Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-30

vaguely, as one of the maids arranged the
fragrant blossoms and another applied a
.aressing hand in the final adjustment of
tuile. VIII there be many of them?'
Many of them?" repeated Mrs Rossi-
ter. The place will be full. They'll be
packed In as close as Jamaica figs!'
On, MRS. Rossiter. cried Poste. rush
ing upon that lady like miniature whirl-
wind The carriages are at the door,
heileve the hour has approached" said
Mrs. Rossater, majesticaiiy. drawing herself
up. Elinor, see your father in The hall
You had better go now"
The adjoining windows and those across
the street awoke to sudden life aud inter
est. Alas! that the pride and pemp of the
once ceremonial bridal procession of the
days of Jacob and Samson has fallen into
disuse; that Mss Rowley and Mrs Crowley
and the other interested neighbors could
look down in the present instance on an
aggregation of Carriages only. each We
hicie dashi9g away indeponden. of the other
equipages, presumably TO common desti-
nationi
On their way to the church. Mr. Rossiter
and his daughter were both rather quiet.
For the time her vivacity seemed to desert
her. He took her hand; she leaned her
head a little toward him.
How would it be. she said suddenly ST
we didn't go to the church at all?"
My dear," he exclaimed Startled
relevantly.
And you
He stroked her hand. You like him,
don't you. papa?' She whispered.
Very much, my dear''
Within the hymeneal temple crowded
an ostentatious gathering. The ma jesty of
robes queue contrasted with the airiness
of feathers. If the diminution of the cir
cumference of skirts to the tiny circle of the
waist was suggestive of an hour glass, the
tongues that moved necessarily We're like
Time. Every lady gieamed if swathed
in delicate armor, for no dress, sack or
bonnet considered complete in those
redoubtable days unless plentifully pepper
ed with glass beads. After a wedding or a
church service the sections, it is chronicled.
did thriving business, picking up beads
and bugles from pewS and vestibule, and Ii
was q notorious fact that when Mrs. Bull
lion entered the sacred edifice. the pathway
behind her was so Strewn that Mr.. Bullion.
who followed meekly in her wake. set the
nerves of the sensitive on edge with the
crunching and crushing of his boot heels.
Everybody was there, Ali the people the
Rossiters knew and many they didn't know
Packed as close as figs, truly. as Mrs Ros
sitter had surmsed, for Miss Rosster was a
girl of acknowledged beauty and Mr.. Strong
a man of acknowledged substance. Those
shut out-the rank and file to whom the
sight of a grand wedding was the great
deSideratum. and. failing that, the sight
of the grand people the next best thug
employed themselves in the endeavor to
identify those who fitted across the side
walk, and then fitted up the steps of the
church, eXuding faint odors delicate as the
perfumes of Arabia.
Occasionally some one not from Madison
avenue, or the other sacred residential pre-
cinct, crossed their range of vision and got
in-''Tennessee" Clafin, for example spir-
itualistic medium TO the great commodore.
and her sister. Victoria c., who wore an
Eve hat''-a leaf trimmed around with a
feather, And like the hallowed court of
the temple of old, the modern holy place
became also invaded by the money lend
ers:" Brewster dressed like droveT, with
Avarice written on his face and Religion
shining from his eyes. and.
There goes Jim Jubilee. jr.' said one of
those on the outside to his companion, a
pert-looking serving maid, as an alert figure
mounted the steps of the religious edifice.
who's hep she asked.
Don't know who Jim Jubilee is! Jim
Fisk what owns all the banks and all the
gold mines and a bench Of judges and
bevy of ballet girls.
How long was Miss Rossiter forced to
wait at the entrance of the main aisle into
the church? 1t seemed an interminable
period. Yet the minister was there, and
near the altar-"Behold the bridegroom-go
We out to meet him.
Her hand shook a little. Then she
heard the organ, low. deep, reverberating-
and after an interval found herself walk
ing, apparently through no volition of her
own, leaning ever so lightly on her fathers
arm her hand like a leaf clinging to
branch that was shaking somewhat itself;
wondering at the beauty of the flowers
conscious of the concentrated staring OF
many, many eyes.
How far was the altar! How strong the
perfume of flowers! Flowers, flowers.
everywhere! What bower of them, And
through them the luster of the lights BEAM
ing twinkling, iickeringi Was she dream
ing: We're the people Elusive; the flowers,
fantasies of grace and color? No; she real
ly stood there before an actual altar in the