Evening star., 1922-02-05

6tdiT6 Ln0 DACk way anu toOk d QUICK
survey Of everything.
And must say it all looked won-
derful, and Temple winked at me to
indicate that everything was going
smoothly. I started the musicians
playing, saw that the guests were
properly shepherded into the garden.
gave the ushers the silver ribbons
that made the aisle for the process
sion, and went back upstairs. Edith
was administering the salts alter
nately to Lettie and mother. and both
Of them pretended to turn faint and
cry when told them the hour had
come.
Cheer up" told mother. THAT
old cat of a Mrs. Sparthwaite is just
hoping you'll break down." and to
Lettie. you know you look fierce
with your eyes red" And SO I
started them downstairs.
The other bridesmaids had gath
cred in the parlor, and handed them
out their baskets of flowers, gave
Lettie her bouquet. ran the shade up
and down as q signal to the musi-
clans, and fell into my place as I
heard the "ta-ta-ta-ta" of the
wedding march begin. I'd seen Ed
gar started under DR.. Blaine's pro-
tective wing couple of minutes
before, and he looked as white as
his uniform.
OUT into the wide hall we went,
first the ushers, all in uniform.
then the long double line of orchid
and pinky bridesmaids. and last of
all Lettie on mothers arm, look
ing almost too lovely-across the
veranda, slowly down the steps and
out on the grass into the greenery of
the old garden. The silver ribbons
shone in the sunlight, and the guests
stood all about attentively, and the
sky was blue and the flowers were
in bloom-oh, it was all perfect, and
just the way garden wedding
ought to be. We walked slowly down
the garden to the pergola and there
were the three men-Edgar and DR..
Blaine, and the rector, and Ed
gar came a little forward and stood
beside Lettie and looked at her as
though he could eat her.
And so they were married. and
mother behaved like a brick, and so
did Edgar. not even fumbling the
ring. AS for Lettie, she is never
confused when it isn't in the picture.
The instant the kissing and the
congratulations and such began, ]
dropped out of my place and hustled
was ready to serve, and as l looked
at the wedding cake. so imposing and
SO stately, SO seemingly all solid and
substantial, it reassured me.
Presently the maids began tc
bring around the little tables, and
trees and the lawn umbrellas and all
the nice shady spots to eat. Edgar
and Lettie and some of the relatives
had a table under the pergola- I my
self went about purring, for every
one seemed to be having a good time
and most wedding receptions are as
stiff as pokers. The serving went on
without a hitch, and the way the
food was devoured was proof OF its
quality.
Lettie and Edgar had to catch the
early afternoon train. and she takes
so much time to dress that I knew
I'd have to keep an eye on the time
So I ran into the house now and ther
and looked at the clock. I was be.
ginning to wish that it was all over
After the ices were served and the
people had had moro cup. they be.
gan drifting around the garden, and
laughing, and joking and making
toasts to the bride and all that sor,
of thing; Lettie and Edgar came out
of the pergola, and some of EdGar's
brother -officers skittered about, and
it all was very gay and festive.
And then that impossible Brenda
Sparthwaite took a hand. I was jus.
coming from a glance at the clock
for the third time, and I heard her
saying. oh. so playfully. with that
~
many ladies Of her age acquire.
"And now, Lettie darling, you must
cut the brides cake with your hus-
bands sword-that's the one touch
of pretty pageantry that will make
the day complete. Such a dear quaint
custom"
Ny heavens, I stopped cold, right
on the edge Of the veranda! The one
touch of pretty pageantry. indeed!
A dear quaint custom! 1t would be
a whole lot dearer and quainter than
Miss Brenda imagined. And she is
the sort who no sooner thinks OF
something than it must be done. She
ran girlishly round to the refresh
ment table, and summoned two OF
three Of the mon to carry the table
with the cake on 1t out into the open
SO that every one could see. saw
Temple making dramatic gestures
and then fall back stricken. She
couldn't stop Miss Sparthwaite.
And there I stood, very little better
than Temple. I didn't know what tc
think and I didn't know what to do
I saw Lettie smiling sweetly up al
Edgar, and he drawing out his sword
with that fatuous smile OF the bride.
groom, and cautioning her not to cut
herself. Slowly. very slowly. Lettie
extended the sword over that white6
sepulcher of a cake-she did it slow.
ly because she had such pretty hand.
and arms, and she wasn't going tt
let the guests miss them-and slowly
slowly she began to lower it, hel
little head tipped adorably, and 6