Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1910-03-31


to cry from excess of JOY when the
door swung open suddenly and Jonas
Almond walked in.
Eyes. think the change you sug-
gest in the waist will be all right" be-
gan the daughter, but she could not
conceal her happiness. She spoke in
most matter of fact tone and with
an air of finality that indicated that
the interview was at an end. With
bow to the father and nod OF APP
prevail to the young lady. the stranger
left the room.
"Bess." exclaimed the parent. II
have come once more to ask you to
cease your foolishness. This marriage
is the end of your mothers and my
ambitions and you should desire moth
ing better. Your love for that young
scapegrace Easley was only childish
affair and there is absolutely no sense
in sniveling around here as IL you
were getting ready for funeral In
stead of preparing for your wedding
to highly-respected nobleman. Brace
up and smile. Later in life you will
laugh when you remember how silly
you acted"
II will do as you wish. father" re-
piled the girl, and surprise was writ
ten in every line of Jonas Almonds
face, for this declaration. were it as
final as the words implied. meant the
lifting of a fearful load from his
mind. Knowing we'll the disposition
Of his daughter he had been constant
ly uneasy for fear she would attempt
to escape and marry Easley in spite
of the precautions he had taken; and
even now he was not entirely con-
WINGED Of her sincerity.
do you mean what you say?" he
asked, and his blue eyes looked
searchingly at her
rs this a time for joking?" she
counter-questioned. and her gaze was
as straightforward as her fathers.
From that moment Bess was very
different person. She went about sing
ing instead of signing. laughing in
stead Of crying, and manifesting every
interest in the plans for her marriage
to Count Bolenski So complete was
the transformation that she playfully
leased her father about how she
would scorn him. a mere American,
after she had become a member of
the nobility. If ever girl was happy.
Bess surely seemed to be. for every
trace of her former melancholia had
disappeared.
Don't you suppose, Jonas" suggest
ed Mrs. Almond, who understood her
daughter better than did the father.
that Bess is planning something"
"Of course not" rejoined the head
of the family. little indignant per-
haps at the implied want Of confidence
in his judgment Like the sensible
girl she is, she has seen what is
proper and already has begun to re-
greet her former conduct"
Preparations for the wedding went
on apace, for it was now Wednesday
and the ceremony was to be per-
formed on Saturday morning In the
little chapel near the estate. Though
both parents had opposed having the
marriage In the secluded church they
were forced to yield to the wishes of
their daughter, who threatened, IL re-
fused this one request, to create
scene by rejecting her titled sutton
at the altar.
The nuptial morn dawned bright
and clear. The sun beamed down on
the fragrant flowers just opening
their multi-colored petals to catch his
quickening rays. while everywhere the
birds caroled forth glad lays as II
their music were intended to be fes-
tai march to bid the bride Godspeed
upon her way.
1t was almost the appointed hour to
start for the quiet chapel. when Jonas
Almond and his wife stood for mo-
ment on the spacious veranda, quaff-
ing delightful drafts from springs
overlooking cup of Joy as they await
ed their daughter. who was to leave
them on this day. Bidder by COM
mon impulse. each looked question
ingly into the eyes of the other. Per
haps, after all, 1t would have been
better to have sacrificed their own am
billions and to have allowed their
daughter to have her way. was the
unspoken but mutually recognized
thought or each. Both remembered
the time. years ago. when they had
opposed the wishes of parents and
started through life together. Smiling
at the Renaissance. they turned to
face their only child. She greeted
them cheerfully and in her evident de-
light the fear that perhaps she would
be unhappy was forgotten.
1t was only a short journey and the
bridal party arrived in ample time at
the quaint old chapel which nestled
in a grove of ancient elms. Already
nearly all of the invited guests had as
sembled. though, strange to say, the
groom had not appeared. This at
tracted no attention at first, but as
the belated guests came in and still
the husband-to-be failed to present
himself, questioning glances began to
be cast about the room. At last ev-
eryone was there save Count Bolen-
ski and his continued absence be-