Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1907-07-11
BiH's Wedding.
The bride-to-be was quite certain she


hell fit into the color scheme SO beau
tifully with that golden hair. AL he
will have to do is unroll one of the
ribbons for the aisle Do say yes, Mrs.
Hunter"
CALI" she repeated. "My dear Miss
Pennington, that child is quite capa-
BILE of playing sudden game of jump
the-rope with your white satin ribbon
or using it to lasso the rector"
But he will look so angelic all in
white persisted the bride-to-be.
"Those Russian blouse suits become
him so and he walks so we'll. l shall
count on him then"
Thus it became necessary for Biff's
mother to break the news to him OF
his impending debut at church we'd
| ding
why should walk down the aisle?'
he demanded, calmly. "Do have to
be married, too? What for? Why?"
| by dint of hard mental labor and the
exercise of maternal patience Bit
mother made him family comprehend
his part in the scheme of things. Still,
| he was doubtful. At the mention or
white silk stockings he began to re-
gard the prospect with favor, until IN
| her haste to clinch his consent his
| mother mentioned as an especially al
| Turing point that a nice, sweet little
| girl was to be his companion in that
promenade down the aisle-a little girl
he knew, Retta Kingston.
Biff showed the white feather in
stantly 81 will not go down the
aisle with a grill" he protested with
| the stormy insistence of a siX-year-
old. why should l? Amt | enough
| just by myself? l don't like Retta,
anyhow"
More diplomacy on the part of his
mother caused Biff to reelnt. well,
| anyhow" he said, with an air of final
| ity, eff l let her walk with me and
she doesn't keep step I'll punch her
| face"
Hes just as apt not to do it, too, ;"
walled Mrs. Hunter to the bride-elect.
I'm so worried"
AS the time for the wedding drew
near Biff had sundry attacks of back
sliding. Whenever it was necessary
for him to be fitted with coat or ex-
perimented on in regard to proper
tie or a new shoe his stage fright grew
| severe and required chocolate creams
or similar soothing applications before
it was vanquished. Being a shrewd
youngster, Biff detected possibilities in
| this situation. Toward the end he
| held out strenuously. He didn't want
| to be a page at the wedding and he
wasn't going to be, and that was all
| there was about it. Chocolate creams
| he scorned and stood firm in his def
ance. Even the Establishments of the
| bride-to-be had no effect on his ada
mantine young heart.
You must, Biff!" his mother said
finally in the low, tense tone of voice
stage heroines always use at the cri-
teal moment when they add to a great
scene by acting it with repression
You simply must, now that everything
is arranged Is there anything you
particularly want I'll give it to you
if only you'll be good boy and do as
you first said you would"
Biff considered the prospect with in
| ward Joy. II think | would like to go
to that play Jimmy went to" he finally
| announced.
You certainly may go" promised
his overjoyed mother.
Biff remembered that he must keep
up the attitude of martyr. "All
right" he said with a gentle sigh. I'll
do it, But, please, let's not talk about
it any more"
Regard for Biff's mighty sacrifice of
self led the family to respect his wish.
Also they were afraid he might change
his mind again were the topic brought
! to his attention.
The night of the wedding Biff's
| mother suffered from nervousness,
for her pride and joy had been in q
particularly impish mood all day, and
his chief charm, except on public &C
casiOn like this, was his unexpected
ness No human being could know
what the crinkles in Biff's brain would
lead him to do next. And, whatever
it was, it was certain to be thoroughly
| done He might drop the ribbon half
way down the aisle and Chamber into
the pew with his family; he might
drag marbles out Of his pocket and
have a game on the chancel steps; he
might interrupt the rector and con-
verse with him. Biffs mother had
thirteen varieties of cold chills as she
sat and waited and smiled in her best
society manner as though she were
enjoying herself.
There was a portentious strain of
music and then a hush. The bridal
| procession started.
Could that be Biff = that angelic
faced child gazing heavenward, hold
ing the ribbon so gracefully, stepping
so easily? His mother held her breath
in an agony of apprehension. Little
Retta reached the end of the aisle I'M
scathed as to face and Biff's lips were
still closed. High up on the steps he
was posed in his proper place. Then
he turned and surveyed the people in
terestedly, unembarrassedly.
Suddenly his mouth opened wide,
I wider-it was yawn. 1t is not given
many people to see such compre-
hensive, all-embracing yawn. AS has
been said, Biff did things thoroughly.
1t really was a scandalous yawn.
I'm only thankful" shivered Biff' S
mother as the procession came back
down the aisle "tbat II was no worse