The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-06-27

adjoined the ballroom. cackl;ng like
sewing circle gone mad with tea.
Well, II was no business OF mine. Wha
else should the Pawkers expect from
a wedding held in a hotel than an invasion
OF the curious. sure to be ignored by tn,
long heads behind the desk on aocoun,
Of the possible advertisement?
was startled, however. when on tekinr
my station by the side IGOR in tho bal.
room | got a clearer view Of the inmates
enough now from the reflex of our ex.
pectant hush, but was ever such a motley
array OF scarecrows seen outside Of Bed
lam itself?
There was nothing amusing about
them. poor creatures. The contrast OF
bullying hrows, some bare. some gray
entangled, OF vacant ewes, Get or restless,
OF swollen features, distorted into grins
or twisted into grief. alike meaningless,
with infantile hats. brocaded gowns over
hoopskirts. and odd bits of lace and rib
bon. stuck here and there and everywhere
dumb. vague horror OF n night
mare. What was il that Katie. the maid,
had said that morning in her inconsidered
chatter? What was that slight item | had
CHANGED TO see i'll the evening paper?
A burst of music checked thought and
purpose before completed or formed
The bride was coming into the room. as
emotionless as n white rose on the arm #
that haberdnsher's model, Pawker. Less
aegressively perfect was the advent Of
Mrs. Pawker and the bridegroom. for
while she wavered he stumbled.
The man was plainly affected by nervous
fright; il was the tremors from il that
were causing Mrs. Pawker to waver; but
what impressed. what puzzled me, wis the
quality Of this fright as revealed in every
expression and movement.
b dull gray still lurked in his face.
as IL from the touch Of a dead hand; but
in the poise Of his head. the lift Of his
brows. the twist OF his lips. intentness
was manifest, What was it for which
Erastus was listening? What was he
dreading that he might hear?
The Rev. DR.. Reliquary droned out the
familiar rote of the, ritual. Il. Erastus
Powers followed the bridegroom obe-
diently; and then, oh then, he stopped
short-then, oh then. he swung about,
with arms in air. to stand transfx ed, as
that cry in the night. weird. inhuman,
savage, near. oh, so near. rose and fell
from a wall into a sob.
'Elizal Eliza!' he cried, as il in re-
Spouse, Are you here? Dead or alive,
as an honest man now | must know
Out from n dreadful clash OF screams
that had followed this cry whirled a little
old woman, Enthusiastically clad, In a witch's
dance, She gyrated before the bride
gazed full into his face with a wildness
which changed into recognition. appre-
citation. sorrow unspeakable. With a sob
that died away into a moan she dropped
in a heap at his feet.
Out from the ladies' parlor swarmed
the crazy crew.. screaming. clapping their
hands. circling round and round to n
measure that grew faster and madden,
until they overthrow. until they tranpled
upon whatever came in their pathway.
It was ,pandemonium lot loose. with a
frightful impulse to imitation in it.
SO much SO that / would not have been
surprised TO have seen the Rev. Dr..
ReliGuary, all huddled in a corner. kick
out from his stately robe and let himself
go. | know | was a-tingle myself. Who
can say what might not have happened:
but uniformed men dashed into the room
and by buffet and thrust and sharp com
inand reduced riot to order.