The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-08-03
Continued from Last Issue.)
0RfK.!ees!g!yN~
WEDDING GUEST
By o. HENRY.

a new boarder. young lady. Miss
Conway. Miss Conway. was small anC
unobtrusive. She wore a plain. snuffy
brown dress and bestowed her inter
est, which seemed languid. upon hel
plate. She lifted her diffident eyeIid.
and shot one perspicuous. 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 were
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
land 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 futtered an ebon
veil. filmy as a spiders web. She stood
on the top step and drew on black silk
gloves. Not speck of white or a spot
of color about her dress anywhere.
Her rich golden hair was drawn, with
scarcely a ripple. into a shining smooth
knot low on her neck. Her face was
plain rather than pretty. but IL was
now Illuminated and made almost
beautiful by her large gray eyes that
gazed above the houses across the
street into the sky viii 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 a blond. of course).
and try TO look as IL. although your
young life had been blighted just as it
was about TO give hop. skip and n
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 'em
every time. But it's fierce. now, how
cynical l am, amt II. to talk about
mourning costumes this way?
Mr.. Donovan suddenly transcribed
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 10 his low cut patent
feathers.
Its a fine. clear evening. Miss Con-
way" he said. and IL the weather bu-
reau could have heard the confident
emphasis OF his tones il would have
hOisted the square white signal and
nailed It to the mast
ITO them that has the heart TO en-
joy II. It Is. Mr.. Donovan" said Miss
Conway. with a sigh.
Mr.. Donovan In his heart cursed fair
weather. Heartless weather. 1t should
hail and blow and snow to he cOnso-
nant with the mood Of Miss Conway.
Il hope none OF you: relatlves-I hope
you haven't sustained a lossf" ven
tured Mr.. Donovan.
death has claimed" said Miss Con
way. hesita;ing. mot relative. but one
who BRIT | will not intrude my grief
upon you. Mr.. Donovan"
Intruder protested Mr. Donovan
"Why. say. Miss Conway. ia be de-
lighted-that is. I'd be sorry-I mean
I'm sure nobody could sympathze with
you truer than | would"
Miss Conway smiled a little smile.
And, oh. 1t was sadder than her ex-
preston in respose.
Laugh. and the world laughs with
you; weep, and they give you the
laugh she quoted
II have learned that Mr.. Donovan.
| have no friends or acquaintance in
this city. But you have been kind 10
me. | appreciate IL highly"
He had passed her the pepper twice
at the table.
Its tough TO be alone in New York
that's IA cinch" said Mr.. Donovan.
But. say. whenever this little old town
1oes loosen up and get friendly 1t goes
the limit. Say you took a little stroll
In the park. Miss Conway. Don't you
think 1t might chase away some Of
your mulligrubs? And II you'd allow
me-
Thanks. Mr.. Donovan. I'd be pleased
TO accept of your escort II you think
the company of one whose heart Is
filed with gloom could be anyways
agreeable TO you"
Through the open gates OF the iron
rallied, old. downtown park. where the
siect once took the air. they strolled
md 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 II as another shares. Old age
nay give and give. but the sorrow re.
mains the same.
He was my fiance," con6ded Miss
conway at the end OF an hour. I'VE
we're going to be married next spring. ,
don't want you to think that am
tringing you, Mr.. Donovan. but he
vas a real count. He had an estate !
nd a castle In Italy. Count Fernando