The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-11-17
A Wedding Contract

ously. ''and show her the kind of wom-
an I've married. If 1 had married her
L dare say I should have settled back
on my oars like Dick Spaulding and
the world would have lost a brilliant
lawyer and politician" and with a de-
/ lighted grin he disappeared into his
| dressing room
This was Saturday. The lunchroom
was to be Monday-Easter Monday
and rather full of curiosity to see my
i hostess, ! took the 1880 train as d.
rected. l wore a new gown OF pale
heliotrope cloth, trimmed with yards
and yards of Cluny lace, and embroid-
! cred with wistarias-a picture hat with
dropping ostrich plumes, shading into
all these colors-and I'm sure that /
| looked a perfect dream"
When the train reached Woodcrest 1t
was about II o'clock. There seemed 70
be dozens of carriages waiting, and |
was wondering how | should find Mrs
| Spaulding's man, when a smart pair
| came prancing up to the side of the
platform where l was standing. The
men on the box appeared to be on the
lookout for some one, and, seeing me,
the foOtman jumped down and touched
his hat.
Are you from Mrs. SDaulding's?" I
asked.
]
| ing reply.
Just as unhesita tingly / allowed him
! to put me in the carriage, and with a
! flourish we dashed away. Finally we
| turned into a gateway with huge stat
/ ues surmOunting each side, and drove
/ up A formal avenue of evergreens. On
reaching the open space at the end of
/ the drive l gave a gasp of delight, the
| view was so unexpected and charming
CT fofxv i.
| ious Italian garden that stretched
| away quite down to the pines which
bordered the river.
The villa was of yellow stone, ter
raced high, with imposing flights Of
marble steps, leading up to the portico,
and far handsomer than / had expect
| ed, from Toms description. AS the
carriage drew up l was received with
almost continental ceremony. There
were evidences of festivity on all sides
but even this did not quite prepare
me for the magnificence which greeted
me upon entering. I had not dreamed
! that it was to be such an elaborate af-
! fair, end concluded that my invitation
over tho telephone must decidedly have
been an afterthought.
| The great reception hall and STAIR
! case were gorgeOusly decorated and
/ through charming vistas one caught
] glimpses of the spacious drawing
| rooms, equally festive. 1t was all as
| beautiful as "a Midsummer Nights
/ Dream" and an orchestra in some hid
! den nook playing divinely added the
/ touch of enchantment.
/ Flunkies in chOcClate-cOlOred livery
! were hurrying about and the very air
! seemed charged with joyous expect
ancy. ! thought if this were an in
| formal luncheon" what would for
NAL luncheon be like?
AS I passed the gallery where the
| orchestra was playing 1 saw my dear
| old Herr Muller conducting. I threw
him kiss, and he fairly beamed with
delight. Though I see him but rarely.
we are the best of friends, and he as
suTes me always that the world lost
/ its greatest prima donna when I left
/ the stage to marry Tom.
/ Upon reaching the dressing room
/ found myself the first guest, but soon
/ several others arrived in wonderful
! creations, and I was inclined to resent
not having known that It was to be
/ such smart affair. They all seemed
| to know each other and were excitedly
/ discussing some bride" and ''the pres
/ ents." 1t was quite like a fairy tale
and deeply interesting.
I was listening and leisurely wres-
/ Ting with a refractory glove button
/ hoping that perhaps an acquaintance
might arrive. when one Of the maids
whispered, Pardon me- madam, some
one wishes to speak TO you
I supposed, of course, that it was
| Mrs. Spaulding, but 1 was mistaken
| It was Herr Muller, who looked as
if he were on the verge of apOplexy
| and with him a gentleman whom Ia
ter I found to be very distinguished in
! appearance, but at that moment he
seemed even more apoplectfc than
Herr Muller.
'AIein Herr" with German impetu-
| Osity was about to explode into speech,
when the gentleman warningly said:
'One moment, please" and, taking
US into a room near by. politely waved
4 me to a seat. closed the door, and be-
gan hesitatingly-"This lady" But
Herr Muller interrupted excitedly:
This is my Mademoiselle Du Pre-.
the great opera singer, famous on two
| continents"
The gentleman bowed was too be-
! wildeTed to say a word-"Mademoi-
/ selle," he continued. I'VE are in great
| trouble and perplexity. 1 had engaged
! Madame Marcella Guerrini to sing to-
/ day at my daughters wedding. 1 wish
/ ed lay daughter TO feel that everything
( had been done that money and affec-
/ ton could do, and 1 have just received
/ this telegram'-reading from a paper
he held in his hand:
Madame Guerrini badly injured in
carriage accident on way to station.
Taken to hospital"
THE disappointment to my daugh-
ter l can scarcely estimate-she her
self had chosen the bridal songs. I'm
mediately on reading the message
went in great perturbation to Herr
Muller. who informed me that among
my guests was one who could far out
shine any effort of Madame Guerrinfs
and that my daughter might yet be
spared an unhappy moment on her
wedding day. Mademoiselle, though
| your name is vaguely familiar, l have
not the pleasure of knowing you. Per-
| haps in my eagerness my hospitality
may appear selfish, but l beseech you
| to sing for u.s. If money be any OBJ
| Jeet, no amount that you may name
| however great, will be too much
AS he finished. I struggled to my
feet. Simple stupefaction had kept me
silent or I should have interrupted him
| long before
I don't quite comprehend I STAN
mered. II did not know there was to
be a wedding only an informal lunch
con He looked puzzled-then, fold
/ ing his arms across his breast majest-
ieally, ne said: To-day. at noon, my
daughter is to marry his Grace. the
DIXIE of 4 Sh hQro1rcI,