The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-17
FIRST EPISODE The Man With the Black Vandyke
CHAPTER l..

CHAPTER l.
 NHE quvering center of all the intense agi
 tation in Brynport Bouncer. That
 energetic collie could remember occa-
 sion exciting this in the Moore household; but as every one seemed thoroughly satisfied, Bouncer helped in the happiness until his tail ached
 Once, and only, Bouncer had been able to get past old Aunt Debby. This time he caught tbat coal black cook with her hands full of snow white dough- She lost her dignity and her center of gray ity and sat down the floor with plump which jared the house Bouncer plunged beneath her faring skirts, but she saved the dough! Bouncer meanwhile was up the back stairs, and brown and white streak had flashed into the danty ere tonned room of his friend mistress and playfellow, pretty June Moore Here all was billowy confu- sion June herself, standing by the long, low of feecily curtained windows. the nucleus of all the frothing white Her grish cheeks were flushed and her eyes were 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 encircling June with pats and pulls and witches. A browbeaten dressmakers helper with flaming red spot in each cheek, and her yellow hair dragging to denote her repressed agony, and with her bosom stuck full of pins and needles and things, was standing rigidly to one side holding orange blossomed veil Junes mother, in very special dress and with her hair done in the most painful precision of which Frenchman was capable, stood just in front of
 
 in all the sacred ceremonies.
 Marie Marie of the broom and duster. black hair ed and red gummed. waited near. with wide grin and moist eyes, to have things hung upon her when there was no more space upon the little white bed nor any of the chairs. Over by the door, talking in- cessantly, was Iris Bethering as black haired as Marie, as tall as the dressmakers helper and excited than all of them put together. She the bosom friend.
 For only moment Bouncer was permitted to gaze upon this puzzng When he sprang too near the central figure of it all, with the perfectly natural and commendable intention of leaping upon her to show his undying affection, there bined shriek from six women and five of them put him out.
 Well, it was strange world and by way of set ting his mind at ease Bouncer ran six times around the house and chased cat up tree and exchanged loud views with all the neghborhood 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 halted 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 to move, and Bouncer with yelp of welcome, sprang to his regular seat by the side of the first driver Jerry pulled Bouncer's ear and shut the long pointed muzze in gasolined fist and gave him other rough tokens of frendliness; then the door opened and there came out feecy vision in whom the neighborhood children found it difficult to recognize June Moore, but flmy robes and pale
 
 "Bouncerw June Moore, in all her important fin. cry stopped swiftly down and took his head be- tween her white gloyed hands and looked into his wstful eyes and touched her cheek, for instant, upon his silken ear and whispered to him, of all the world, her very last girsh secret Then Aunt Debby, divested of dough, dragged Bouncer back and locked him in the shed, while June Moore rode away never to be June Moore agan
 What was this new world which she was ap- proaching? No bride knows and no woman. June c;f.<J .fn1v Mad -bAx 6o had lI&<1 kov world. And how happy they to be!
 Why. they were at the chapel the pretty little gray chapel loaded with vines. And there was Ned at window Of the Sunday school room and looking so strained and uncomfortable. And there were the ushers in the doorway. She hardly knew how she was suddenly transformed into procession.
 Why, here was Ned, close beside her, and trem- bling! In a mist they kneeled and said responses, and Ned put ring on her finger. His own fingers were cold and clammy, but his voice was clear and earnest he promised to love- cherish and protect her as he bestowed upon her all his worldly goods. Some one in the church crying softIy-iris Blethering, the bosom friend. Husband Robbie was comfortably batting her hand. There was general dabbng of handkerchefs. Bright eyed little old Grandma Moore smiled and smiled through it all gay little grandma, with smart gown as any there. Ned's father, strong faced, handsome man, sat solidly with his arms folded and went over the ceremony with his lips, word for word. Bouncer trotted down the aisle, waggng his tail, his blue ribbon torn and the marks of the earth under the shed upon his fluffy coat
 Then the organ pealed again, and beneath the vine swung portals, which June Moore had entered the arm of her father, June Warner, on the arm of her husband, now emerged into the world of caroing birds and gay sunshine. And so they were married!
 Then 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 semihysteria of Iris Blethering, with Bouncer barking his indignant pro- test somewhere in the muffied 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. It was