The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1919-03-27
The Wedding
Knives
IN
NA n WAcKLRY

They were very beautifui-thOse
delicate tribes of the ancient wedding
toilet Of the seventeenth century bride
the wedding knives of Mistress Anne
Hogarth.
Margery Byers took them reverentiy
from their faded green brocade sheaths
and running her fingers over the elab-
orately chased blades. and the quaint
pearl set handles. handed them to
Stephen Palmer. The young physician
turned them over curiously.
$50 these pretty trinkets were nee
essary to the bridal toilet away book
in the days Of yeur grandmother ances-
tress, MSrgie?" he remarked. II don't
remember Of ever reading OF them"
MarKery's brown eyes sparkled with
interest and admiration.
why. don't you remember. Stever'
she cried. "Juliet wore them at her
girdle when she was ia the Friar's cell.
and she had then on when she was
about to take the sleeping potion"
what did thsy symboliser" asked
Palmer.
They had sOmetAing to Do with sev-
eriAg the knot Of lsvs. believe" an
swereA MAFgery vaguely. anyway.
whatever tAsy meant. tAey were beau
tiful thiAos Ia wear"
"And yoS. Aargis, I ssp0oss yoHn
wear these vhea you're married"
Palmer hesitated little over his work.
when . Tirl hes q wcti-dsAned. resa-
i've implanted idea q engAging herself
who's she gets 70 the seashOre summer
resort to q rich man she doesn't care
for. but who 10 going to ash her to
marrSsAim-to see unexpeetsa~love-in
me eyes II the mas she'd like 10 mar
~. even though dsApproved Of By the
relatives, IL disconcsrting. Aargery
turned away and replaced the tfnkets
in thSir places before she answered
bit TREMENDOUSLY:
"My-ny wedding day ia long time
al, most likely, Stephen. Tn not quite
twrnty. you know"
Listen. Aargis," Stephen tried To
keep Ais voice steady, Il want 10 tell
you something"
Hurry. Marre." an impatient voice
called from the next room. Are you
forgetting we have an engagement this
EVENING"
I'm coming, mother" the Gtri an
swered. Come down to the stntion TO-
morrow. steve" she said Ia hssty good
by. "eary. I'll 90 down half hour BE-
e.
before the train leaves"
But q man In q factory got himself
cut up badly the next day an heur be-
fore AarHerys train was to leave. and
Palmer was csilsd 70 hold rife In him.
There was net evsa time for tsisphon-
lag Nbrgery. and the letter of exptana-
ton he sent her was returned to him
unopened.
When three weeks later Mar9ery's
engagement TO Finer Troxeil was an
nernced stephen worked - many -e1-
ira hours at the hospital that the head
surgeon protested.
In September the Byers family re-
turned. and Palmer could not escape
the accounts Of the welding that was
TO be one Of the cIty's social events. A
few days before the wedding. unable
to deny himself the uncertain unhappi-
ness Of trying TO catch glimpse NJ
the bride-to-be. he found himself pass
ing the ByerS house. As he went by
driving at snail's pace. he heard
frightened screams from within. He
leapsd from his car. As he ran up the
walk a terrified maid thrust open the
door.
"Oh. Doctor Palmer" she cried. rec
ognizing him. come In. quick
Another one Of the maids had fallen.
carrying a tray Of glasses. and had cut
her wrist. She was shriekinE in fear
and clinging TO MarEery, who with
pencil and handkerchief was twisting
a tourniquet about the wounded arm,
while the blood spattered her lovely
white dress.
Come away, Margery.' frowned
heavy browed. man in q white serge
costume. standing at a safe distance
from the maid. as Palmer came for
ward. "and let the man attend to her
It's his business-besides you're get
ting your frock spoiled, and we were
ready for our drive"
Margery shook of his hand. Go
away. Elmer Palmer detected
note of dislike In her tone-"you are
In Doctor Palmer's way. Never mind
the drive. shall stay with Sophie.
AS Troxell sulkily left the room his
foot touched something lying on the
rug something that tinkled, as with
murmur of disgust he showed 1t aside.
The next morning when Palmer re-
turned to the house to attend the In
iured maid he found her crying.
I'm not scared for myself. it's Miss
Margie Tn worried about she told
him. "He-that man amt nit for her
nor anybody else Miss Margie told
him yesterday she was going TO wear
her great grandmother's wedding
knives (maybe she's showed them TO
you) at her wedding. and he got aw-
fully mad--asked her how she would
look, standing up there in her bridal
robes. before all his friends with those