Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-11-18
ONLY A JOKE.

"And " hen are you to be married, Ar
nie?" asked my friend. Lucy. as | careful
~ laid aside my bridal veil ard wreath
which had been showing her.
There was something in the tone of her
voice that struck paog to my heart,
though knew not why, and l answered
hastily. while the warm blood mounted to
my checks
'Iu two weeks from tomorrow evening
If nothing happens to prevent"
= aud tina. there will be anything hap
pen you do not expectl" said Lucy, look
ing seriously into my face.
"Of course not, Why .hould I, dearl
Two weeks is not very lcugthly period,
certainly, and before half that time has ex-
pired Walter is coming TO Elton"
Are you sure of this ?" queried Lucy.
AS sure as we are os anything" re-
replied. Are you a prophecies! Can
you peer into futurity, and tell me if there
is ony reason Why this shall not lie So ~
81 ans no prophecies" sighed Lucy,
"and yet"
and yet. ,chdtf demanded impatient
ly, irritated by her manner.
"And yet Walter may never come to
you. Ii he should not" she did not
finsh the sentence, but fixed her eyes stern
ly on my fuce.
There are no 'ifs' about it," said
What has taken possession of you that
you appear so Strangely"
al dare not tell you." was the slowly
spoken reply, "but to day have learned
something dreadful"
dreadful What can it BET Walter,
nO-nothing has happened to him am
sure. Tell me, do not torture me q mo-
ment."
"Walter-"
"What Lucyi shall 90 crazy-you'll
kill me If you do not tell me cried,
grasping her hands and holding them
FL uly.
walter 10 married !"
Married, Lucy-ms.ried-is that all ~
Did you think to brighten me with such an
absurd story as that? Shame" laughed
hysterically as said this, and tears gush-
ed freely from my eyes.
ut is true, Annie (; / read it in to-day's
paper, Mr.. Walter Mayo 10 Miss-Miss-
can't think"
Helen Stick1eyp gasped, grasping
her hands again.
Yes. that was the name. They were
married in London"
Have you seen the paper? / cannot
credit what you have seen. / must read it
read it myself"
| She drew it from her pocket and pointed
to the marriage list. My eyes seemed
starting from their sockets as read, My
senses we're not to be trusted, it could not
be, aud yet, and yet there it was. plain.
simple, and undisputable: "Mr. Walter
Mayo, of Elton, to Miss Helen Strickney,
Of London"
Walter Msyo-my, my Walter, married
to she proud, wealthy, city bellei
go from me, Lucy. please" ! said.
turning away. Forget this-me-go"
staggered to chair as she left the
room. / pressed my hands to my throb-
bling temples. ! tried TO believe myself
in the midst of some horrid dream from
which should soon awaken. would not
suppress my wild sobs of grief; | would
let them eome--the dreadful spell would
sooner pass away. But no, there was no
change, My heart grew heavier every
moment. The light that stresmed in at
the window was not that of the srly morn
ing upon which my eyes had just opened.
There were sounds of busy life about the
house; the children were out on the grassy
lawn. had heard their merry shout. and
watched them at their play nearly ell the
long summer afternoon. There we're flow
ers on my table real flowers that my little
brother brought me in the morning, when