m went Madame Carthame's fond hope that her
daughter would be a countess, which also was the last barrier in the
way of Jaune d'Antimoine's love. Perceiving that the force of fate
inexorably was pressing upon her, Madame Carthame--still in her
night-cap--bestowed upon Rose and Jaune the maternal blessing in a
manner that, even allowing for the nightcap, was both stately and
severe.

As at Vandyke Brown's wedding Jaune d'Antimoine was radiantly
magnificent in "The Marquis Suit," adding splendor to the ceremony and
rendering himself most pleasing in the eyes of Rose Carthame; so, a
month later, he was yet more radiant when he wore the famous suit
again, in the church of Saint Vincent de Paul, and was himself married.

Conte Crayon brought Mr. Badger Brush down to the wedding, and the
groom came too, and the tailor got wind of it and came without being
asked--and had to be implored not to work it up into an advertisement,
as he very much wanted to do. Mrs. Vandyke Brown, just home from her
wedding journey, was the first--after the kiss of Madame Carthame had
been sternly bestowed--to kiss the bride; and Mr. Badger Brush
irreverently whispered to Conte Crayon that he wished, by gad! he had
her chance!

OLE 'STRACTED
---------------
BY THOMAS NELSON PAGE

_Thomas Nelson Page (born in Oakland, Virginia, April 23, 1853)
represents the generation of Southerners who were too young to fight
but not to feel during the Civil War. In the middle eighties he
published a number of stories in the "Century Magazine" which presented
with loving sympathy charming views of the old aristocratic regime that
it had become a literary fashion sweepingly to condemn. These tales of
courtly ideals on the part of the masters, and affecting loyalty on the
side of the slaves, were gathered together and published in 1887 in a
volume entitled "In Ole Virginia." "Marse Chan," "Meh Lady" and "Ole
'Stracted" the present selection, are the favorites of the collection._

OLE 'STRACTED
BY THOMAS NELSON PAGE
[Footnote: This story is reprinted, by permission, from the book
entitled "In Ole Virginia." Copyright, 1887, by Charles Scribner's
Sons.]

"Awe, little Ephum! _awe_ little E-phum! ef you don' come 'long heah,
boy, an' rock dis chile, I'll buss you haid open!" screamed the
high-pitched voice of a woman, breaking the stillness of the summer
evening. She had just come to the door of the little cabin, where she
was now standing, anxious