Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1908-07-18
0Tf4E CoUNT0
NMM ANBS;sHE;::,.
WEDDING GUEST
By o. HENRY.

VA v
Mrs. Scott introduced him to
new boardcr, young lady, Miss
Conway. Miss Conway was small and
unObtruSivc She wore Il plain, snuffy
brown dress and bestowed her inter
est, which seemed languid, upon her
plate She lifted her dittident eyelids
and shot one pcrSpicuouS, judicial
glance at Mr. Donovan. politely muir
INJURED his name and returned to her
mutton Mr. Donovan bowed with the
grace and beaming smile that We're
rapidly winning for him social, bust
ness and political advancement and
erased the snuffy brown one from the
tablets of his consideration.
Two weeks later Andy was sitting on
the front steps, enjoying his cigar.
There was a soft rustic behind and
above him, and Andy turned his head
and had his head turned.
Just coming out the door was Miss
Conway. She wore night black dress
of crepe de-Crepe de-oh. this thin
black goods Her hat was black. and
from it dropped and tuttcrC! an ebon
VEIL flmy as a spiders web. She stood
on the top step and drew on black SILK
gloves. Not a Speck of white or spot
of color about her dress anywhere.
Her rich golden hair was drawn, with
scarcely ripple, into a shining, smooth
knot low on her nec:. Her face was
plain rather than pretty. but it was
now illuminated and made almost
beautiful by her large gray eyes that
gaZed above the houses across the
street into the sky with an expression
of the most appealing sadness and mel
anChOly.
Gather the idea, girls-all black, you
know, with the preference for crepe de
oh, crepe de chine that's it-all
black, and that sad, faraway look and
the hair shining under the black veil
(you have to be Il blond. of courSc),
and try TO look as if. although your
young life had been blightcd just as it
was about to give hop. skip and
Jump over the threshold of life, a walk
in the park might do YOU good and be
sure to happen out the door at the
right moment, and-oh. it'll fetch EN-
every time But it's fierce. now, how
cynical | am. amt it, to talk about
mourning costumes this way?
Mr.. Donovan suddenly reinscribcd
Miss Conway upon the tablets of his
consideration. He threw away the re-
naming inch and quarter of his cigar
that would have been good for eight
minutes yet and quickly shifted his
center of gravity to his low cut patent
feathers.
Its Il fine, clear evening. Miss Con-
way" he said, and if the weather bu
reau could have heard the confident
emphasis of his tones it would have
hoisted the square white signal and
nailed it to the mast.
'"To them that has the heart to en-
JOY it, it's, Mr.. Donovan" said Miss
Conway, with a sigh.
Mr.. Donovan in his heart cursed fair
weather IIcartlcsS weather. 1t should
hail and blow and snow to be ConSO-
nant with the mood of Miss Conway.
Il hope none of your relativeS-I hope
you haven't sustained a loss?' ven
tured Mr.. Donovan.
death has claimed" said Miss Con
way utSlldllllS, Ilol ii lclillN u bul 'llt
who But will not intrude my grief
upon you, Mr.. Donovan"
"Intrude| protested Mr.. Donovan.
"Why, say, Miss Conway, I'd be de-
lighted-that is, I'd be sorry-I mean
I'm sure nobody could sympathize with
you truer than would"
Miss Conway smiled little smile.
oh SoIInr than hnr
preston in respose
Laugh, and the world laughs with
you; weep, and they give you the
laugh" she quoted.
Il have learned that, Mr. Donovan.
l have no friends or acquaintanceS in
this city. But you have been kind to
me. | appreciate 1t highly"
He had passed her the pepper twice
at the table.
It's tough to be alone in New York
that's a cinch," said Mr.. Donovan.
But, say, whenever this little old town
does loosen up and get friendly it goes
the limit Say you took a little stroll
in the park, Miss Conway. Don't you
think it might chase away some of
your mulligrubs? And if you'd allow
me-
"Thanks, Mr.. Donovan. I'd be pleased
to accept of your escort if you think
the company of one whose heart is
filled with gloom could be anyways
agreeable to you"
Through the open gates of the iron
rallied, old, downtown park, where the
elect once took the air, they strolled
and found a quiet bench.
There is this difference between the
grief of youth and that of old age:
Youths burden is lightened by as
much of it as another shares. Old age
may give and give, but the sorrow re-
mains the same.
He was my fiance," confded Miss
Conway at the end of an hour. I'VE
We're going to be married next spring.
l don't want you to think that | am
stringing you, Mr.. Donovan, but he
was a real count. He had an estate
and castle in Italy. Count Fernando
MaZzini was his name. | never saw
the beat of him for elegance. Papa
objected, of course, and once we
eloped, but papa overlook us and took
us back. l thought sure papa and
Fernando would fight a duel. Papa
has a livery business-in P'kipsee, you
know.
FINALLY papa came around, all