Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-07-10
CHAPTER VII.
The Wedding Night.

The Wedding Night.
"october's gold is dim, the forests
The weary rain falls ceaseless."
1t was the night Of Edith Fasser'
bridal.
The sky was black with scudding
rain filled clouds. An autumn storm
roared through the trees Of Windmere
but countless colored lamps, like loop!
of rainbows, burned on the terraces
and along the avenues, and turned th'
darkness to day in the drenched gar
dens.
Carriages rolled steadily through the
stone gates, up to the door OF th'
house. The main hall was a bower o.
palms and ferns, and acacias in full
blossom. Up and down the staircase
smothered in pink La France roses
silken trains rustled and elegant people
crowded each other.
The drawing room was like glimpse
of fairyland. Countless lustres blazet
there. and mirrors reflected and multi
piled the splendor on all sides. The
chandeliers and mantels were fringec
with lilies: and from the door an aisle
of white satin ribbons stretched to the
far end Of the apartment, where ar
altar, composed entirely Of the same
fowers-dazzling, casting up intoxicat'
ing perfume, like incense the
bridal pair The hands Of all the
clocks were moving steadily toward the
appointed hour. Soon the solemn words
would be spoken-soon two young
creatures would be united in bonds
that death alone could break.
And the bride!
In her own chamber, before silver
framed Psyche glass she stood, white
and glittering, like hoarfrost, from hel
brown head to her slender feet. She
wore the conventional wedding gowr
of spotless brocade, high in the throat
close to the wrist, with an immense
train sweeping out behind her. Dia-
mond pins fastened her veil-ar
hereditary piece of old lace. Arounc
her neck glistened a string Of pearls
the gift of Lepel Ellicott. Tonight Miss
Fassel looked even younger than hel
eighteen years. Her large eyes wore
a solemn, astonished expression, as
though she hardly recognized herself ir
that garb. and under those fateful cir
cumstances.
..r 4. ~ che ,,o,,rpoured gazing into
the glass, really I, who am about tc
make this irrevocable surrender, and
do I feel glad to do it? Eyes, look your
last on your old self!-in an hour you
will no longer be your own possession
but anothers."
Around her stood her bridesmaids
and maid Of honor, like buds clustering
about a queen rose. One held her per-
fumed gloves; another, her bouquet
with its yard-long satin ribbons;
third, her point lace handkerchief.
81 have been peeping everywhere
laughed the maid Of honor. 1.-THE or
chestra is just ready to burst into the
Wedding March from Lohengrin. Tine
supper tables are wonderful to behold
And now that it is no longer fashion
able to have the old towering brida
cake, remember, the ring has been hid
den in some small sugared affairs tina,
will be passed to us on salver. L only
hope that I may be lucky enough te
find the magic bit Of gold"
. oil nn1hrnlhprpG
in feur-de-lis, was pushed aside, ano
Mrs. Ellicott entered, leaning upon tha'
animated walking stick Susan Taylor
The hand of Pain was heavy upon hel
tonight, but she gave no sign of suffer-
| ing. At Lepers wedding she Woulc
bear her pangs like a Spartan. Hel
eray brocade dress was stiff with rich
ness, and covered with yards of ole
rose point All the family diamonds
blazed on her shrunken but still i'm
posing figure. She went up to the
| bride and kissed her.
81 came in advance Of Lepel," She
said. He was to call at an uptown
hotel for his best man. There wa:
some trifling understanding apou
the license or the ring-to arrange a.
the last moment. l assured Lepel tina
he had good cause to envy me, as
should be first to see you in your DR.
dal feeces."
Meek little Aunt Latimer was crying
already behind her handkerchief pu
She now made haste to dry her eyes.
| 1T lacks but a minute to the hour,
she announced, "and I think 1 hearc
Lepel on the stairs"
| A little hush fell. Everybody looked
toward the door, 1t did not open-n(
Lepel appeared.
"I was sure that l heard his step
murmured Aunt Latimer.
GO down, Susan Taylor, and see
nv son has come" said Mrs. Ellicott
Susan went down, and through
crowds of fine people made her wa!
to a footman near the main door. Hat
Mrh Eillicott arrived? No, and TIT
clergyman was waiting, and 1t was NV
minutes past the hour.
dCCluSIll OSSuiiSN
unavoidable delay-perhaps his bes
man may have kept him." said Mrs
E,llicott, as her servant returned Will
the above tidings ITO be late at onet
own weddng-why, that is unpardon
able!"
/ Ten-twenty minutes-a full nal
hour went by. Miss Fassers chambe
was now as silent as death. spel
lhad fallen there. Already the lilies o
the valley and the white nephitos roses
set amid the jewel boxes of the toile
table, were beginning to droop. Tn
bride stood colorless, expectant, bu
still composed. Her wondering maid
ems surrounded her, ominously quiet.
Nobody spoke, but the same question
was in the minds of all-Where wa
lLepel Ellicott
Another dreadful half hour! Ever
face was now pale with alarm.
He Is sick-dead. maybe!" gaspe'
Mrs. Ellicott. Let messengers be sen
at once to search for him in town."
Before the words were fairly off he
lips a carriage was heard in the drive