Ladies' Column.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5333, 10 August 1895, Page 3

Ladies' Column.

AT A WEDDING. [BY ANTHONY HOPI.] (New Tarifc Sun). ' I admit that; I attired myself with ususual care. Ib may have been weak of me, but I did not wish Phillippa March to thank heaven that Bhe was walking down tho aisle on Worsley's arm instead of on mine. And the first parson I saw when I got inside the church was my cousin ITlo, ; dressed with quite remarkable taste and elaboration. I sat down beside her, depositing my new hat on the seat with great care. . " I know exactly what you are thinking," I whispered, with a sarcastic smile. - " Hnsh ! Itfa ohureh," said Flo, opening >* prayer book. „, .i. * " But he won't look at you," I persisted, malignantly, "He will wear a prond, happy smile, and will have no eyes) he v never had any to speak of) except for his blnahing bride." . I hardly expected Flo to reply to thia remark, but after a moment's pause she observed, in a singularly incisive whisper: "She won't blush." I was annoyed. Women are ao wanting in magnanimity. " I bet yon a sovereign she does, said I, taking out my betting book. " And I don't believe ho'H look at her all the time." "I'll take you the double event," I said, angrily. " A dozen of gloveß against a new hat." "The best gloves ? " asked Flo, her gaze fixed on the marriage service. "You shall choose 'em yourself," said I, j and I booked the bet, remarking : j "He will only notice her. He will not ( observe, Florence, that yours ia a new bonnet." "I've worn it before," aaid Flo, muoh vexed at my penetration. , "Before the looking glass," I retorted, scornfully. "That's all." -. At this moment Aunt Maud and the Colonel entered the edifice. As they passed us Aunt Maud observed, in a benevolent whisper, "Ah, there are the dear children together, as usual." . I suppose Flo heard. Looking at the ceiling, Bhe asked : " Is there no room anywhere else ? I took my hat. I opened the door of the pe<e. In another moment I should have been gone— perhapa forever— bub it ao chanced that, juafc aa I stepped out, Phillippa March walked up the aisle on her father's arm. We narrowly escaped a collision. I got back safe, but flustered, into the pew. "How awkward you are ! " said Flo. Vlt's an allegory," said I, rather pleased on reflection. The service passed off without interruption. Nothing occurred to stop the marriage. The procession, headed, by the happy pair, was formed to walk down the aisle. At this point Flo nudged me violently. "Look cheerful!" Bhe commanded. "Look cheerful yourself," I rejoined; "you might be at a funeral." " Might I ?" asked Flo, too frightened to be resentful, and she straightway assumed a most dazzling smile. She also moved nearer me. " What hypoorites " I began, but I •aw Phillippa Mar— Phillippa Won— well, Phillippa'a— eyes upon me. Without hesitation I squeezed up against Flo and grinned. I knew that I should hear about it afterwards, bub I could not afford to con* tider that. They passed by us. Worsley certainly did not look at Flo's bonnet, that I am prepared to take my oath to, but undoubtedly Phillippa blushed. I had won. I put my book baok in my pocket and followed Flo with a happy smile. I found her in the aot of kissing Phillippa. / " And you looked perfectly charming, dear," said Flo. " How do ? 'Gratulate yon," I observed to Worsley, who was looking extremely uncomfortable. Then I shook hands with Phillippa, expressing a wish for her happiness, "I am happy," said she; " Perfectly." " That's nonsense, you know," I began. " Nobody in this world can be perfectly _— ,— " ' " Oh, Mr Vanßittart, just wait till " and Phillippa glanced expressively at Flo, who was telling Worsley that most men were so awkward over being married, but that he—well, you know the sorb of thing girls are. taught to say. Some people call it good manners. I call it humbug. Worsley had looked an bbb— that's the plain truth of it. They passed on. I caught hold of the beadle's arm. "Do you have many weddings here P" I asked. Ho said that they had had a great many. " Did this couple," I inquired, "look happier than usual, or— cr — the reverse." " Never seen a pair more bloomin', sir," said he. " Crime along," said I, sharply, to Flo. *' We may as well walk up. to the house." "I don't see," observed Flo, in a cold tone, as we started, " Why you asked the beadle that." "Aa if you weren't listening with all your ears," said I scornfully. Flo took no notice of this remark, but went on, in the calmest possible manner, to observe : "I think I'd better have my gloveß white ; they are always useful. " I shall tiave my hat black," said I. " Now, Dick," expostulated Flo. "I don't exp=cb you to be kind, or generous, or coneiderate, or— or nice, or— or affectionate, but you might be honeat. You know he looked at it." "Never," said I. "And she blußhed aa red as this rose." " It wasn't a blush, dear," said Flo, with much apparent gentleness. " The poor girl waß very warm, and her complexion is never— What are you smiling at like that?" "Oh, nothing," says I, with a laugh. •" Will you be good enough to tell me, Diet?" " When you give me my hat " "I hate a man who's mean." There was a pause. We had now reached the road in which the hous9 was, and we turned down it. The carriage containing the bride and bridegroom was just behind vs. " Walk closer to me," cried Flo in a whisper. I ranged up. A sudden thought struck me. " I say, Flo," I observed, "I wonder if they're sorry by now ? " " Flo glanced out of the corner of her eye. •' I expect he—" she began but I laid a finger on her arm. "I should think she — "I began. Flo drew a littie away from me. The carriage dashed by. Flo and I stood looking at one another. . "We can't co on like this," I said, j decisively. "We must settle it. The first question ie— did he look at your bonnet ? Now I will look at your bonnet, and then you will be able to decide whether she did the same." "Oh, do you think that will be—satisfactory?" asked Flo, with a hesitating smile. "Eminently," I answered. I began to look. Presently Flo said : " Bub you're not looking at the bonnet at all.' " You muafc really let me do the thing in my own way," I pleaded. •• Oh, but, Dick, here's somebody coming." " We are doing nothing wrong," said I, sturdily. " Did he do it, Flo ? " " N— no, not like that," she admitted reluctantly. "Exactly," said I, triumphantly. "I knew he didn't. I knew he couldn't. Juafc ask them to put a two-inch band on the hat — for Undo John, you know." " But wait a minute," said Flo e3gerly. "There's something els*." " I recollect nothing else," said I. I was itill looking at Flo's bonnet.

, •• She had to blush," murmured Flo. t'lt was a double event, you know." "Of course it waß," I conceded, recollecting, " But there's not the least doubt that she blushed. I saw it plainly." Several of our fellow gueat3 happened at this motaent to turn the comer of the road. "Dick," aaid Flo, "watch me whon these people pasc and then you'll be able to tell whether it's the same thing." In a moment I saw that I was done. I had not hitherto found it necessary to lay any stress on Flo'b complexion, and it is sufficient to remark that it is such as to enable her to blush in a perfectly unique manner. I continued to look at her bonnet, and, aa the people went by, she blushed. Then she raised her eyes to mine in inquiry. I always speak the truth at any coat. "There was nob," said I sadly, "a vestige of anything of the sort on Phillippa'a f ace." "I'll have them long and crumply," cried Flo, triumphantly clasping her hands. " They're out of fashion now," I remarked, hoping that it was true. (Crumply ones are very expensivo). " Are they ? But you once said you liked them, Dick." I gazed at Flo in some astonishment. "And if you liked them, Dick, I shouldn't mind how unfashionable they were. No, I shouldn't a bit, really." I do nob pretend to be more hardhearted than moot men. I was very much touched ; and, bb we began to walk again toward the house, I whispered to Flo : " It was two dozen, wasn't it ? " " O, Dick, will you, really ? " "Yes, rather." "Oa your honour? You won't draw baok?" "No, on my honour; two dozen, all crnmply." Of course, I ought to have known. The very moment Flo obtained this promise from me she ceased to blush, she settled her bonnet, she assumed a staid and distant air, she quickened her pace, and ! she observed : | " Easily, I think that we have been silly enough for on« morning, don't you, Dick ?" "Quite," said I, savagely, thinking of the two dozen. " It's rather expensive." Flo was just entering the gate. She i paused for a moment, turned around to me, lifted her eyebrows, smiled — yes, blushed again, and remarked : ' " It's nothing to what it will be Borne 1 day." I also paused for a moment, leaning my hand on the door poat. "These people," said I, waving my hat, which I held in the other hand, toward the honse, they find any pleasure in it, may get married every day for all I care. " And we went in to see the presents.