The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-05
THEIR WEDDING DAY.
By Temple Bailey.
Copyrighted, 1907, by P. c. Eastmen

I pretty dress. All her little-girl life she | had worn the cut-down and pieced- | to gether garments of Leila and l Margaret l Leila and Margaret were the hand- some sisters. Mary was little and thin. her one beauty thick braid of red-gold hair that she wound about her head like a coronet.
 When she slipped the shining we'd | ding dress over her shoulders and look ed at herself in the glass, she laughed little.
 why. I'm almost pretty" she said | to her sisters.
 Leila and Margaret were dressed in pink They were to be her bridesmaids, and they carried big punches of carna- Mary's bouquet was of lilies the l valley and violets. wasn't 1t nice that Walter remem- bered?" she said. Remembered what?" Margaret asked
 That liked violets." You aren't the first girl of Walters that has liked violets." Leila told her.
 Mary flushed.
 q don't think Walter has had so many girls that you need to say that. Leila" she said.
 Leila's eyes sparkled above the pink carnations. "On, we'll or course you ieh t'e first"
 ! "Perfaps not the very first that he thought he liked" Mary said slowly. but the first he really wanted tc marry"
 walter don't tell everything" Leila said meaningly.
 Mary turned away from the glass.
 T guess they're waiting for us." she said, and they went downstairs to- gether
 Every one said it was a pretty we'd ding, but the bride was rather pale.
 But then Mary never did have much color" was the conclusion of the will lage folks who pinned their faith in beauty to the rosy milkmaid variety, and had little admiration for Mary's delicacy and pallor.
 Walter spoke of it on the way to the station.
 "You ought to have had red cheeks for me to day, Mary" he said and she trembled a little as he laid his hand over hers.
 They went to the city, reaching there hotel they found flowers-violets and narcissus sent by one of Walters busi- ness friends.
 q told him you liked violets.' Walter said. as he helped her off with her coat. and kissed her. Mary. with her hat still on. stood by the table and looked at the flowers Suddenly she asked "Who was the other girl who liked vfoletsT'
 The other girl?'
 He was on the opposite side of the table. smiling at her. his boyish face little tremulous with the thought of the place and the hour. There was never any other girl. Mary" he said.
 Leila said there was" she persisted. a,nI NA xTin fo
 "Lella?" he stammered.
 "Yes, Leila" she said. He came around the table and took her hands. You will not let what Leila said spoil our wedding day. will! you?''
 She said you hadn't told me every thing" Mary said, and think ought to know"
 His eyes stopped before her steady glance.
 Leila shouldn't have said anything"
 Who was the girl?" She laid her hand on his arm and shook 1t a little. Who was the girl Walter?"
 He looked down at her, troubled.
 Tt was Leila" he said, finally, and his face was white.
 oh" Mary gasped oh, Walter"
 He thought she was going to cry. She dropped into a chair and sat there shaking and trembling. but she did not cry.
 Walter knelt beside her q didn't love her as I did you, Mary" he whis- pered.
 But you loved her. and you would have married her. and she would have been here If you had had your way" Mary accused him. here on your we'd ding day"
 He tried to take her hand. but she drew back and hid her face in the cushions of the chair And Leila is so much prettier than I am,' she said. between quick breaths
 In another moment she was sobbing wildly. You ought to have told me"
 Hush" he said. with his hands on her shoulders. Hush" and there was a mans masterfulness in his tone
 Look al me. Mary" He drew her up out of the chair and held her hands so that she could not put them over her face. Look at me"
 T ought not to have told you," he said. as she, still sobbinR. lifted her heavy lids and met his glance. "YoU are wrong. I ought not to have told you. No one should have told you. I ought not to tell you now-no man has right to talk of these things-but Leila has brought it on herself. l was nice to her. and I thought I loved her. and I told her so. and at last we were engaged"
 "Oh" Mary said. and drew away. But he held her firmly
 And I did send her yiolets, but after a while I began to send her roses, big scentless ones. and she asked me why but did not like to tell her that n