Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-10-01
ANSON GRAY.
\ MYSTERIOUS WEDDING.

1 thirty, shut within himself and by him
self, in his large magnificent stone man
sion ON the hill. and people knew no more
about him than they knew of the dead Of
Burlingamo, and there seemed but little
chance Of any resurrection. His early
years had been spent abroad, where or
how, nobody know, and most had ceased
10 care for that matter; the last had been
passed in Burlingamc.
A brilliant light at night, shining from
the great east windows far out over the
busy homes in the valley, and occasional
gallops through the town by day, were
the only tokens Of his presence. ~Howev-
er change was coming, and that without
warning, Arson Grey fell sick, and dan
gerously so. The village doctor was sum
moned, who in turn telegraphed for an
other from the city in hot haste, and to-
gethcr they said in whispers that their
patient, rich and lordly as he might be,
would probably die. There was no wo-
man in the house 10 act as nurse, and the
head servant, who doubtless eyed his
masters instructions, refused TO allow any
one as yet
How il came about was mystery, but
one morning when the master had laid a
week half senseless, and the physicians
were shaking their wise heads over him,
an unusual cloud of dust was observed
whirling over the hill, and emerging
thercfrum as it reached the gravel road
leading to the house was carriage,
splashcd and weather-strained, headed by
two strainiug, painting horses, who came
up to the entrance as if driven by the evil
one. \ lady, tall and fair as the sunlight
pushed open the carriage door inpatient
Is and with haSty glance around, she
hurried up the steps, entered the hall and
drawing-room, and stood before the draw
ing room, and stood before the two aston
ished gentlemen who were seated there ;
as Arson Grew alive Z"
One of them raised his finger.
Yes, hut grows worse
Before they had OWNED her intention
she had passed them, entered the next
room and was bending over the sick
man.
Tho devil will be to pay if she excites
him now" the older one said. 'lf some
good nurse had.come, it might have been
of use: but this dainty thing-bah'"
She came out in = moment, her face
white but determined.
"Will YOU have the goodness to send for
a minister, and wait till he comes Z" she
asked, rs She began to remove her things.
There was something in her manner
which forbade any questioning and they
oheycd her like 50 many dumb men, as
they said afterwards.
The servant came William Skinner,
the head servant, was called, and after the
three held private conference, which
seemed to be satisfactory, they came out,
. and to the amazement of all, the lady
J stood 10y Arson Grey, and the marriage
vows were read and taken.
. The wise doctors were mistaken in thcil
g estimates of the fair unknown. She was
e something besides fair lady, as her ac
A tious soon proved. \ new order of thing
n was instituted in the sick mans room
n and his wife installed herself as nurse
= a change which soon told for the better
= In month he was riding through the
Y village with his bride by his side, all eye,
{ Of course agog, to catch view of hel
i handsome face 1t now had been noised
i abroad how She had come, and of course
e the strange wedding which followed, anC
= was but natural, the whole town was wilc
d as to know the why's and whercforeof the
}. case.
II at any rate, that man looks like {
l. different creature" said one waman as HI
passed her cottage door. Odd you SEE
how he smiled at my little girl Tha
was never heard of from him. and let m
tell YOU, you never see man as he was
e without there being woman in the wa.
k somewhere"
II All agreed She was just an angel; anC
90 when they came to church the next Sab
i. bath. they sat down quickly in one o
the pews, like other people, they wer,
1t more than ever confirmed in their opinion
What Burlingame people never knew wa
= this.
Is Three years before Arson Grey, haugh
in ty and indolent, was killing time at on
ID Of the fashionable watering places, wher
le Edith Willoughby was also lingerin
against her WILL
4 sweet and wondrously fair face, muc
.s admired and sought after, Arson Gre
id had half mind to enter the list wit
Others, but something kept him back, an
N he only exchanged few words with he
now and then, when circumstances thre'
I'd them together.
ID There happened to come two-day
~ flooding rain, and the first night of
v Edith sent a servant asking Mr.. Grey
as come to her private parlor for momen
as lie obcyed the summons with alacrit,
Id though wondering much what could
coming now.
ne Edith was awaiting him, cloaked an
hooded. evidently in great haste to be o
I'D somewhere.
as Il hope you will pardon me- she saic
l as she closed the door beside him, 'but r.
I'd ally didnot know whom to ask, and mi
Re. ma will not allow me to go by myself.
nc poor woman down on the beach is sicl
KS perhaps dying, and must go to her. He
little boy Just came after me. wa
p there yesterday and they are in great di.
tres. Could trouble you to go wit
ne me Z"
ct Twill do the errand; it is too storm
IL for you to venture out"
"Oh, it is no errand | am sorry
:. trouble anybody
u Mr.. Grey saw what she wanted, an
ISe saying he would be back directly, var
Tx ished for his rubber suit.
on The rain drove in their faces, and tn
wind howled through the black nigh
like a minister of evil, but Arson Gre
felt as if he could have braved thousan
o. storms-not for fsherwoman, perhap
but for one as good and fair as Edit
Willoughby, he would not have hesitate
III a moment. When they came upon Il
beach the waves fairly leaped into the
faces, and Edith shivered and chung ha
terrified, to her companion in spite
herself
Il believe you had best return now ar
er. leave it to me- said Mr. Grey.
mo, we are almost there / shou