Central High School - Mirror Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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AGLAIA LITERARY SOCIETY

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Well, the long and short of it was that we compromised and agreed that Gerald should carry the ring and that (Jus should walk by his side as a sort of body-guard. (Jus was delighted, lie cared only to be seen, parading up the aisle, and to have a large share in the wedding breakfast. Ilis soul was at peace with all the world. ’o human being will ever know the agony I suffered in those weeks before the wedding. Looking back on it now. 1 wonder that 1 ever came out of the ordeal alive. (Jus was insufferable and one might as well have tried to dry up the Pacific Ocean as to quench his outbursts, lie considered hint-self in a position to dictate to Lucy his ideas (and Solomon in all Ins glory could not have formulated things like these), about a wedding-cake, and Lucy, poor girl, not understanding that a polite hut utterly indifferent attitude is the only one that can be assumed around (Jus, was extremely worried because she couldn’t make the unholy concoction (Jus planned. Then, whenever there was a party for the bride. King Hearer and Co., must be on band, and (Jus was seen on all occasions, usually somewhat awry and always in the vicinity of the bonbons. He patronized Tom. gave directions to the best man and even had the bare-faced audacity to ask me. the maid of honor, if I wouldn’t like to be in his place. Hut no more of this. The final day came, with the confusion that is characteristic of such days. At the last minute (Jits' velvet suit was discovered to he a size too small, he had put glue in his hair to create a pompadour like Turn's and consequently his head resembled a split-rail fence, and as the last drop in my clip of bitterness, bis shoes squeaked. At the church door. I straightened his collar, buttoned bis cuffs and sighed at his pompadour. (Jus was hopeless. but it was too late now—-the die was. cast. The wedding party proceeded up the aisle. For a time everything went off beautifully. Lucy looked gorgeous and Tom was splendid, even though a trifle shaky in the knees. For better, for worse, tor richer, for poorer.........' Tom repeated the words, very clear and strong, and reached out his hand to (Jerald. All of us involuntarily looked toward the little cushion (Jerald held. Gerald, with mouth and eyes opened wide, was gazing vacantly at the place where the ring should have been and was not. There was a dreadful pause. The wedding-party was aghast. Tom shook (Jerald. What have you done with the ring? I have never seen anyone behave quite so idiotically as did (Jerald at this trying moment, lie felt absently in ltis pockets, gazed at the ceiling as if by some phenomenon of nature the ring had found its way there and finally murmured: I duiitto. This was awful. Every second added to our agony. The guests were craning forward to see the cause of the interruption. Then, just as Lucy was on the point of hysterics, we heard a lazy, somewhat sleepy voice: “Here ’tis! I'oiie fifteen

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And vvc turned to see Gus, Gus the scorned, the despised, calmly drawing the ring, from his pocket. There was no time for explanation then. The ceremony proceeded, the bridal party turned down the aisle, but once at home; Gus was surrounded and overwhelmed with questions. In the midst of all the contusion, he was as unruffled as though saving the dignity of a minister, a bride and a groom, and twelve attendants, was a daily occurrence. “I was walkin' along, an' 1 heard the ring drop, an’ Gerald wasn't noticin' — (unfortunate Gerald!) “An I picked it up, an' Susie yelled out for me to move on— lit was true; I bad shrieked to Gus in a stage whisper, fearful that he would stop the whole procession.) An I done it. an’ then I forgot it till 1 saw you all cuffin’ Gerald arounV' The groomsmen roared and the bridesmaids fell upon him and embraced hint and J.ucy shed tears and almost ruined her dress, and Tom actually patted him on the back. But I knew what Gus craved, and I led him away in triumph to the wedding-cake. Kate Smith. 1 . In The Garden of My Heart 1 know a hidden garden in a secret place. A warm, walled garden breathing up the Odor of living flowers-Some blooms are bright, some pale, and others fresh And sweet as an April shower. And the tall trees bend their branches over the quiet walks Yearning to touch the fountain that laughs and dimples in the sunlight. And a murmuring breath rises from the flowers Swelling in poignant harmony as from the souls «»i friends I love-in the garden of my heart. —M. B. PujfC iPl'CHU'C