The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-02-19

could. But its twenty years" she went on laughing
nervouSly: twenty years I've seen my mother or
a, soul M belonging to me Twenty years. Mr. Greenci
mother arc both dead but he wouldn't go without
me She looked lovingly up at him.
Wei, couldn't, lie said, as he folded up the long
blue tickets and put them in wcll-worn purse who
would keep the pckpockes away from me- or tell me
when to get off the tram II mother wasn't ,hcrc? And
she couldn't go without me- for might get sick play
with the irc do something"
They laughed dcghtedy like two chldren-the years
home!
The people will be taking you folks Tor the bridal
party il you don't look out the station agent remarked
as he shovelcd more coal into the dirty little stove
I" Is there wedding to-day" Mrs Moore asked
Yes, ma am, the first real church wedding in Mill
brook Jim Brown has lust come back from Prince
Albert to marry tho eldest TAYLOR girl It's gong to be
over in the new church and everybody's gong |
gong TO close up and go too you had better all
along The train won't be here until dark
Mildred looked up with sudden interest wedding
That would be something to tell Edith about The bride
will probably be dressed in that dreadful hot pink and
have paper roses IN her hair and say Yes sir to the
minister.
There has been great times getting ready for it,
Mr. Greene saying My wife has been there
nearly all day. 1t beats all how interested
in a wedding,
Hall an hour later Mildred found herself in the little
church. with Its unpaIntcd walls and and
pleasant pney odor. 1t was nearly filled with excited
looking women with here and there apoIogctic-oot-
ing man
Evcrgrccns banked at the windows and wreathed
around the altarra and i'll them bunchcs of rcsebercs
glered warm and red.
1t prcuy!' Mildred murmurcd to herself 81
wonder who thought OF the color scheme But the bride
will probably spoil 1t all
The women behind her talking Mary won't
sec white woman until the spring anyway, and they
will only get their mail once month But she'll stand
it all right, Mary will! She's good stuff, like her
mother She may get lonesome, but nobody will know
Poor Maryl" Mildred thought This isn't we'd
ding-i,s tragedy
Suddenly silence fell and going down
the narrow aisle some one very small and young and
Mildred that she dressed in brown, and then
she saw no more for her eyes were blurred with sud-
den rush Of tears. Poor Nary Poor Mary
They passing her scat Mildred looked.
the BRIDE but at the face Of the young husband
1t was honest face, strong, nyncblc. and
shining with light ne4 4abc-the face OF man who
could fight the world. and bear Its prosperity It's de
feat with equal camness because there would be at
his side who believed i'll HIM, trusted him, loved him.
Mary, the steadfast the mmovabe Mary-hs hearts de-
sire! The hail and the frost might blight his crops.
The storm might overwhclm his focks, poverty and
distress might ovcrake hIm, but Marys loye would not
fail
In sickness in health for better for worse, till
death do part, the air still resonant with the
words that carry in them much OF ies meningitis
unucrable pain and sorrow, ITS richest JOY and bless
cdness.
A strange feeling stirred in Mildreds heart The
glory in the young mans face Smote her with
of loss OF disappointment and defeat. Toms face had
glowcd like that the morning, long ago when they
had walked together down the sof-carpeted aisle She
could smell the chrysanthemumS she heard
from the little organ-lo above her the wedding march:
seemed
exquisite sweetness Its Joyousness had intoxicated
her now its sweetness stabbed her heart
The people around her hastily preparing to fol-
low the bridal party but Mildred motonless. The
snowfakes sitcd against the windows and the shadows
decpened in the little church Outside there were talk
ing and laughter ard merry anGJe OF slegfbes but
the organist played on-tha deathless story OF love
never ending, glorious triumphant
When Mildred back to the station the snow was
whrng around the elevators the wires sang above her
head The wind came cold down the little white street,
but she loved 10 feel 1t on her hot cheeks:
Two men crossed the track with valiscs in their hands;
their faces boatcd and botchcd. and ono OF them
swore about the late tram nstnctvcy she thought OF
Toni-tc ccar-eved the wholesome, tho best on earth
and the pride of possession thrilled her.
She went into the waiting There was no
chatter of many voices. The little bride stood at the
narrow window looking up the street but her thoughts
were far away the fields that little farm
house that had been her home and which she would
no more Mildred took her hand.
Don't be afraid, little girl" she said gently You
will be lonesome sometimes. and homcsick and tired
often and often, and maybe you'll cry little too, and
you'll want your mother much; but you'll never be
sorry realy-he's worth it all-hes worth everything
NIildred's eyes sparkling with love and JOY hc
little bride looked up with a womans quick under
II know she whispered softly
When Tom reached his lonely little house on tho
river bank he was chilled to the bone but he put
his horses and made them comfortable for the night be-
fore he thought of himself
and empty Every corner of il called for Mildred but
Mildred had gone she had gone home This was not
her home. he boyShncsS nau gone from ON t1oc
as he sat staring the FIRE; he thinking bitterly
of how her eyes had sparcd at the thought OF getting
away He flung back his head with gesture of
despair He might as we'll admit it, he thought-hlil
drcd had gone back him. and then the tears that had
gathered slowly i'll his heart came by long burning
road 10 his eyes and he LAID his head on the little OIL
coth-covercd table and cried aloud
The station agents prediction came true, and the
storm came on with the night The snow was sitting
drearily against the windows and piling higher and
higher around tho little house. He did not hear tho
sleigh driving up the door The frosty ereaking OF
the door reused him from his gloomy thoughts and he
stared III mute wonder Mildred, white with SHOW.
stood before him, -,
.Tom I've come back I've como back home she
cr;cd s'I found ont that could leave you, dear.
Didn't promise something once about leaving all
others and ceaying only TO YOU? That family IN
Toronto arc very dear people and love them very
much but they are some of the ones whom agreed to
leave"
She had slioocd off her snowy wraps as she spoke,
and stood smiling before him Her eyes were snarkng;
her beauty dazzled him.
Then the light broke over his faee'