The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-03-14
CCIBla,
WEDDINl1 GUEST
BY O.. HENRY,

h * 80 Is--I-4 - - -, -
BY o.. HENRY. + y q
:tcepyright. 1901. by the s: s, Mcclure Col
~ NE evenill. when Andy Bono
van Went 10 dinner al bis
W. Second avenue boarding house
Mrs. Scott introduced ghin. 10.
a new boardcr. a Young lady. Miss
Conway. Al lss, Conway, was small and
unol,trusive. She wore abllain.. siurs
brown dress and bestowed her. inter.
est. which seemed laueuid upon her
plate. She lifted her +,lifiitient eyeiils
stn,l shot toneSs icrspicuons. judicial
glance at Mr.. Donosan.s politely tnur7.
Injured his name aud returned 10 yhcr.
mutton. Mrs. Donovan bowed with the
grace and beaming smile that were
rapidly winning for him social. busi.t
ness and political advancement and
erased the snntfy brown one from fl,e
tablets Of his consideration. i ~ 4ai
Two weeks later Andy was sit ting, on,
the front, steps. enjoying his cigar.
There wasTa soft rustic. behind aud.
above him. and Andy turned his head
-and had his head turned. u.
Just coming out the door was Miss
Conway. She wore a night black dress
OF crepe de-crepc de-oh. this thin
black goods. Her hat svas black. and
ifroufit dropped and futtercd an .ebon
veil, filmy as u spiders web. She stopd
nn thu tom etat n n1 n ~, a, nj, lila al eth.
gloves. Not u ;speck of white or a spot
of color about her dress anywhere.
Her rich golden hair was drawn. with
scarcely aripple.s into u shining, smooth
knot low .on. her neck. Her face was
plain rather than pretty. but 1t was
now. illuminated and made, almost
beautiful by her large gray eyes that
gazcd above tho houses across the
street into the sky with an expression
of the most appealing sadness and MEL
anclloly. se..f,; Z;
Gather the idea, girls--all black. you
know. with the preference for crepe lie
oh. crepe de-, chlne-tlats it-aIl
black. and that sud. faraway look and
the hair shining under the black. veil
(you have. to be blond. of course).
and try, 10 look as Il. although your
young life had been lblightel Just rs It
was about to give hop, skip and a
Jump over the threshold Of life. a walk
in the park might do you good and lie
I.s,lrc to happen out the door at the
right moment. and-oh, sit'll fetch lem
every, time! But it's fierce, now, how
cynical I am, amt 1t. TO talk about
mourning costumes this sway?
Me-: Donovan suddenly transcribed
Miss Conway upon the tablets OF his
consideration. He threw away the re-
maining inch aud quarter of his cigar
that would have been good for eight
minutes yet and quickly, shifted his
centerSof gravity to his low cut patent
lcathers.f - $50, y.
Its a Sfinc. clear evening. Miss Con.
way" he said. and II the weather bu.
reau could have heard the confident
emphasis Of his tones 1t would have
hoistcd the square white signal and
nailed It to the mast.
ITO them that, has the heart 10, en-.
joy It 1t is. Mir. Donovan" said Miss
Conway. With a sigh.
Mr.. Donovan In his heart cursed fair
weather. Heartlcss weather! 1t should
hui; and blow and snow to be cotso.
mart with the mood of Miss Conway.
u hope none Of your relatlves-l hope
you haven't sustained a. ioss!" ven.
tered Mr.. Donovan.s., ID Z l.. $50.
Death, Inns Claimed, said Miss Con.
tay, hesltating. mot a relative. but Que
,Slp- But will not intrude my grief
alh you. Mr.. Donovan !
';lntrudcS" protested Mr., Donovan.
why. say, Miss Conway, Id he lie.
lightcd-that is. I'D be sorry-l urea u
I'm sure nobody could sympatllize with
y6n trucr than,1 would"
Miss Conway smiled "a little smile,
And, OH: it was Ssadder than her ex.
preston In respose..t
Laugh. aud the world laughs With
you: weep, and they give you the
laugh,'p she quoted. l,rp.
u have learned that Mr.. Donovan.
have no friends or acqualntancess in
this city. But You have been Kind 10
me, appreciate It highly"
He had passed her tho pepper twice
at tie table,,
TITS tough to be alone In New York
that's "a cinch." said Mr.. Donovan.
"But, say. whenever this little old town
does loosen up. and get friendlyiit goes