Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1910-07-15
CHAPTER Xxx.

bird patterned chintz drawing room
Benoni withdrew and LIE Malheureux.
still yelled. congratulated Larry Morris
and Betty.
III 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 still priest for all
that. He will marry you yet tonight.
IL you wish. and | think. Miss Lancey.
1t might be better II the ceremony were
celebrated. Do you not think so?
There's no knowing what may await
you"
Betty blushed. but Larry hesitated
not a minute.
Bring him on. bring him on." he
cried Well be married tonight"
Ana IA De the oest man." shouted
Johnny. q
"And City Editor Burton can ush-
er"
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
you HldChiCyCo . hiothSi
robe | have 1t still upstairs in an old
chest"
Meta and Tyoga had come In silent
iy 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 a woman on desert island and
the prospect of wedding will cause
her inventive faculties to evoke the
flesh pots of Egypt from the barrenest
sand.
The old chest proved a treasure
house. The gowns. the youngest of
them. were at least quarter of CEN
tury 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 a bridal veil
of the filmiest Honiton that ever came
off loom.
No bride could be decked with more
loving hands than was Betty for her
midnight marriage in mid Africa. Meta
as bridesmaid. had glowing frock OF
scarlet satin and faintest amber lace.
and great topazes about her shining
ebony neck. and Tyoga produced a new
frock from somewhere. But Betty, ah
Betty! An old court gown of cloth of
gold and yelowed satin was her bridal
0hA an 70 %
wrought roses in faded pinks. The
marvellous web of Honton draped her
sweet face and ripped to the hem of
her dress. The neck of the dress was
low, and Betty's white shoulders were
a sparkle of diamond pendants falling
from a high diamond collar Tyoga had
placed around her throat, and her
plump arms were half covered with
howery bracelets When they reached
the chapel LIE Malheureux himself pu,
a diamond girdle around the brides
none too slender waist.
my gift to the BRIDE" he explained
Johnnys head was the brightest
spot in the chapel. From the musty
odor within and the drip of water on
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 we're miracles of the
carvers' art. and the ever present leop-
ard skin rugs were on the floor. The
priest, bent double with years. and
with hair and skin as gray as the pet
of field mouse. mumbled through the
long Latin ritual. at a slow. nerve
racking pace. The candles flickered
and the scent of the jasmine and lotus
with which Benoni had wreathed the
altar and filed the great vases that
flanked 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 on
platters and dishes of pure gold. Mo-
body ate much. though Meta. Tyoga
and Benon served assiduously. LIE
Malheureux touched nothing at all.
Betty, after several urgings. forbore
to press him. She had noticed that he
never drank before anyone. and had
long since grown accustomed to the
down dropping VEIL the closely shroud-
ed tgure, the well-concealed feet and
hands. When the last course was
served lie Malheureux arose.
LET me not be the skeleton at the
feast" he temporized, but Time does
not pause for u.s. The woman you
know as Cerisse Wayne. In reality
Cerisse Wayne Hackleye, was my full
booded sister. The letters that were
found in her safety deposit box in Sar
Francisco bore reference to the dia
mond mines at Tic""s'ev For reasons