The History Of A Bridal Vail

A pretty, dark eyed gir] began to work it. wliose Lover was over tiie as ;i l'ren.h gtrl, .'iinl cam oí a íamMy ií lace-maker. 'TU work my mva brida! yall, my leisure time," she eaid. ''So, wtoen Walter comea bo marry me I i be a gay bri But never íinished tlie vai!. Walter come too soon. She married hor Engtlah lover- as poor a.s herae tí- and went wltdi nlm to broad .■nul tree America ; and the halíbrldal vail went along, carefnlly (olded away al bottom trunk. and i' ■■ being quite forgotten. 11 niay Lave i.' ten tu ear!:■-( durtag twelve yr.irs, for aught I know- certainly it lay that lOOg uniiot :(■;.!. A Invfly 111 tle ten . oíd .eiil was the falry that broke it-. :i .ii laet. ■-'"■ liad darle i, t'i" ín 1 1 oí twelve :- ago, bul Walter'a golden hair. n rmlng lace !" ■ etapplng her hands and dancing deit of the folds "Dear mamma, whai II ? and Why is it imt liaii done v Can I have it for a bride-dress for my dol!, mamma !" Ttoe jwetty dark eyed matron laup'.icd and áhook lior head, and lialí ih'' delloate '■■ her Upe. Tlion Bhe Id ;'■■- blstory ot t maktng. "But it efluall nol lie bidden xo : again," she said, lemlcr'.y. "I will Íini.-U it, and when aee for my lt tle Adel i t: lie l bride, abé WlU llave a vail tu lie proud of." Anain tlie Uttle taper tingen tolled menijy .'mil bujslly over bhe ! icate ].-ii-c, and fajry-like terna and níaful flowcis grevr ■.düy under tihem. Adele watched I e Work wit!'. ' :i! eeresi . ■Mamma, teaol] me tu work it,'' '. un' d;iy. "My fingere are nmrii fínese and th Inner than your." th.it she wouid brlog her l.Sttle work-baaket to her mother's ■ and work ai a vail íor ber doU. Tin: tacddíty wüii wliicli lic iearned the ■ bBhlng. At the age of fiíic.n s expert was she, that Kii'M' iüd ii ! fear to let hor tai;i: pai i creal ton ol t i vail Itself, bul they wurkcd ai i ouiiy jiüw and I he i the íaiit-y sieied them. Louie Rlviere waa trom Trance, like Adrir's mother - that bad been a bomd bt'tw ;r,nn i'u - for Adele loved her mother'a country lor :ur mother'e sake, tíjooig-h bJ Ll waa proud oí being caUed American; lint abe also i tibe young Frencbman. Louls carne ol noble blood, and weU t i d.i. il.' had snme moaey - not enougb tu ttve apon tn Idle luxiiry, but plenty tu secure lf.ni a fair start iu business li.e. UnwiUtu enter upon tliis course iu Parts, where hia noble relatlvea would not BCrupie to oppoee lilm, he liad cboeen New Vork as the gcene of futuire eflorte, and embarked la buatueee aa a merohant teere. The happy weeks and nionths grew int 'i years. Adele was now M'vi'iiiiTu ; t was agirsed and promleed taai. wiien Bprlng-time came, sÍKVuld be EUvlere's brlüe. "Wc musí liaisli i he liridal vail," crU'd EU ly. "I teil you. Monsieur Ivoub, o lady of your proud house ever wore lace mure exaite and 1-iih. Ah, shall I not bc proud when 1 look at my lieaut i ul ihiid m her marrlage robes, and tliink ol the poor little peaeani glrl ol w iiu tofled ai the lace to cara , away over the aea." Louis turned qulckly al these word-, a took oí dtepteaaed surprise in ln eyes. "Wii.-it peasant gtrt, madame ?" he questioneé, oneaslly. ahe anewered, happily, imi marktng the look or the tone. "Whai w.s i but a poor Uttle lace maker Wihen my generous young lover nxarrled me? The father ol Adele.He aní n ered uothlng, and E went mcriily thiattlng on; but Adele noted tila Buddenly iU a b she was eithvr. ■iniiiy prlde had reeeh i '. a blow. "A lace-maker [" ■■.il! to hun-..;;, "a peasaal glrl ! II I had but known it." All iiiat oigbt, and tor days aiterwards, i lic thoughi ol liis ln-iilc's humille BXtractiOO turtured liiin ; the tlBg to his prlde would not be removed. i oconaciouBly bo btmeeU hle anDOranee atfected hta temper; he beeame irritaliic, net lul, inipat i.-nt . gonvetflmee bo tbe i-ry verge of impuliicnos, even ; abuve all, lie concedved ,-in absurd dlaUke bo the brida] vail. I detesi the algni ui it !" he wied ome eveniiiK. in a moment of selltorgetlubteas, and hen he and Adele were alone. "If indeed you love me, nevr w.n-k at M in my preaenoe, ; and i; 1 dared aak ome p i favor oí yon, t sfoonld be- " 11,. paused guddenJy- toe was llsbemlng In great surprise. .■■VfU v l. "V should le Wear eujy ofcher veil iu the wortd but tlmt ome to be married In !" Sbe toWed he wprk, and let her IwuidB fall on ü In 1"'" lap ollc linie hands were trembilng. she w.-is gTeatly surprleed at hls mooner and reqrueet, nul ateo vaguely hart, she scarce knew how or why. ,!. abe had wondered i;ll,.]y, al ;i eubtl ■ and unpleasant cl,. ,„._.,. ,i ( ...ua it bc pos-iahe ab hx to discover "You aak a íinguiar iavor," -Ue . wit ii forced quietneee. "Are you a-waru that niy dear m-other worked tli:- val V" Tll.. pulBlve temper ftnswered iasi:i:itiy, without .■! thought : ■n tor tl; that I h it." .n-i tii.-a Bhe undersi ood h Blow in suspect au 1 compreliead the priilc ol ■ !l'i; abe .iw all eleariy now : and ,, tboughi lie stooped to take her'. She folded lip b ! 11 ."il 1 gentlj tlrmly saitl : "You cli'l n"t tnow when I!m1 you i hat mamma was a lace--worker in France ; U you had perhapa you wonld ot have ■ i me. 8ice you I rned thte fací you have pegretted eniiient- you nceil not epeak ; I il a haime in you - I teel tiia: i : l'.ut there is ao harm ut on. wit 'i simple dignity, "slnce I hiave learned the trutli before it is too late, aal so- " abe lield out to liiiu a IH ie. trepil hand, whieh he tooi mechanically- ■ : so I will grant 3 avor covet, my frientl. Your bride sliall not wear my darttng mothi vail"- hc'.-e he n!. and Érew it (]ui:Uiy away- ''but that - I shaü nol be your bride!" Xo neoil to dweil upon what iolluweil. liis prayers, hila prteta.-- liunible at tirst, tiien angry- her t'ars. iliat bad no power in them to sap tin strength of ur resolutlon. 'l'liey parted coldly at last- lovers still in I ■ 1 ve di8 iri! '" casüy, but outwardly eeeming scarcely even fHenda. She stood iroin'.ly is he Ief1 the :; -when tile sound ol' the slrrl aner him. s'.ruck, like a knell oí hope, to lier young, passionafce heart, sbe Qew t ; the wiijdow and Avatehed liini nut ui sight. "Co ! go !" elie criod, dashlog away ;!i.' tcars that blmileil her. "Go trom my '.ves, hateni! tears, and let me seo my lovc for tJi' laet time ! My lovi' ! my love ! All" I llave l i him !" "][e desp'sed yuu. my darlklg mamma - you ! No. no, I wlll oever pardon him i" lli'r párente questáoned her in vain. She had quarrejed with Louli ; thai was all Mley eoald learn. And betore a oitajice ton recon&'ldatlon carne wm Bmitten wiih mortal illiii'". and clied in three days, and Alíele, oerwÍK'lnied by the awiul ealainity. was pro-', rated with hvain feer. At this juncture a simim.ms eame to l.onis from France, demandlng his immediate presence there. Strange ciuangoe liad laUen jiiace. ïivn ol' the three Uves tliat liad stood bet ween him and the lili' and 68tatee of the Marquia de la EUviere liad siidilenly swrpt away, and the d, a ïrail a uil delicate Childi lay dyintr. 'l'he present marquis, himselX e ieebie old man, was also ai the polni of deaih. mi they sent iu ha lo l.nu;-. as t be heir. The. oewa bewlldered him. His heart gweUed with exultation and í.iii i eank again. A.dele : Had he not lot A dele ? ■ i care nol for ran!; or wealth unJ them :' ericd his heart . -'i wi.l ,n mil Implore lier pard m." lle made the attempt, bul in vain. He sougiii her fiather, and sai.l a ■ hilan, however, that m'.ghi niaili' a'.l well agaiiD had slaard them : lu '-. b ig and wa wa. a.i.l sh elowlj au:! teebly, to I . nu found hersel! au o ery 1 1 ui ii ; Walter hul [ollowed .■! W.iili. No1 e', i'il 1 I cup ot sorrow to tibe dregs ; her Cather'e affaire had been terrjbly involved ; when all was settleil Bhe was pennil Poot Ade'.e : Truly misiu i be said that her sorrows "eaiiK1 not sin■pies, luit In bat lallimis ;" i'ather, mot her, lover, home, all L Whái liad líe left to offer her but patlence and pa'ni ? And T.ouis ? lle would have writIrn lier immediately upon hi.s arrival in PartB, but that ho feit so bli.-sïully sure that hor l'ather would make all w.'ii. a few weekt later he ÚM write, ImCormJng her fuily oí his Btoangely altered fortunes, and bnptonng her to pardon and accept once more aa her true over, the Marqute de le tuviere. And tlio letter néver reached her. The !. ui-e t" whteh it carne was empty and deaertsa, tdi lately happy i w .-is broken up, and the little i mu glrl, Por wfoom a husband and bltJe and fortune were waltlng ín Bunny Fraoce, was earning a sorrooríul living a a lace maker ! 8ucb are some oí the Btraage reverse oí rea] Ufe, more wonderful tlian any Ihstion. ■ marqutó walte 1 for an anwec ta vaiü. Then pflde rose up i an me," he thought. ".-h" a M, I. I am punI for my v.iy !" And he resolved to drive her íroin his heart. But after many montha his letter to i, crossed añil : -! w'.t'i many strange addreoees. ]i wae a mes ng ;r ol b pe to him. Bhe had no gttghted, she had n ,t - lapa Bhe liad not ceaae I to love. Befare anotüer day . had paeeed, the marj i o New Keed i I su ol b.! - h Win'ii (Kd weaith and Mtle tall to .;,. ? i ..- ol bhe frlenda : to clalin ? Haa qo1 prosperlty alwa i ui'.n oi A.deli the orrows. sin.-. g poor, i i (rom I :i world. And had tafied to Hnd her. I L had moaey, infliK p - heart Int e to aád hü searoh, and ye1 . In 1, t tailed. ■,-;: Ut, Wlth ■ i lia ve come to i íat- it - e i hat I shall flnd my : ,;.l I pro . I wiil Uve and die Blngl ■ for he üiu tUii w&a ble heart's ;. ■ , ■ i by any orne; many a belle and brllllant beauty had spread hor neta, i iplendid prlse al a tltled h-usbaad. Poremo tJie niany I ; ■ i - . s l ! 1 1 l Sale ; and the wealthiest o! theni all, and hor gotiden liair not nnl'.ke A.dele'8- t wae ttti'.e tli.it had at■i ed h!m t iwards her more than o( hers -the memory o! an olden love. - ■ aever aaspected thai. lioivever ; her vaLty made sure tha was iai h?r to:!-. Öhe arraaged diarade-, i ubleaux, playean which he oíd Buetato a part wlth her. Il never occurred to her that he waa a1 I bOO gOOd nat urvd and tOO ind'.fíer-.'iii I i tableaus were ugge8tivë eraough- one, npon whlch Mies Qale had quite boí her hearT, was that oí a brdidel- meed it be sald th.a Louis was tl'c bridegroom, lierseil the brlide? "He witi epeak now, rorely," t'.rmiilit. as ;;lie blUShed and iremUed beslde lüm, while the curtain eanie elOWly d:nvn. Bul no ; he only li-nved a he led her froin the platform, and then- one ; bhe bul tona of hte coat caught :iü lier brldal vail : li bas been said that -tri. les make up the mi ií humen happineas." 'ined so now. As the marquis stooped to dleengage the lace, snddenly he nttered a slraim cry. It u as Adete'8 brldal va:l ! "I borrowed it of a lace maker," d, in reply to hls anxloua questlonlng. "I had ordered one :iUe it. imi her health is ioor, and .-he fatled lo have It inished hl linie. So then I made her lend me tlhlB. She was quite unwilling, too," added. poutftng, "Juet becauae ii was her niotlier's worl;. Sueh ianr a pooT persofn !" "A young gin ?" "Oh! jio- very thin, and WO and sad - wit.h fine eye, lial too diill and Jiale ti be eal'ied iiretty. I'.ut an exqulelte lace maker. I ahall be glad lo glv yon her address il yon have any work for lier.1' Yes, he had work for her- work ih.'y wou; 1 si btassed vork oi binding up an alïnosi hroken heart, ol restoring love and li. i bol 11 tlieir ! recelved her vail -tli!I i(. In It Btead et oi bal made In that reg at least- the envy of American society ; and Loui - married Adel?. r.; imewhai careworn t ;11. a ■; bride oJ bhe mar'ii t o his bhe eyes of faithful love- it was gtm bhe Bweetesi face in the wlmle world tliat Mniled and wept beneath ESdae'e bridal vail. And he kieeed the oíd lace and bk'ssed t. lirraus' bhrough 11 he had föund l'.er agaia. "[ love it now !" aid b. "i prlseltnexi to yourself, lovv. It shall be kept as a Imi-iin always." And s:i it was. Many a fair and high-liorn bride WOre "the bridal vail of lüviere" in the years to come. Ji and ils story passod from one to aiiother. Bul amonir llicni all none were more trnly bleel that she ivlm "throogh much ufferlog liad attained to joy.'1 Tlie poor maker, wiM)e mother was .-i peasant ulrl. luit w'iici. tor trui; love'a sake, nul for leve aliiur. was chosen trom all otber romea to be Madame la