The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-12-07

come and see that that bouquet IS
taken in. / declare it's not decent.
Mr. Jeffrey would not feel compii-
nented II he knew the fate of lose
magnificent lilies and roses. / pre-
sumo he furnished the bouquet
Miss futile has looked out Of her
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 ii the hall
before Us, who. showing aside the first,
raped on the door with n spirit which
called for answer. But he was no more
successful than the other boy had been.
So. being a brisk fellow, with no time
for nonsense. he called out: Your bou-
quet. miss. and message which / am
10 give you before you 20 downstairs.
The gentleman is quite particular about
it" These words We're 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
for she opened the door a very little
way-such a 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 it in through the crack. to the very
great detriment of its roses and lilies.
When she took it he bawled for his
answer. and when he got 1t he stared
and muttered doubtfully to himself as
he worked his way out again through
the crowd, which by this time was be-
ginning to choke up all the halls and
srairways.
But why have I told you all this
nonsense:" she asked quite suddenly.
TT isn't Of the least consequence that
Veronica Moore kept a boy waiting at
her door while she dressed herself for
her wedding, but it shows that she was
queer even then. and l for one believe
in the theory of suicide, and in that
alone. and in the excuse she gave for
it, 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 1 wanted at this moment, but |
facts; so. without much attention to |
these words. 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 a mes |
sage. When was it opened again?"
mot for a good half hour; not till |
every one had grown nervous and Miss |
Tuttle 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 hall |
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 tor be kept |
waiting. her door suddenly opened and
1 caught a glimpse of her face and
heard her ask at last for her maid. Oh, |
1 repeat that Veronica Moore was not |
all right that day, and. though l have
heard no one comment on the fact, it
has been a mystery to me ever since
why she gave that sudden recoil when
Francis Jeffrey took her hand after
the benediction. 1t was not timidity,
nor was it fear, for she did not know
till a minute afterward what had hap
pened in the house. Did some sudden
of what she had done in
marrying a man whom she herself de-
clared she did not love come when it
was too late? What do you think?'
Miss Freeman had forgotten herself;
but the impetuosity which had led her
into asking my opinion made her for
get in another moment that she had
done so. And when in my turn 1 pro-
pounded question and inquired
she ever again saw the boy
who besieged the brides door with a
message, she graciously replied:
THE boy; let me see. Yes, 1 saw
him twice-once in a back hall talking
Miss Freeman