The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-07


tation in BryBport was Bouncer. That
energetic collie could remember no ocCa-
sion exciting as this in the Moore
household. but. every seemed thoroughly
satisfied, Bouncer helped In the happiness until tits
.a sched.
Once, and once only Bouncer had been able TO
get past Old Aunt pebhy. This time he caught that
,ual black cook with her hands full of snow white
Tough She lost her dignity and her center of gray
~ and sat down the floor with plump which
Jared the house Bouneer plunged beneath her
3arlng skirts but she saved the doughi Bouncer
meanwhile up the back stairs, and brown
and white streak had flashed into the dantily Gre
tonned room of his friend mistress and playfellow,
pretty June Moore. Here all billowy confu-
sion. June herself. standing by the long, low row
Of heecily curtained windows, the nucleus of
all the frothing white Her grlish cheeks were
flushed and her eyes wide and shining, and
4 fat dressmaker, with her lip In her mouth and
maze Of diabolical wrinkles in her brow, was on
her knees completely enercling June with pats and
pulls and witches. A browbeaten dressmaker's
aelper, with flaming red spot in each cheek, and
her yellow hair dragging to denote her repressed
'soug, and with her bosom stuck full of pins aud
Irtfi.cs and things was standing rigidly to one
side holding orange blossomed veil. June's
mother, in very. special dress aud with her hair
lone IN The most painful precision of which
trenehm8n capable. stood just in front of
June "rhstng her hands and helping with her eyes
an the sacred ceremonies
Marie Marie of the broom and buster black hair
~ aud rcd gummed. waited near, with wide grin
aud moist eyes TO have things hung upon her when
there Was no space upon the little white bed
Uer amy Of the chairs. over by the door talking in
'c~sautiy. was Iris Biethering as black haired as
Marie. tall the dressmakers helper and
'Ne,ted than all OF them put together. She the
BOSOM friend
For only moment Bouncer was permitted to
%uzc upou this puzzling scene. When he sprang too
the central figure OF it all, with the perfectly
1atuTa and commendable Intention of leaping upon
her 10 show his undying affection there a
bined shrek from six women, and five OF them put
aim out
Well. IT a strange world, and by way OF set
ting his mind at ease Bouneer six times around
the house and chased cat up tree and xchanged
iOud views with all the neighborhood children who
hung upon the fence waiting to the bride.
There were pink bridesmaids at every window,
and nice. regular father gardenad and silk hated
and Prince Alberted walked up and down the
porch, looking at his watch until eternity dragged
by but when the end of time come the imou-
snes began move, aud Bouncer, with yelp OF
welcome sprang TO his regular seat by the side of
the first driver Jerry pulled Bouncer's and
shut the long pointed muzzie in a gasolined fist and
gave him other rough tokens or friendIiness then
the door opened and there came out ieecy vision
n whom the neighborhood children found II difficult
to recognize June Moore, but 6lmy robes ana pale
checks disguise to Bouncer.
"Bouncer" June Moore, In all her important fin
cry, stopped swiftly down and took his head be-
tween her white gioved hands and looked into his
wistful eyes and touched her cheek. for an instant
upon his sken and whispered to him. OF all
the world, her very last grlish secret. Then Aunt
Debby, Invested of dough- dragged Bouncer
back and locked him in the shed, while June Moore
rode away To be June Moore again!
What this world which she APP
proaching7 No bride knows and woman June
sailed contentedly Ned-how he had filed her
world And how happy they were to bel
Why, they were at the chapel, the pretty little
gray chapel loaded with vines. And there was Ned
at q window OF the Sunday school room and looking
ST. strained and uncomfortable And there were the
ushers In the doorway. She hardly knew how she
was suddenly transformed into a procession
Why. here Ned. close beside her, and trem-
bling In a mist they kneeied and said responses,
aud Ned put ring on her finger. His own fingers
cold and clammy, but his voice was clear and
earnest he promised to love, cherish and protect
hel as he bestowed upon her all his worldly goods.
Some In the church was crying softy-irs
BIethttiug. the bosom friend. Husband Bobbe was
comfortably patting her hand. There was general
dahblng OF handkerchefs Bright eyed little old
Grandma Moore smiled and smiled through it all.
.sts little grandma with smart gown any
there. Ned's father strong faced. handsome man,
>st stodly with his arms folded and went over the
CEREMONY with bis lips, word for word Bouncer
trotted down the aisle. wagging his tail, his blue
ribbon torn aud the marks of the earth Under the
shed upon his fuzzy coat
Then the organ peaed again. and beneath the
vine swung portals, which June Moore had entered
On the OF her father, June Warner the arm
If her husband emerged into the world OF
caroling birds and gay sunshine And SO they were
married.
fhen the hustle and confusion began again--the
mad scramble into travelling clothes, and the going
away amid showers Of rice, and the earnest god
speeding of friends, and the semihysterin of Iris
Blethering with Bouncer barking his indignant pro-
somew where in the mufied distance
Just before June came downstairs In her trim
little travelling suit Of blue her mother had slipped
something into the hand Of the daughter 1t