The wedding took place about three months after the death of Mr. Parsons.  In her renovated outlook regarding matrimony, Selma included formal preparations for and some pomp of circumstances at the ceremony.  It suited her pious mood that she was not required again to be married off-hand, and that she could plight her troth in a decorous fashion, suitably attired and amid conventional surroundings.  Her dress was a subject of considerable contemplation.  She guided her lover’s generosity until it centred on a diamond spray for her hair and two rings set with handsome precious stones.  She did not discourage Miss Luella Bailey from heralding the approaching nuptials in the press.  She became Mrs. Lyons in a conspicuous and solemn fashion before the gaze of everybody in Benham whom there was any excuse for asking to the church.  After a collation at the Parsons house, the happy pair started on their honeymoon in a special car put at their service by one of the railroads for which the bridegroom was counsel.  This feature delighted Selma.  Indeed, everything, from the complimentary embrace of her husband’s pastor to the details of her dress and wedding presents, described with elaborate good will in the evening newspapers, appeared to her gratifying and appropriate.

They were absent six weeks, during which the Parsons house was to be redecorated and embellished within and without according to instructions given by Selma before her departure.  Their trip extended to California by way of the Yosemite.  Selma had never seen the wonders of the far western scenery, and this appropriate background for their sentiment also afforded Lyons the opportunity to inspect certain railroad lines in which he was financially interested.  The atmosphere of the gorgeous snow-clad peaks and impressive chasms served to heighten still further the intensity of Selma’s frame of mind.  She managed adroitly on several occasions to let people know who they were, and it pleased her to observe the conductor indicating to passengers in the common cars that they were Congressman Lyons and his wife on their honeymoon.  She was looking forward to Washington, and as she stood in the presence of the inspiring beauties of nature she was prone to draw herself up in rehearsal of the dignity which she expected to wear.  What were these mountains and canyons but physical counterparts of the human soul?  What but correlative representatives of grand ideas, of noble lives devoted to the cause of human liberty?  She felt that she was very happy, and she bore testimony to this by walking arm in arm with her husband, leaning against his firm, stalwart shoulder.  It seemed to her desirable that the public should know that they were a happy couple and defenders of the purity of the home.  On their way back the train was delayed on Washington’s birthday for several hours by a wash-out, and presently a deputation made up of passengers and townspeople waited on Lyons and invited him to deliver an open-air