Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1888 — THE UNFINISHED WEDDING. [ARTICLE]

THE UNFINISHED WEDDING.

Why did Lord Verriner wander in a strange and tropical clime, explore Japan and Titnbuctoo. and attetnpt to cross the Himalayas? The noble earl only tried to get married once, and in the story of that wedding is contained the reason for his becoming such a distinguished traveler and growing such a very good beard. Lora Verriner had been going the pace ever since he came into his title and got hold of his property; and, at the time of which I am speaking, though the former necessarily remained intact, the. latter was practically nonexistent. Gambling. racing, and women had, in fact, ruined him. But still his title and pcsiiicn had a marketable value; for his was one of the oldest and most distinguished families in England. But in spite of the lost credit of Lord Verriner among the money lenders, be was still a spoiled darling among the women. And it occurred to him one day that here was his market. He must do the usual thing—marry money which wanted a title in exchange. Thinking the thing over, he saw that most fellows who had Succeeded in getting out of a similar predicament by these means had married American girls. This, he thought, would be a tolerable easy thing to do. He believed he understood women thoroughly. He was an excellent actor, and could cloak himself with a- languid and profoundly bored manner which was a great success among the women of his own social status. He preserved this intense languor when in society, except in the smoking-room, for, as he well knew, it was safe. It prevented his ever getting into hot water. Underneath this qniet surface a volcano biased, and a very unpleasant volcano, too. Verriner had the most frightful temper, which he was accustomed to let loose upon his lady friends, his servants, his horses, and dogs. The fii-st two left him; the last two showed their resentment in various ways. He :was never safe from a bite in his own stables, and his dogs kept out of bis sight. This was the man who a month or two after he had made up his mind to do it, had discovered a new American beauty, just over from the States for the London season, with greenbacks enough to reinstate any ruined lord.. Verriner thought her really very tolerable, and was much amused by her independent and lively manner, which contrasted with the profound languor he always maintained in her presence. “ His handsome face, his intense, quiet repose, and the position he could give her, all pleased Hetty Leigh, for they had for her the charm of novelty. She could not resist so big a catch as this; it was worth all her greenbacks to enter the Marlborough house and sit under the wing of this quiet, handsome fellow. And so, when Verriner lazily but respectfully proposed, Hetty Leigh accepted him with open and'undisguised delight. In fact, she clapped her hands as soon as the thing was done, and said: “My, won’t the gi rl sat home stare! 11 — - Mrs. Leigh-nearly fainted—as nearly as a wiry, middle aged American lady can—when she heard the good news. She had come over with one object: to marry her Hetty to a lord. And it was all“fixed up” before the season was fairly begun. And Hetty’s husband was such a quiet, handsome man; and Hetty’s wedding would be the grandest event in the London season. It was all settled, and everything went merrily. Hetty and her mother were asked to all the best housae; the girl who was to be Lidy Verriner must be royally entertained by everybody, even thongh many of the women would have been glad to throw vitriol in her pretty, piquant face. How Hetty dressed! Her toilets alone were enough to make any woman hate her, even if she had not the additional and pardonable privilege of being rich enough for to pay for Lord Verriner to be always carrying her cloak and fan, and keeping put of the way of her train. •” Well, the time came tor the wedding. It was at the very height of the season, and, as Mis. Leigh had foreseen, it was to be one of its events. More than one great penonsge bad promised to be present, including that very great personage who gives the tone to English society. The noble ones of the land were bidden to meet them. The wedding presents were a sight indeed, and the list of them in the papers made the mouths of burglars water with longing. The trosseau was a wonder, tod, and made sad the hearts of many great ladies. The morning came, and when Verriner rose he felt nervous for the first time in his life. There certainly is something very trying about a wedding morning, even to the most hardened. -He ate no breakfast, but beganr at ighampsgne before he dressed, and went

on with it during the process. His best man, the young Marquis of Broadlands, came in to look after him. He found Verriner trembling; he had never done this on the morning of a duel, or after a night over or the moment before a race was run on which bis all was staked. “What’s the matter, Verriner?” inquired the young marquis in much amazement “Suppose the prince shouldn’t come?” “Ob, nonsense; he always keeps his word. Make haste, or we shall be laic at 1 he church.” T ’ > Verriner drank another glass of champagne, and they started. The church was already beginning to fill, as a church only does fill on such occasions as this, with the cream of the upper ten thousand. Verriner was pleased, for in his hflirt this apparent cyfic was as vain as a schoolgirl. Soon after he arrived the prince came, and at last “every one” was there except the bride. The wedding dress did not come home till the very last minute, and then it was found that the white silk lace with which the lovely little floweradorned bodice was fastened had been left out in the hurry. Hetty’s maid went off in a handsom to the milliner’s, and at last all was right, and the prettiest and brightest-eyed bride of the year was ready. And quite cool, too, though she was so late. For Hetty was a girl whenever got fevered or worried. She took life very easily, spite of her vivacity of manner. She resembled in some respects the little heroine of “The Mikado,” who says, “We’re very wideawake, the moon and I.” Certainly she was late, and as it was very shocking, considering what an august throng awaited her; but it could not be helped, and she thought Verriner valued her sufficiently to bear the trial in patience. But by the time the bride and her mother reached the church Verriner had lost his head. He read the thing simply as an insult put upon himself, and that before the only audience in the world he cared a straw for. He began to feel like a horse with the bit between his teeth when sharp spurs are struck in by an ignorant rider. Broadlands, who knew bis temper, looked at his face and wondered what be would do. They were waiting in ambush in the vestry. At last there was a faint murmur; the bride had arrived. Verriner hurried around and reached the church door just in time to meet her as she stepped into the porch. “How dare you put such an insult upon me? ’ he hissed into her ear; “you, the daughter of a dirty oil merchant! By God, I’ll make you pay for this when we get away.” Hettie looked straight into the face of this furious man, a face hidious with rage. No lady had ever seen such a look bn his face before. But he thought this girl was absolntel yin his power now. Noone heard what he said but herself, it was all over in an instant Broadlands seized his arm and led him away, and the bride was taken possession of by a stately-looking American (like Hetty’s father, he, too, had struck ile) who was to give her away. Bride and bridegroom met again at the altar. Hetty looked quite cool, but her gray eyes were very pale; Verriner, by a tremendous histrionic effort, had recovered himself and wore his usual soft languor. The ceremony went on, and everybody assumed the right expression. The bridegroom was asked whether he would take this woman, etc. be answered, quitely but clearly: “I will.” When, however, the dignitary who officiated turned to Hetty and asked her the same question an awful thing happened. Quite coolly, without apparent emotion, she replied: “I wi'l not?” Her high pitched American voice penetrated through the church, and everybody heard the appalling words. The whole assemblage stood still as if petrified for a moment, and then Mrs. Inigh broke the silence by rushing to her daughter and seizing her arm. “Are you mad?” she whispered. “No,” answered Hetty, quietly, but in thoee fearfully audible high-pitched tones. “I’m sane. I ain’t going to marry a man who, the moment he thinks he’s got hold of me, talks to me as if I were a nigger. He called my' papa a dirty oil merchant No, thank you, sir,” turning to Verriner, “take your title and the rest of it, and sell ’em to a meeker sort than I am. To know all the best people don’t make up so: being bullied at home. It ain’t good enough. Besides, when Ido marry, I mean to marry a gentleman.” Every word of this speech was heard by everybody. Having finished it,Hetty courtesied to Verriner and then swept down the central aisle, followed by her discomfited bridemaids and her now weeping mother. People looked at her as she parsed with mingled feelings—wonder, admiration, horror, awe. “What a devil of a girl!” said Broadlands to himself. “I’d like to marry her, I declare!” But his attention was distracted by Verriner, who, having cast an agonized glance around, saw that the people were hiding their faces in their prayer-books and handkerchiefs,and that their shoulders shook. He fled through the vestry, Broadlands following him. What a murmur of talking and laughter rose from that distinguished contrsgation as it left the church and got into the long string of carriages which waited

outside. There was no wedding breakfast, but there was the most delightful afternoon teas that day, for everybody who had been present had to relate the story to innumerable friends. Verriner left town by the first train to Dover, and when he was next heard of had been living for some time in a very distant and very warm country. He was among savages, and his ferocity bad earned him an enviable distinction in the most elevated circles. As for Hetty, she braved her mother’s tears and her friends’ reproaches without dismay. She was quite convinced that she had done the right thing. And so were her friends when, in the first snows of winter, they were bidden to a grand country wedding, which made this “devil of a girl" the marchioness of Broadlands.