The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-25
~ (lA6GIE MONCURE LYME,


as to the kitty's identity Charlotte
Corday hates Elihu like pizen and
reaches her back at him every time
he comes in the door-and all be-
cause Of my spelling her so-she Is
that Jealous Of him. Land sakes!
wish ia never coaxed her from the
barn where she belonged. To think
Of all the sassers of milk and fish
bones I've fed her and this is her
gratitude-the horrid pussy!'
ut was . mean cat to be that
spiteful," vowed little Ben, adding:
Unless che meant them for we'd
ding present"
On soEndless paws the much
abused now brushed past the spin
ster, and. afresh with maternal joys,
purred affectionately at Peter the
Hermit, who lay stretched near the
hearth.
At the sight Of the cat Miss Ketu-
rah shrieked aloud: Take her out
OF this room. child-drive her
straight out-for don't want to kill
her and bring no more bad luck on
me when l am just about to be mar
RED"
Fred gathered pussy in his arms and
stole away.
Then reaction asserted itself. ana
Miss Keturah. who was never known
to suffer from nerves, buried her face
in her hands and burst into tears.
II would willingly loan you my
bonnet" grandma explained. only 1t
Is too old for YOU
And I would not wear It, nohow."
declared the weeper. with the crepe
veil hanging down the back, for I
amt no widow woman; l amt ever
stood up before the parson; I amt
ever been married before now
but haven't you another hat7"
persisted grandma Il remember last
Easter you wore a very pretty one
It seems to me It had bluebird on
1t and was very becoming"
"Twas that" sighed Miss Keturah.
"One OF them chanticleers-out 1 got
1t cheap, for It was old style. l
thought about 1t the minute I found
those horrid yellow kittens on my
new toque. But won't do; for
though I packed 1t away with cam
phor. the moths have eaten off the
bluebird's head"
but Elihu would never notice that
Men are not observant like women
folks"
He Amt fool Il ne is in love"
declared Keturah. And having lived
all his life in the country, he not only
knows all birds have heads, but that
a woodpecker amt a canary. He has
studied 1t down to positive science
about building their nests, what kind
of worms they eat and all such: for,
though Eiihu amt a scholarlified man.
he knows moro than most where go
to college"
"But no viii be so busy thinking
about himself" declared grandma.
philosophically. "he will not have
thought for anything else groom
never can tell what the bride has on"
''All the same. he is powerful sot
on nv making a decent appearance"
protested Miss Keturah. HE has got
ideas like every old bachelor about
what he wishes his wife to wear; and
he has warned me he would not walk
to the altar II wore one Of them
skirts narrow As a stoveptpe-"
"You might 70 bareheaded." was
Mrs wiliiamS ANAL suggestion. "for
lots OF brides do--only 1t IL not just
the weather not TO wear a hat
'Yup. I thought OF that; but It
would sure give me the earache this
time OF year. and men amt got much
use for sickly women, I've always
took notice"
Grandma wflliams face was a
study. The gravity OF the situation
was too deep for laughter. Suddenly
a bright smile played round tho cor
ners OF her mouth a. she exclaimed:
Don't you remember that blue auto
mobile veil Fred found in the road
that was good a. new. Open my top
bureau drawer ana get It out 1t Is
Just the right shade. Keturah. and
you are welcome to It. II ever any
body waa."
A. Keturah scanned It critically.
she biushed and said: DO you think
better tie II oyer my face For
suppose he-mieht, you know-there
Amt NO counting what men will do
but sometimes folks have been known
to kiss the bride"
When the day appointed for the
ceremony burst upon the world In a
food OF sunshine, Keturah's spirits
rose far higher than her headgear.
while tho groom. awkward In store
clotheA but anxious to do the right
thing. had slipped the wedding ring
on his own little finger. so as to have
II handy when the ceremony required
IL.
TT looks like real gold" said Fred.
who admired Elihu extravagantly.
"And 1t smells like It too" de-
alared the groom: "for It IL warranted
co last = year. i DOUBht II WIN swap
wrappers and don't think / got stuck
none on the trade: for, besides the
ring. thar IL the soap that am going
to give Keturah for a wedding DOVER"
The bride held back timidly while
he paced. the floor nervousy with
the Ions. hoping step that comes from
Walking over plowed ground. His
newly purchased boots squeaked like
an ill-tuned violin. Bent on doing
the right thing. when Keturah ap-
peared, he pushed her in the buggy
- II she had been a dressmaker's
dummy, then gathered mp the reins
to start The housekeeper held In
her hand 4 bouquet culled from
Grandma wIlliamS choicest plants.
ana her face beamed ~ she lifted
It for . long smell. since 1t was all
that sentimentality could covet-<a
Gala lily nesting In . bunch Of red
geraniums, with . border Of citron-
ella ana nat cedar.
Then little Ben ran out and threw
the proverbial old shoe-threw 1t with
all his might-threw It without taxi
inR aim, as he cawed like a young
crow: "3ood luck! Good luckl Good
lucki~
Tho shoe hit the bride plumb on
the nose. Tho blood spurted.
ut Is a-drtpping all over my new
jabot," she said. "and faint no way