White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-02-18
CHAPTER TX.

CHAPTER TX.
'wo to the British sodicry,
That little dreamed us reRT;
On them shall light at midnight,
A strange and sudden fear.
"a moment in the british camp
moment and away
Back to the pSthleSs forest,
Before the peep of day ."-BRYASr.
It was evening. In a large and spacious
apartment, elegantly wainscotted and filed
with furniture, an innumerable number Of lights
were blazing, as if the room was shortly to
witness a festival. Disposed about, on little
e1quisitely lacquered Chinese stands, were vas
es filed with flowers, most Of them white. A
rich prayer book lay open on table at the head
of the room. At the side place had been fit
ted up for an orchestra. These were the pre-
partitions for the bridal of our heroine-strangc
mockery.
At length the company began to gather
Among numerous officers and other guests came
Col. Campbell, the commander of thepost, little
dreaming of the tragedy in which unwittingly
he was playing so prominent a part. He was
followed by Mr.. Mowbray, accompanied by the
groom. Major Lindsay was dressed in uniform,
but he wore white favor on his breast, and his
with firm, proud step, and looked around smil-
ing He knew that there was scarcely broth
er officer that did not envy him the possession
OF his bride, and the consciousness of this in
creased the exuberance of his spirits. The
prize for which he had so long struggled was
now about to be won; and all regrets for his con-
duct had long since vanished. Gratifed tri-
umph was written on every feature of his face.
Mr.. Mowbray was att:red with becoming ele-
gance, though the guests remarked that his
dress was almost too sad for a wedding. II
might, indeed. with almost equal propriety have
been worn at funeral. The dress, in fact, was
no bad type of Mr.. Mowbray's feelings, and per-
haps had been chosen on that account The
truth was, that in secret he could not reconcile
himself to this union. Though Kate herself,
weeping on his bosom, had declared that she
was ready to marry Major Lindsay, and though
Mrs Blakely, herself deceived, had assured
usual coyness of a maid, he could not expel
from his heart an uneasy fear lest Kate had
consented to this marriage only to save his life
Why else was she so pallet Why were her spir-
its so high in company, while she bore traces
as he thought, of tears in secreti Only that
morning he had caught her weeping; and wher
he pressed to know the cause, she declared that
she was merely nervous-an assertion which
Mrs. Blakely corrOboated. To purchase life
with her unhappiness was what he could not con
sent to; and but for her, the aged parent, per
haps, would have scorned to purchase It on any
terms.
Aswe have said, therefore, secret present.
ment filed Mr.. Mowbray's heart with sadness
Something seemed to whisper to him that it wa
not too late to draw back. He seemed, indeed
like one going to a scafEOld, rather than the par
eut Of a bride.
Directly the bride entered, attended by he
aunt and the daughter of one of the officers
Kate was dressed in simple white, without I
single ornament, and without single estage o
color on her face, which looked Ike snowy wax
Still she was vondrously beautiful. Even hei
deathly pallor, so like that of corpse that som'
ofths females present actually shuddered anC
drew back as she approached, could not entirely
destroy the effect Of her surprising figure ana
the grace of every movement. Hersmiles wer'
no longer at her eommand--for the near ap
proach Of her doom completely Frustrated her
She seemed now-vhat she Was-a victim
Wreathed fer the sacrifice.
She had sat in her room al that afternoon il
a sort Of stupor, her fingers convulsively clasp
ing and unclasping each other, and her eye
bent en- the HeOr listlessly. The going out am
coming in other attendants attracted no atten
ton. But she had not shed tear. The foun
tains of her eyes seemed seorched up. Whel
] the time came to attire her for the ceremony
they had to arouse her; and the vacant gaze
inquiry she turned on the servant, made tn
slave for moment think her insane But Whel