Smyrna times., 1910-07-13
The Outcome Of
a Kind Thought
BY MARGARET BEDFORD

$50 pretty. White satin, lovely
shower bouquets, eight pretty brides
maids and such kind looking papas
and mammas, and jolly brothers: a
handsome bridegroom too. I'm sure
they'll be happy. It's an ideal we'd
ing! And I'm growing a connoisseur
in weddings. How many have I
watched since we came to this house
And you said we should have nothing
to look at but the old chapel, and
that we'd be dull, Janet"
"Some of the weddings are live
ly," admitted Janet, as she cleared
the table. ''Others look forlorn
enough. There was one yesterday
that made me feel inclined to cry. -
Eyes, " said Miss Faith. Pm sor-
ry, too, when l see no beauty or iov
expresed-but some people do like
quiet weddings"
"Well, you wouldn't catch me
marrying in crowded church, but
I'd like a friend or two to wish me
joy. They must feel a bit dreary
coming away by themselves. -
Janet carried out her last tray and
Miss Faith returned to her sewing.
One chilly morning during the fol-
lowing week Miss Faith looked into
the chapel to ask question of Mrs.
Morland, the chapel keepers wife,
who informed her that there had lust
been wedding.
"They are in the vestry signing
their names now," she said.
A moment later the bride and
bridegroom followed by the brides
maid and groomsman, entered. AS
they walked through the church Miss
Faith shrank back into a pew. The
girls were gaily and unsuitably
dressed in cheap finery, and already
the rain and mud had stained and
draggled their clothes. Miss Faith
watched the forlorn little wedding
party leave the church and then she
looked round.
How depressing: How dreary, .
she muttered. 'And l was the first
they met in their new life, and l
was either too stupid or too shy to
wish them joy.
The rain beat on the long blank
windows and the wind howled as il
swept past.
How drea~y the chapel looks -
said Faith to Mrs. Morland. "'Nc
flowers, no beauty-so different tC
the wedding of last week. -
Well, Miss, some of you ladie.
might ornament the place with flow.
ers; sweeping and dusting occupies
me, replied Mrs. Morland.
Miss Faith caught at the sugges-
tion eagerly.
81 Il be delighted to keep the
Communion table supplied with
flowers, if ] may" she said.
The consent of the officials wa!
willingly given, and Miss FaitF
fingered over her first attempt a
decorating for a wedding. AS he,
love of beauty and desire that a
least the heart of the church shoulC
be suggestive of gracious welcom,
increased, she covered the fadeC
cushions with silk embroidered b,
her own hands.
One day Miss Faith was carrvin,
an armful of Marguerite daisies int
the church when in the porch she me
a wedding.
She hesitated, then, rememberin,
the first wedding she had allowed t.
pass unnoticed, she said in a yer,
spasmOdic and nervous voice: "Per
haps | am the Fl st you have met il
your new life-may / wish you ioy p
The bride and Bridegroom were a
nervous as Faith, but they smiled
and the bride said: "It's a goo
sign, ma am, to hear such kim
words for start; we must be goin,
to be lucky
"Now Faith, here's something i
your line," said Mrs. Morland
bustling into the church wher
Faith was arranging her flowers on
day. "a wedding at 8 O'Clock i
the morning special license-som
story behind it, l think -
Faith finished her attentions t
the chapel with unusual care.
"NO one will convince me tina
they won't be homesick and nee
cheering. Pll come in and wis
them joy; it can't do any harm, an
it may do good,' Faith said to he
: self.
The following morning, in tn
! cold, gray light, Faith slipped int
the chapel. Mrs. Morland and he
husband were to have been the wit
nesses but he had been seized wit
| influenza.
| you'll witness, won't you, Mis-
| Faith?" Mrs. Morland asked a
| Faith came in.