Tempest and Sunshine

Our readers will not be sorry, if after a chapter of sadness and death, we

turn to a more joyous one, and tell them of the bridal of Kate Wilmot and

Mr. Miller. Kate wished to defer it a few months, on account of the recent

death of her brother, but her lover urged his claim so strongly that she

at last yielded, and their marriage took place on Christmas eve. Mr. W----,

one of the wealthiest men in Frankfort, very kindly offered to give Kate a

splendid wedding party, but she politely declined his generous offer, as

she did not feel like entering into such a scene of gayety as would

necessarily attend a large party.

A few of her most intimate friends assembled in Mrs. Crane's parlor, and

thence proceeded to the church, which was crowded with anxious spectators,

many of whom almost envied Mr. Miller his beautiful bride, while others

envied her the fine-looking man who stood there as the bridegroom, and all

were unanimous in pronouncing it an excellent match. Kate's happiness on

this occasion was not unmingled with sadness, for her thoughts went back

to the time when, with a heart bursting with anguish, she had first

entered that church and passed up its broad aisle until she reached the

side of her darling brother, who lay shrouded in his coffin.

Now the scene was changed; she was there as the happy bride of one to whom

she had given the undivided affection of her heart, and as the solemn

words were uttered which made her his forever, she felt that her brother's

spirit hovered near, to bless her union with one who had ever been his

true friend. So she requested that Fanny should be her bridesmaid, and the

young girl now stood at the altar, with her bright face beaming with

happiness, for Dr. Lacey, who was by her side, had, the night before, told

her all his love, and had won from her a promise that at some future time

she would be his. He told her that he would speak to her father the next

evening.

Accordingly, after the wedding party had returned to Mrs. Crane's, he

invited Mr. Middleton to go with him for a few minutes to his room. Fanny

was sure of her father's consent, but she could not help feeling nervous

when she saw him leave the parlor, accompanied by Dr. Lacey. A few moments

after, she observed that Julia also was missing, and she trembled lest she

might have suspected something and gone to listen.

Nor was she mistaken in her fears; for Mrs. Carrington and Julia both had

an inkling of what was going on, and when the latter heard Dr. Lacey say

something to her father in a low tone, and then saw them leave the room

together, she arose and stealthily followed them upstairs. Going out on

the balcony, she stole softly up to Dr. Lacey's window, and there,

unobserved, listened to a conversation which confirmed her worst fears. In

a firm, decided tone, Dr. Lacey told Mr. Middleton of his love for his

daughter, and said she had promised to be his if her father would consent.