LL lie explained, She went
with him, disbehevlng the excuse. out
into the dark beneath the trees, and
| they drove down the winding road behind
| u ''dayton'' full OF cheerful men, his horse
| plunslng and trying to run, from his long
| walt In the cool air.
| IT was true. sou see, you hoy OF little
| faith"
] 1and nov l can look ut you In tho