The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-07-12
A WEDDING
CHAPTER 1903

OHdPISF NO
The formal announcement of the en-
gagement caused a great deal of ex-
citement both in New York and in
Wissakeagan.
In Wissakeagan, Patty's affairs
were talked over, praised and con-
demned. her past was delved into and
her future speculated about.
cot course. I've always felt there
was a slightly mercenary streak in
the Parke family" Mrs. Werner de-
clared. She said that because there
was open warfare on now between
Mile and herself. Both were out for
the presidency of the Thanatopsis
Club. There were two factions and
& bitter war was going on between
them, though the actual election was
sometime distant.
Her bridge party took up the theme
evidence seemed to prove the host
ess correct Hadn't Millie made life
unbearable for Humphrey, poor man,
when he lost his money? Hadn't she
rejoined him and made it up only
when he was making good again? 1t
didn't in the least matter that Millie
had gone west before Humphrey was
making money-one of them stopped
to figure out the time element. Now
Patty had attached herself to a rich
woman--and was to marry a rich man.
1t was rumored that Patty had gone
TO New York after Paul-rumor based
apparently upon the fact that she
knew Paul lived in New York. and
that, as soon as possible, she had
gone to that city to take a position.
"Of course. I'm very fond of both
families Mrs. Werner said in her
rich, throaty voice. Did you bid two
clubs, Clara? III make 1t two dia-
monds. Particularly the mother =
she seems to be the one who has suf-
fered, not the girls. l wonder why
she allowed Patty to be adopted? The
other woman may have offered money.
You never can tell"
She got the bid, and leaned over the
table to peer near sightedly at her
partners hand as it went down on the
table. She always frowned intensely
at the dummy, looking as though she
had every right to expect all sorts of
trump cards there, and disapproved
highly of their absence. 1t was really
only her short sight. but if she had A
meek partner, the partner was apt to
shrivel up inside.
Sc went on,
ut does seem like desertion =
doesn't it? I mean the girls action in
regard to her mother" She examin-
ed her own hand again, smiled broadly
and gave her attention to the game
Cora had nothing but pleased feel
ings about the marriage-she secretly
hoped that Patty would never have to
60 through the jealousies she had
gone through with Jim-for Paul was
handsome too, and certainly attractive
to women.
And Maude was glad in the sweet
resigned fashion of one who sees
younger and prettier women come
and fall in love and go off and marry
while she herself stayed forever or
aside and watched life pass her by.
Mile went East for the wedding
Mrs Parke thought she might, but
the dread of seeing and living in a
big city again made her change her
mind at the last moment.
The wedding was in February.
you've had a sufficiently meteoric
career" Mrs. Darlington told Patty
you've come to us almost unknown
won our hearts, made yourself socia
success, and run off with one of the
must put it that way even if he is m!
son And all this, apparently in few
months. At least. put off the wedding
till the end of the season"
Paul decided this was an excuse o
his mothers for delaying the wedding
But he was so pleased at the wa.
things turned out, that he did not carr
very much, so long as his mothe
pretended to like the engagement.
Mile stayed with Mrs. Mum. Sh'
adored the quisite trousseau whici
Mrs. Mum had given Patty.
81 never saw such beautiful things,
she told Cora later. Real handke1
chief linen and handmade lace thing
I've decided they're the most ecC
nomical after all, you must see tn
lingerie l brought home with me. AM
the softest silk-everything made t
order. every single piece.
And the dresses. The weddin
dress was the best of all, though. O.
Yes. white satin. and an old lace vel
that was Mrs Munn's when she ma;
ried. No, no trains. They're not veal
ing them this year," This with a yer
superior manner Patty looks to
young anyway, for a mature style
Poor child, she was dead white. ! ha
the maid rouge her cheeks little
She looked lovely-like a marbl
statue"
This description sounded more Xix
a corpse than a bride. But Mile ha
wept copiously at the wedding, an
wished Patty happiness in such dol'
full fashion that Patty suddenly bega
to laugh.
Otherwise, the girl was a seriou
faced bride First pale from excite
ment during the reception her cheek
began to flame bright pink. Afte
all-not even Mrs. Darlington coul
come between them now. She neYe
knew how much she had feared tia
lady, until she waved goodbye to he
and to Mrs. Mum as she drove off
Paul's car to the station. They wei
going South, and would be away fc
months. She turned to Paul with
suddenly tired smile.
A VISIT