Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1908-01-16
her m IN her sfsters end To txe

her Urn ta her sisters aAl Tho two
moved away.
Miss Margaret responded somewhat,
absently to the salutatfons OF the PEG
pie she passed az she drove home. She
was pondefing the mysterious ways OF
tho Providence which had given
dainty wedding finery to her who was
never to wear 1t, and had denied It
to the other Margaret.
"She is the one who should have
had those things" Miss Margaret
thought. and yet" she asked herself,
what would have done without
them, how borne the long, lonely
years?"
Her wedding gown had seemed In
some indefinable way to keep in mind
the thought that she and John were
to meet again. She had left instruc.
lions that she was to be dressed in 1t
for her burial.
AS she touched its shining folds
next day Miss Margaret's thoughts
kept recurring to the conversation
she had overheard in the churchyard.
It fretted her to think that the other
Margaret must do without the things
she longed for. A bride ought to have
her every wish gratified, should he
made the happiest of Gods creatures.
An hour later Miss Margaret dress.
ed for the street. Her mind during this
interval had been the scene of quiet.
bitter combat, struggle between her
u1selfish desire to 40 beautiful act
and q feeling that she could not bear
tn have other hands touch the treas
ures she had kept so long. The part
ing with her wedding clothes was a
tragedy in the lonely woman's life.
Pleased with the invitation to spend
q day in the great house," although
q little surprised at 1t, Margaret Edge
comb chatted gayly as she drove by
Miss Margaret's side along the coun.
try roads and through the village.
Ever afterward that visit seemed
like dream to the girl. The dim twi.
light Of the stately rooms, the quaint
silver and china, the highbred charm
Of her hostess, all contributed to an
atmosphere she felt, but could not
have described.
When, after luncheon was over,
Miss Margaret took her guest into her
own room, 1t seemed to the young girl
that she was entering sanctuary,
and that it was another person than
herself Who watched her hostess un'
lock . cedar chest that stood against
the wall and from many layers OF
white paper take out long tulle veil
white gloves and slippers and dress
Of satin, to which age had given the
tint Of ivory.
Dazed and bewildered, the one Mar
garet listened while the other Mar
'garet told the story of the twilight
hour in the churchyard, and after
wards in maze Of wonder tried t
realize that the things were to be
hers II they would at. Both pairs o.
hands trembled as the old maid helped
the young one to don the bridal array
Strange enough, the things fitted
Aud yet, not strange either; wha
miracle was ever incomplete?
The robing finished, the girl stood
shy and blushing before the pier mir
Tor, scarcely daring to lift her eyes t.
the vision in the glass.
"You look very lovely, and am glat
you are to have these things" Mis-.
Margaret said softly.
The girl did not speak, and a ter
rible fear seized Miss Margaret,
heart. Were her bitter struggle an,
cheerful sacrifice to 60 for naught?
Perhaps after all you may not car,
to have them" she said gently. Il
may be that to you they seem Ill
omened."
The bride-elect forgot her shyness
and moving forward, took the olde
woman's hands in hers. "Ill-omened!
she exclaimed. "Consecrated, rattle,
The wearing Of them will seem
blessing on my marriage"
A deep peace fell upon Miss Mar
garet's spirit as she returned the pres
sure Of the youthful fingers.
"Of course the dress is old style,
she remarked TREMENDOUSLY, but tn
pattern is large, SO alterations ca
easily be made. and with new bow
on the slippers"
The other Margaret looked at he
with something that was almost ar
ger in her eyes.
Alterations" she exclaimed. ID
you think would have thing chang
ed, a ribbon altered? Why, it woul
{ seem like profaning something Sc
cred"
AS she helped the girl take OF tn
! finery and the two packed it to b
sent to the home Of its new owner
| Miss Margaret's heart was full Q
, gratitude and tenderness toward tn
woman who had accepted her gift a
gracefully and graciously as she ha
proffered it.
AS she said goodbye the young MAJ
. garet kissed the older one. 1T al
seems too good to be true" she mul
INJURED. "And to think said the day Q
. miracles was over"
snubbed Completely.
he