Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-11-03

ever Mr.. Amherst appeared. his look Of
sober satisfaction, which reminded me of
those lines of Matthew Royden on Sir
Philip Sidney,
"A full assurance given by looks.
Continual comfort in a face,
The lineaments Of gospel books"
might have taught me that all was well
with him.
You are the oldest sweethearts 1 ever
saw" gossiped Susette. IT wouldn't
give straw for such lover; and as for
you Adrienne, you resemble ghost more
than a BRIDE"
In short, a thousand years of purgatory
would Ill represent my sufferings during
those last weeks before my wedding.
Well, to crown the whole, Aunt Browne
said Cedric must give me away; he was
the only male relative, the head of the
family, so to speak, and he could do IT
SO admirably.
I'VE shall see," said he, I'm afraid
should make a poor figure at giving
Adrienne away" and he stroked his
mustache as he spoke, and looked at me
just as he looked that day when We
gathered the laurel for Susette's fete-I
could have sworn he did. didn't answer.
for fear my voice would be husky and the
tears would start.
The wedding was to be quite private
only relatives. Aunt Browne arranged
everything TO suit herself and the pro-
u
bride to make a great parade. At the
church, l remember, my veil caught in
the carriage door, and an orange blossom
tumbled from my wreath, which Cedric
picked up and wore in his buttonhole.
Then he drew my half lifeless arm In his.
and directly the wedding march pealed
forth in great resounding waves OF
melody. My grandmother's India muslin
blew out in abundant creamy folds be-
hind me, and Cedric and were standing
before the altar and Mr.. Amherst was
reading the marriage service!
believe Aunt Browne tainted, or she
would have forbidden the banns.
you see it was impossible for me to
give you away, Adrienne," said Cedric
later when we were steaming out Of town.
Amherst is a trump, and may he find a
wife as sweet as Mrs. Browne! II 1t
hadn't been for him 1 should have been
Of all men the most miserable today.
What do you think he did? Why, he
wrote me all that sad little story you
thought right to tell him, and added that
he would not deny he was making a sacri-
fee; in renouncing you he renowned all
that made life lovely to him except his
work; yet he felt that 1t was better one
should fail of heaven on earth than that
two should suffer- and that, II / loved you.
as had once said, would take his place
at the marriage and allow him to solem-
nize it? 1t was within OF his to have 1t
SO, 10 aNOlu eApldndllOnSt ne S1iu
couldn't believe in my luck you know,
Adrienne. We banded letters to and fro,
canvassing the subject. feared he had
made a mistake, as / had renewed my
offer some little while before, but had
received no reply; still, a dozen things
happen to letters every day"
yes, and something happened to
| yours" l said.
Years after, when Susette and Anne
were married, when Adele's husband had
taken the children home to a new mamma,
and Aunt Browne had gone to the land
of the hereafter" when Cedric was re-
pairing the old house for a summer resi-
dence, in ripping away the ancient dadO
| In the music room, which had always
warped away from the wall in warm
weather, leaving a little crack, the car
penters unearthed my lost letter. Had
1t slipped down there or had Aunt Browne
given 1t a push? We give her the benetit
Of the doubt-CHarper's Bazaar.