Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-03-29

. And none envied her this new-found
happiness. .n ~.-r
. CHAPTER XII.
WEDDING BELLS.
When the pinks and syringas onca
more bloOmed in Aunt Comforts door,
yard, and the lilacs beautified the
weather-worn and moss-covered porch,
there occurred wedding in the old
orthodox church. Martin would have
preferred it in the one he had endowed.
yet did not even hint that thought.
for the most trifiing will and wish Of
Angie was now law with him.
say wedding, and yet rather might
it have been called Greenvale's testt-
monial to the pair, for never had the
village seen one like it. For weeks
almost every one Of the, gentler sex
was anxiOusly preparing suitable raj
ment; dressmaker' from the city had
been called in for Angie. a trained
1uartette and professional musicians
engaged for the grand occasion. and
carriage and span from Riverton to
convey the united pair away. For two
days dozens of kindly hands labored to
render the church more beautiful.
Every window was draped with flowers
and foliage, the altar hidden beneath
]ilacs and roses, a carpet was laid from
street to door, and when the bride
and groom arrived, every inch of
standing room in the church was
packed solid. with scores outside, while
hardly man, woman, Or child in
Greenyale was absent. MI 81 =.
A double row of Angles pupils
fanked the carpeted walk, tossing
flowers ahead of her as she entered.
Two more privileged led the way up
the aisle, scattering buds and BIOS
SONS, while the wedding-song, 20
Promise Me- filled the fragrant air
with divine melody.
Then came hush; and the few sa-
cred and time-honored words that have
opened the doors of heavenly Joy or
heartrending sorrow to millions, q
fervent prayer from the lips of Minis
ter Jones, never before equalled by
him, and feeling in the hearts of
many that God had entered the temple
with the bridal pair.
Words were weak fifty to describe
such an event and even less so the
moods of all participants. It was a
meeting of the rills of joy and sor-
row, ever flowing alike from all human
hearts, as we'll as a union OF two finite
beings, and those with gray hair were
left to mourn. To Angie it was q
sacred and solemn step much akin to
the thought of Christ on the cross,
and only by superhuman effort did she
restrain her tears until the seclusion Of
Aunt Comforts was reached again.
Love to her meant utter self abnega-
ton and marriage a pledge to live for,
and If need be, to die for another.
And when the dear old home enclosed
her once more, emotion conquered all
resolution. ..z. n y
Eye mustn't take on so,'' Aunt Conn
fort whispered brokenly. when she
clasped Angie for the final parting,
it'll break my heart when we're gone.
Ye've been q great blessin' to me all
these years, m want to see We start
of happy. It's nat'ral We should, n
when I can't see yer face no more, I
want ter think on t ez smilin'. It's all
that's left me-" - ,.= IT. -.
Over that hallowed journey to and
through the wilderness where the
streams wound between flr-clad banks.
the waves rippled upon the shores of
sparkling lakes, the spruce trees played
hide and seek in the campfire light,
and the song birds woke them to say.
Thank God for: this doubly blessed
existence" veil shall be drawn.
Neither need question be raised az
to how she met and cared for that poor
old hermit: or how, at sight Of her
sweet face once more, old Cy felt as II
an angel had entered the forest. S IS
But Of those left waiting in Green
vale, good old Aunt Comfort deserve.
the last word and shall have It.
L For her the sun Of life had almost
set; her heart had rolled away in the
carriage with the child she had reared,
and she had naught left except memory
and that faded blouse and cap in the
attic chamber. Desolation and heart
hunger were her portion tears fol.
lowed the wrinkles in her kindly face
and her gray head was bent low IN sor-
row. *s (. .=. 5s
. When life seems most Joyous to us,
we think not, but when our eyes are
closing and memory fading, /. It Is
mothers face hat hovers over as at
last. S.. b :.=s3
THE END :s