Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-07-05

Il
tionate as to give to the world the idea that here
was match made in Heaven.
/ The bridal breakfast over, the white MORE an
ique and orange flowers were laid aside, and the
pretty travelling suit Of alpaca, with naZa1ne blue
trimmings donned-the sweetest love of thing
Madame d'Aubrey had made up for the season.
Then there was the little bonnet of gray silk to
match Katie's eyes the golden bird of paradise
dropping its plumage over the crown; and 1t was
such fine morning, and everything looked propl-
tious and in the midst of congratulations and
kisses, George and Katie started for the depot.
They arrived just in season. The whistle SCUM
ded in the distance George bucked up his travel
ing shawl and Katie grasped her parasol.
! George dearest" said the BRIDE edo run out
and see to the trunks I should die, if when we
get to the Falls my clothes should not be there.
It would be dreadful to be obliged to go to dinner
in my travelling dress. Go and sec them, that's a
darling!'
/ George vanished the train putting and smoking
shot into the depot. Conductor popped his head
into the ladies' room shouting at the top of his
voice:
s'All aboard for Danville Come hurry up, la
dies Five minutes behind time and another
train due '
| Katie did not know whether she was bound for
| Danville or not; probably she had better get in
and let George follow. So she entered the long
and smoky vehicle feeling very much at sea and
ready to cry at the slightest provocution. AS the
conductor passed her scat she caught him by the
arm.
/ 'Is my husband"
| ''Oh, yes yes all right' said the official, hur
rying in a way all railway officials have, ''Iu
| send him right along" and he vanished from the
| view in the long line of moving carriages
Meanwhile George having seen to the baggage
a proceeding that had occupied more time than he
| had intended returned to the ladies' room to find
| Katie misunderstanding about Widely, inquiring
| of every one he met, without success.
''Shes probably already in the train, sir, said
a ticket agent of whom he made inquiry. ''You
are going to Buffalo, [ think you said that's the
train to Buffalo, you'll likely find her there Just
| starting, not moment to lose"
George gr;lsped the railing of the hind as it
| flew by, and, fiinging open the door. he rushed
| through car after car, but seeking i'll vain for
Katie She was not on the train Most likely
she got on the wrong train and went by Groton,"
said the conductor. 'Groton is way station fiji
teen miles further ahead. We stop there fifteen
or twenty minutes for refreshments. ''You'n
| doubtless find her there
| The cars flew over the track George mentally
| blessed the man who invented steam engines-he
could reach Katie much sooner, dear little thing!
how vexed and troubled she must be-and George
grew quite lachrymose over her desolate condi-
ton.
But it seemed ages to George before they whlrl-
ed up to the platform at Groton, and then he did
| not wait to practice any courtesy. He leaped out
impetuously, knocking over an old lady with
flower pot and bird cage in her hand, demolish-
ing the pot and putting the birds into Mysteries
The old lady was indignant, and hit George
rap with her umbrella and spoiled forever the fair
proportions of his bridal beaver, but he was too
much engaged in thought of his lost bride to spare
regret for his hat.
He flew through the astonished crowd, MASKING
up crinoline here, and knocking over a small boy
there, until he reached the clerk of the station
Yes, the clerk believed there one lady who had
| come alone she had gone to the Belvidere House
she must be the one.
George waited to hear no more He hurried up
the street to the place, where the landlord assured
him that no ladies of Katie's style had arrived,
perhaps she had stopped at Margate, ten miles
back. George seized on the hope. There was no
train to Margate until next morning, but the
wretched husband could not wait all night-he
would walk.
He got directions upon the roads; was told that
it was a straight one-for the most of the way
through the woods-rather lonesome but pleasant
He set forth at once, not stopping to swallow a
mouthful. Excitement had taken away his appe-
tite. The fine day had developed into a cloudy
evening-the night would be darker than usual.
George fastened on, too much excited to feel
fatigue-too much agonized about Katie to notice
that he had split his elegant French CATERS out at
the sides.
After three OF four hours hard walking he be-
gan to think that something must be wrong. He
ought to be approaching the suburbs of Margate.
In fact he ought to have reached the village itself
some time before. He grew little doubtful about
his being on the right road, and began to look
about him. There road at all, or, rather,
it all road for all vestge of fences and wheel
tracks had vanished-there forest, forest every
where 1910.
The very character of the ground beneath his
feet changed at every step he took. 1t grew sof
ter and softer, until he sank ankle deep in mud,
and suddenly, before he could turn about, he fell
in almost to his armpits. He had stumbled into a
quagmire ! swift borrow came over him Peo-
pie had died before now in places like this-aud
it would be dreadful to die thus, and Katie
never know what had become of him. He strug-
gled with the strength of desperation to free him
self but he might we'll have taken it cody. He
was held fast
Thus slowly the hours wore away. The night
was ages long. The sun had never taken so much
ing could be done until it was up, and was not
disposed to hurry.
AS soon as it was fairly light, George began to
scream at the top of his voice, hoping that some
one who might be going somewhere might hear
him. He amused himself in this way for an hour,
and at the end of that time you could not have
distinguished his voice from that of frog close
at hand, who had been doing his very best to ri
val out our hero.
At last, just as George was beginning to despair,
he heard a voice in the distance calling out
Halo, there! is it you frog %
It's me, cried George land I shall be dead
In five minutes !! Come quick I'm into the mud
up to my eyes p
Directly an old woman appeared, q sun-bonnet
on her head and basket on her arm, She was
huckleberrying.
The land sake, cried she, syou're in for il. |
amt ye ?" Starved ye right I'm glad of it
Didn't ye see the notice that the old man put up.
that nobody must come a huckleberrying in this |
ere swamp
Huckleberrying !" exclaimed George angrily. |
t'You must think fellow was beside himself to |
come into the jungle, if he knew it HuckeIberry
ing indeed am after nv wife .-.