The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-06-22
Married Life
the Fourth Year
sv MABEL HERBERT URNER

Warren rang again. Another NOM
ent's wait and the lock clicked as
some one opened the door from above.
Inside, the narrow hall was lit with
a single Pickering gas jet.
ut is the top flight; take it easy"
advised Warren, as Helen started up
the steps.
From above came the sound of
voices and laughter party" sound.
'Unearthly hour for a wedding"
grumbled Warren, who had bolted his
dinner to get there by 1870. Shouldn't
think anybody would be here"
At the top Of the steps they were
net by a young girl, who showed them
into small bedroom to lay of their
wraps. The bed and chairs were al
ready piled with hats and coats.
Il won't have to take of my hat,
will II" whispered Helen.
How do l know" Irritably shrug-
ging out of his overcoat.
Warren, DO be nice! You know
Miss Perry is so proud to have you
come-now don't spoil it all
Well, the next stenographer l get
I will take blamed good care she is
SO old and ugly that there won't be
Go in there and join that mob"
Just then, a sweet-faced old lady,
who Helen knew instinctively was
Miss Perry's mother, came to the door.
She shook hands with Warren rath-
er shyly, seeming somewhat In awe of
her daughters employer. Then she
led them into the parlor.
The small room was already crowd
ed. Everyone was standing, leaving
only a cleared space by the window
for the ceremony. Sprays OF smilax
decorated the crayoned family per-
traits. the piano and the mantel,
Everyone stood with eyoa strained
toward the door. Tho huanod. tonse
expectancy was broken only BY a sub
dued whisper. Helen had onco beea
view the remains with the samo
hushed solemnity
The girl at the piano now began to
play Mendelssohn's wedding march.
Then the minister. q pompous man,
strobe in impressively and took his
place by the window
Those by the door will kindly stand
aside so the bride and groom may
enter he instructed. patronizngly.
Miss Perry's mother came first. with
quivering lips and Redeemed eyes.
Then came the two attendants. whom
Helen did not know. And then, to the
march, came the bride in trailing
white satin, long bridal veil, and
orange blossoms.
1t seemed out of place-this elabo-
rate bridal attire in SO simple a home.
Then, as Helen caught a glimpse of
Miss Perry's face, she understood.
She had wanted to be a bride with all
the symbols and paraphernalia of a
bride, and for them she had spent
lavishly of her hard-earned money.
All her life she would have the
memory of this wedding-of having
been and LOOKED a bride! It was
her moment OF moments!
She was leaning heavily, trembling
~ on the sToom's arm. His face Helen
could not see, but he was tall and
we'll built
IF any man can show just cause
why this couple may not lawfully be
joined together, let him now speak,
or forever after hold his peace"
doomed the deep voice of the minister.
Helen felt her eyes grow dim and
her throat ache with the emotional
appeal that the wedding ceremony
makes to all women.
do you, William Karl Baker, take
this woman, Carolyn May Perry, to be
your lawful welded wife, to love- hon
w. T.
in sickness and in health, as long as
you both shall live?"
Every eye was now turned on Will
liam Karl Baker, waiting for the rev.
erential, II do"
But instead came an explosive:
'Yep!"
There was an audible gasp No
boomerang descending on that solemn
silence could have been more astound-
ing. From the back room came a
suppressed litter
Helen choked She dare not look at
Warren 70 fear she would laugh out.
right. curious expression crossed
the minister's face, but he went on
with severe dignity.
And do you, Carolyn May Perry,
take this man for your lawfully we'd
ded husband, to love, honor and obey,
for better, for worse, in sickness and
in health, SO long as you both shall
live?"
II do" in a hardly audible whisper.
The ceremony was short, and then
came the general confusion of kissing
and congratulations.
Helen, who had been separated
from Warren, stood awkwardly by the
piano, painfully conscious of being an
outsider
Then the bride, seeing her, quickly
came forward and introduced her hus-
band. In that momentary glimpse of
him, Helen's impression was that he
was much flushed and nervous Per-
haps that awful yep had been only
the result of sheer nervousness At
least she wanted to think that.
Now won't you all come out in the
dining ROOM" some one asked
The parlor had been close, but the
dining room was suffocatingly hot
There was a glowing coal stove and