The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-17

FIRST EPISODE
The Man With the Black Vandyke
CHAPTER !.

-HE Quivering center OF all the intense agi-
tation In Brynport Bouncer. That
energetic collie could remember no occa-
sion so exciting this in the Moore
household; but every seemed thoroughly
natished. Bouncer helped in the happiness until bis
tail ached
ws Once, and once only, Bouncer had been able to
ret past old Aunt Debby This time he caught that
coal black cook with her hands full of snow white
dough She lost her dignity and her center OF gray
nv and sat down on the floor with plump whicn
Jared the house Bouncer plunged beneath her
narfng skirts, but she saved the dough! bouncer
meanwhile up the back stairs, and brown
and white streak had flashed into the dantly Gre
tonned of bis friend, mistress and playfellow,
pretty June Moore. Here all was biflowy confu-
sion. June herself. standing by the long, low row
Ut heecily eurtained windows, was the nucleus OF
Ill the frothing white Her girlish cheeks were
flushed and her eyes wide and shining, and
\ fat dressmaker. with her lip in her mouth and
maze OF diabolical wrinkles in her brow, was on
her knees completely encirclng June with pats ana
pulls and twitches. A browbeaten dressmakers
helper, with u flaming red spot In each cheek, ana
her yellow hair dragging TO denote her repressed
agony and with her bosom stuck fun OF pins ana
needles and things, standing rigidly TO one
side holding an orange bossomed veil. Junes
mother, in very special dress and with her hair
done in the painful precision Of which a
Frenchman was capable, stood just In front OF
June, wringng her hands and helping with her eyes
In all the sacred ceremonies
Marie, Marie OF the broom ana custer, oiack
ed and red gummed waited near. with wide grin
and moist eyes, to have things hung upon her when
There space upon the little white bed
any of the chairs. Over by the door. talking In
scessanty, Iris Bethenng, as black haired as
Marie tall the dressmakers helper and more
excited than all of them put together. She the
bosom friend
n For only moment Bouncer was permitted to
gaze upon this puzzling scene When he sprang too
the central figure Of 1t all. with the perfectly
her TO show his undyng affection there was com
btned shrek from six women, and five of them put
him out
Well 1t a strange world. and by way Of set
ting his mind at Bouncer six times around
the house and chased cat up tree and exchanged
loud views with all the neighborhood children who
hung upon the fence waiting to see the bride
There were pink bridesmaids at every window.
and \ NICE regular father gardeniad and silk hated
and Prince A1berted, walked up and down the
porch. looking at his watch until eternity dragged
by but when the end Of time was come the lmou-
s1nes began to move. and Bouncer with yeip of
welcome. sprang TO his regular seat by the side OF
the first driver Jerry pulled Bouncers ear and
shut the long pointed muzze in gasolined fist and
lave him other rough tokens of friendliness, then
~fhe door opened and there came out neecy vision
III whom the neighborhood children found difficult
~ recognize June Moore, but tilmy robes and pale
sseheeks were no disguise to Bouncer
I'M -BounceAI' June Moore, in all her important fin.
~
gkween her white gioved hands and looked into his
fDtfuI eyes and touched her cheek, for instant,
M41pon his silken and whispered 10 him, of all
xfne world her very last griish secret. Then Aunt
s11ebby now Invested of dough- dragged Bouncer
back and locked him in the she'd while June Moore
rOde away never to be June Moore agan
M what was this new world which she Was APP
Ur0Achingf No bride knows and no woman. June
sailed contentedly. -ed-how he bad filed her
world! And how happy they were to be!
49, t}ay tha rhan thn aftv
cray chapel loaded with vines And there was Ned
Il window of the Sunday school room and looking
ID 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-
hlingi In mist they kneeied and said responses.
and Ned put a ring on her finger. His own fingers
. were cold and clamny but his voice was clear ana
earnest he promised to love- cherish and protect
Der ~ he bestowed upon her all his worldly goods
Some one In the church crying softIy-lris
n Biethering the bosom friend. Husband Bobbie was
scOmfortably patting her hand. There q general
Aabbing OF handkerchiefs. Bright eyed little old
Grandma Moore smiled and smiled through 1t ali,
&9xy little grandma, with smart gown any
Nthere Neds fa Their, strong faced, handsome man.
ut atolidiy with his folded and went the
ceremony with his lips word for word Bouncer
fr0tted down the AISLE wagging his tail. his blue
xAbbon torn and the marks OF the earth under the
@Nhcd upon his fluffy coat.
4 Then the organ peaied again. and beneath the
ssSire swung portals which June Moore had entered
49, the Of her father. June Warner, on the arm
- her husband. emerged into the world of
x3Aroltng birds and gay sunshine. And SO they
ss1pAx1ied.
M Then the hustle and confusion began again-the
80 scramble into travelling clothes. and the going
4&Kay amid showers of rice. and the earnest god
lboeding Of friends, and the semihysteria OF Iris
a,e8hering. with Bouneer barking his indignant pro-
A@olt some where In the muitied distance.
SkSs Tnet before June came downstairs in her trim
R31(f1e travelling suit OF blue her mother had slipped
s31Gae4hing into the hand of the daughter. 1t was