Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1910-11-18
CHApTER Xxx.


still yelled, congratulated Larry Morris
and Betty.
IF you wish to be married before
you leave here" he said. there is the
old French priest who used to be my
mothers chaplain still here. He is a
nonogenarian, but stiH priest for all
that He will marry you yet tonight
If you wish, and think, Miss Lancey
1t might be better if the ceremony were
celebrated. Do you not think so:
There's no knowing what may await
you"
Betty blushed, but Larry hesitated
not minute.
Bring him on, bring him on" he
cried. We'll be married tonight"
And I'll be the best man." shouted
Johnny
"And City Editor Burton can ush-
err"
will you let Meta be the brides
maid?" questioned Betty. "Oh, but
what shall do for wedding gown?' %
IF you weren't so big" said Tyoga,
surveying her critically, I'VE could loa J
you Mrs. Hackleye's mothers bridal
robe. have it still upstairs in an old
chest"
Meta and Tyoga had come IN silent
ly in the wake of LIE Malheureux. But,
mother" interposed Meta, there are
other garments up in the old chest.
Perhaps we could make some of them
fit"
Your wedding clothes will fit as well
as mine, anyhow" ventured Larry.
Put woman on desert island and
tha NJ xryaddfT1u will
her inventive faculties to evoke the
fiesh-pots of Egypt from the barrenest
sand
1.-THE old chest" proved treasure
house. The gowns, the youngest Of
them, were at least a quarter Of cen
fury old, and some of them were of the
mode of the French empire. All were
rich with rare lace and heavily wrought
hand embroidery. Some were of cloth
Of gold, furnished now with the scowl
of time, but exquisite still. There were
quaint old slippers, and bridal veil
of the f1lmiest Honiton that ever came
of loom.
No bride could be decked with more
loving hands than was Betty for her
midnight marriage in mid Africa. Meta,
as bridesmaid, had a glowing frock of
scarlet satin and faintest amber lace,
and great topazes about her shining
ebony neck, and Tyoga produced new
froclk from somewhere. But Betty, ah,
Betty! An old court gown of cloth of
gold and yellowed satin was her bridal
robe. Over it all ran delicately
wrought roses in faded pinks. The
marvellous web of Honiton draped her
sweet face and rippled to the hem of
her dress. The neck of the dress was
low and Bettys white shoulders were
q SPARKLE Of diamond pendants falling
from high diamond collar Tyoga had
placed around her throat, and her
plump arms were half covered with
flowery bracelets. When they reached
the chapel lie Malheureux himself pu.
q diamond girdle around the brides
none too slender waist.
MY gift to the BRIDE" he explained
Johnny's head was the brightest
spot in the chapel. From the musty
odor within and the drip of water OF
the moss grown walls, the chapel
which had been reached through weird
ways, was evidently a subterranean
room. The altar was of ivory, the SER
vice dazzling beyond belief, and the
altar cloths of exquisite workmanship
The ebony pews were miracles of the
carvers' art, and the present Loop
ard skin rugs were on the floor. The
priest, bent double with years, and
with nair and skin as gray as the pei
of a field mouse, mumbled through the
long Latin ritual, at a slow, nerve
racking pace. The candles flickereG
and the scent of the jasmine and lotu,
with which Benoni had wreathed the
altar, and filled the great vases tina
Ranked the sanctuary, grew unbear.
able.
The wedding supper was laid In the
little sitting room. There were many
flowers, and the viands, oddly assorted
to occidental eyes, rested royalty OF
platters and dishes of pure gold No.
body ate much, though Meta, Tyogs
and Benoni served assiduously. LIZ
Malheureux touched nothing at all.
Betty, after several urgings, forbor,
to press him. She had noticed that h,
never drank before anyone, and haC
long since grown accustomed to tn,
down dropping veil, the closely shroud.
ed figure, the well-concealed feet an(
hands. When the. last course wa:
served LIE Malheureux arose.
Let me not be the skeleton at tbs
feast" he temporized, but Time doe:
not pause for US. The woman yor
know as Cerisse Wayne, in reality
Cerisse Wayne Hackleye, was my full.
blooded sister. The letters that wer,
found in her safety deposit box in Sa1
Francisco bore reference to the dia
mond mines at Tiougaley. For reason!
[ cannot now make known to you
heir location for years was known
Ey to me. My father in some wa!
Kered their situation-beneath and
ma the castle to which Miss Ian.
Wv Mrs, Morris, was taken wheI
Cnat arrived in Africa, and from
che has 81 secently departed.
cnust know that though he !.
born and bred, that for thir'
and hkny father has lived in this
absolute king over several
of the, most desperate race
hat inhabit this continent
them wears ago through