The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1842-10-01
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY II. WEBB.
BLooMsBURG COLUMBIA COUNTY, PA. SATURDAY.,

| t'SS'''s ''dt ~ was SDFnG IlidUldC ttla1
'ad escaped from their keepers, ard had
been attracted by the event of the wedding
and the open door Of the church. She stir
red not though they approached within two
or Three PAGES of her, when Edward bow.
ing low and with smile, such as demons
may smile, saluted her wilh-'we thaDs
you. Miss Alice, for your kindness in com.
ing thus, and all unattended. 10 witness our
wedding, aud only regret that you seem 10
have been few minutes too late. We
would beg, ton,the kindness of being suffer.
ed to pass.'
! The sound Of his voice seemed to break
the spell of The dealhly trance which had
locked her senses and arrested the cnfren,
oi her lite blood. Gasping quick and pain.
iuliy. as though for the breath waicl, was
leaving her. the red tide rushing back from
'he heart. about which it seemed to have
re'realed, almost empurpled her whole face;
She 'rembled as though ahou, To sink 10
The earth and able to ariirulate in a hoarse
and husky whisper only one word, Ed.
Ward! she fe forward, and was saved
from falling quite TO The ground, on the
stony Tagging where they stood. only by
be'ng caught in the arms OF her lover, now
ne husband of another bride. Without
trusting himself with another glance at his
l'teess burihrn, the latter hastily placed her
III lh"se nf her mald. biddinr her tend her
tor a lew moments, when her father would
artive: and al the head of the bridal train.
following his guidance, he passed as before
out of The church,
tie reached the gale Of the church yard,
at which was still drawn up the chaise into
winch he was about to hand his bride, Just
IN time 10 meet The expected arrival of the
other guests he invited to this i!l.omened
marriage, Noihlng would have induced
him 10 go before their arrival. The Baro.
ne! witnessing The issuing Of the bridal
IRAN from the porch Of the church, with
another bride hanging on Flclcher's arm
than the one he had expected /, find, and
seeing n" appearance of Alice, was SO be
w'aered as scarcely TO have any distinct
"se OF hie fs"u',,cs. lie ssl. wiin6u, DIS
mounting. at the gate. starring half vacan,ly
at what he saw, ill Edward addressed him.
with bitter mockery Of p' l,eness.
4 am too happy. Sir Wilmot. at the ia
vor OF your presence.-,oo much hunored
that you should have ridden so far and so
last 10 witness The wedding of a farmers
son, poor seoman, sir. Of England. Yon
are perhaps disappointed, sir. in the bride
-(suiier me TO make known my sweet cou
sin. now my wile)-bul concluded to de
rline Ire honor of an alliance with your
family and you will fad Miss Alice --'lis
pity Sir Wimot, tina, she should have
taken the pains Of coming so far for moth
ing-you will find Miss Alice within the
church, and fear she somewhat needs
your presence.
Bowing with a studiedly scornful court
esy, he moved forward, and placed his
bride within the chaise, handing forth AT
the same time Ia the enraged old Baronc,,
as token f,kl Of silent significance, the
shawl wh'rh Alice had left in it.
Scoundrel we will settle this account
another time - was all that Sir Wiimo.
was able 10 inter, as he lrew himself from
his horse, alarmed by what he had heard
Of Alice. and fastened forward into the
church
with your gray hairs, Sir WiImoi,'
was the prompt reply can haveno other
account to seltle than is now sufficiently
discharged; bull you, SIR to George,
'having anything farther with me, either on
your account or that of your father, need
not express the qualification with which
shall be only anxious TO afford you every
facility for such purpose.
Depend upon il, internal villain, that
every account with ynu shall be fully set
lied, the latter answered, as he hastily fol-
Owed his father, comparatively indifferent
10 any other present objec, Than the care OF
his sister.
Edward Fletcher bowed courteous fare.
well 10 his other guests composing his wed.
ling train; and without bestowing on them
any explanation of all the strange scene
hey had witnessed. quickly entered the
'haise, which. as hefore. drove rapidly off
Dark, stern, silent with his eyes fixed on
,acancy. and under a terrible reaction from
he wild and fierce excitement under which
le had been acting, he SAT in one corner
hrough The whole ride. conscience stricken
with II sense of his own basesness, his
rms folded o-er his breast. and with neiti,
n word nor loo1 for his hapless bride;who,
limid though afeclionaie little creature.
owered. frightened. and sick al heart. by
lis side. Ii was no, ill they arrived a,
lis home that syllable was in,erchaGged
'elween them. AS he then turned. after