The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-04-17
LETTER FROM ALICE HAMILTON
TON, BRIDESMAID AT/THE WEB
DING OF HER SISTER, Les
LIE HAMILTON, AND JOHN
ALDEN PRESCOTT, 70.
HER FRIEND, ELIZA
BETH STOKLEY.
DEAR, DEAR BETTY !:

DEAR, DEAR BETTY:
Only when am the bride herself
and perhaps not even then. will |
ever have the thrill that | had as
bridesmaid at my sister Leslie's we'd
ding yesterday.
You sec, Betty dear, hadW secret
knowledge of blighted life
/ knew that, although Karl, Whit
ney was standing bravcly smiling 1T
the other end of the line Of ushcrs,
he had received a thrust in his heart
from which he would never recover.
How true it is, how very true it IS,
that truth is stranger than fiction!
There stood that splendid young
man, much bettcr-looking than the
bridegroom, his face pale with emo
ton, but with dauptlcss' courage
he held himself erect and only l
could see that underneath it all he
was being tortured in way that had
never been accomplished by the
Spanish lnQusition.
could net find it in my heart 70
forgive my sister Leslie had she not,
poor darling, been utterly uncon-
scious of the depth and breadth and
height of the love which Karl Whit
ney was even then silently laying at
her feet.
do not think that I shall ever
forget, however, the look of graft
tudc which came to me from his
sad eyes.
ooh, Betty, .you never saw in the
face, of mortal man such wonderful
Eyes as those Of Karls.)
/ ,A] Leslie came up to the altar and
| was met by John and his best man
and the ushers had arranged them
selves at the side, had chance 20
| look across ut him and received mis-
thanks for putting the pcarls-h;s
pearls, dear Betty-about my sisters
neck. ~,
Oh. Betty, you will never believe
this. but as Leslie put her hand for
ward to, receive the ring, she put her
other hand rather convulsively to
her throat and caught Karl's pearls.
| Could anything be more dramatic
more tragic; and to think thas
only / and Karl'Whitney knew!
Betty, if you put this in your new
story, it will make you an author
probably of one of the six best sell
crs, and you will have to divide the
money with me.
l could tell at just what point of
the ceremony Karl began to get him
self under control. He looked over
to me and half smile curved his
lips and l knew that my hero was
himself again, and that he was say
ing in his hearts:
ooh, lost love, even though you
arc bride of another, I will be your
devoted friend so long as my life
shall last"
At that moment, Betty, ] nance
him Sir Galahad and l knew that h:
was whispering to himself, IN!
strength is as the strength of ter
because my heart is pure"
I am afraid, Betty. that you an'
will never either Of US be the re
cipient of love like this. And
pray God that if we do, we shall
not throw it away for the dross o
some other love that is not as beau
tiful. even if we do it as unconscious
; ~ as Leslie has done.
Don't think from this letter tina
consider John--I expect that l will
have to call him Brother John from
; now on--a bad man. In fact, son
:; slider him, as men go, above the aver
!, age; but only once in century per
; haps is Sir Galahad born.
). When ! see you, | will tell 70
! further about this. l can not te
you some of the things that hav
|, happened; they are too sacred
e put on paper. Particularly that me
!. ment in the vestry when Karl too
e me up in his arms.
II "Dear little Alice" he said, "afte
this shall haye..to treat you as