Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-03-23
ROCKVILLE. MARYLAND. FRIDAY MoRN1Ne MARoH 2a 1850


ton drew up to the door-the portly
chariot, the comfortable buggy, the light
sulky. and the old-fashioned one-horse
stick-chair. In addition to the company
which came in these conveyances, crowd
of youths appeared on their riding nor
SEES; and all went merry as a marriage
bell. Soon, the carriages containing the
groomsmen arrived-as to the brides
maids, they had been at the hall for
dozen hours; anG l suspect that the
greater part of that time had been con-
sumed in dressing. Certain it is as |
went up to the chamber set apart for the
gentlemen, maid CHANGED to open the
door of the young ladies' room and
never have | seen more perfect chaos,
or heard greater Babel Of tongues
They were arranging their hair, fitting
on laces, and tying the ribbons of satin
slippers around their small ankles with
an energy and delight which was proved
by their animated faces and quick move
ments. Here maid was hooking a
young lady's dress-there, another was
pulling down the folds Of heavy white
satin. 1t was one Of those scenes which
only greet the eyes of the male sex by
accident, and cause us to reflect
/ know not why | have entered into
this tedious description. 1t may be that
my memory, by an unconscious act lin
gers upon the bright and cheerful scene
have mentioned, from sort of shud-
dering dread of approaching the sequel.
must come to it, at last, however.
Nine o'clock arrived. The bridegroom
had not made his appearance. People
began to whisper and exchange glances-
especially those old ladies who scent a
misfortune or scandal with preternatural
intensity of smell, and gloat over misery
before it comes. These old gossips, Of
whom there we're plenty at the wedding.
now congregated in corners, and shook
their withered old faces at each other in
way which spoke volumes. Iudigna-
ton was the prevailing sentiment among
them-and pity for the bride.
Poor, dear thing !" they whispered,
''it was shameful to have laggard like
this-i. augured i'll for her happiness"
The facts Of the case were soon known.
Arthur had babe his groomsmen meet
him at the important business would
dctain him at home until seven or eight
o'clock. Soon after eight, however, lie
would join them puuctually.
Ten O'Clock came No bridegroom.
Then fright took lbs place OF iadigna-
ton What could have kept Arth6r
Hewston The delay was wholly unlike
h;.:a II "a; d: I'll IL est ptietuaii of men,
and noted for his nervous fear Of wouna-
ing any one, much more Phoebe, whom
he loved with passionate earncstness.
Something must have occurrcd--sylne-
thing unfortunate. The bride and her
attendants were nearly crazy with apprc-
hension. Scarcely able to hold her hand
kercbief in her trembling fingers, Phoebe
sat silent and cold, 10 al armchair u3-
stairs, | afterwards heard, and seemed
to have no ears for any sound but that
which she listened for from the road with
out. When eleven o'clock arrived, and
Arthur did not come all ceremony was
at an end. The young men hastily
mounted their horses and took their way
towards the house of the bridegroom.
was amongst the foremost / spurred
on, wildly, with horrible GOODNESS Of
the heart, for my Imagination, SUPER
naturally stimulated, had drawn hor-
rible picture. A wide and deep stream
lay between the hall and Arthur's home
"a stream crossed by crazy bridge,
whose swaying in the angry current,
swollen by heavy rains, we had noticed
in coming. | cannot 60 on calmly with
the rest Of the details. We rode on
blindly, through the darkness, by strug-
Cling and only partially revealed moon,
and drew near the stream, which roared
hoarsely as we approached. Idrove the
spur into the sides of my horse and pushed
him toward the bridge. Suddenly he
reared almost erect, and recoiled violently
in the black iarkness--for the moon had
disappeared beneath heavy cloud. At
the next instant the moon scared QUIT
found myself and my companions stand
ing on the brink Of a prccipitous descent
beneath which the angry waters rushed
tumultuously. The bridge, old and rot
ten, had been carried away AS real.
lied the truth, the blood rushed violently
to my temples--I rceled in the saddle,
and nearly fell.
My awful presentment had been true.
We found his dead body half mile below.
His horse had escaped and returned Wild
" to the stable. We could not know
the particulars Of his death but, doubt
less, he must have yentured upon the
bridge in spite Of the great danger, at
the moment when il gave away, and so
have been swept down. A heavy cash
upon the forehead explained the rest
for Arthur was an excellent swimmer
He must have been struck senseless by
o portion Of the timber Of the bridge,
and SO hurled into eternity. We returned
with the body. which was buried the next
day, with great procession of mourners,
for the young man was universally be-
loved. So it ended.
How long seemed TO have mused
These old memories absorb us at times.
Shall l end my story2 Phoebe was
brought 10 the brink Of the grave by
brain fever, following the wild shrek
which she uttered when the truth was
told her. Her life hung long on slen-
der thread, but she recovered. She was
never like herself afterwards, however,
ouJ lInuxIt i on.tlI onn bo- e.. H..