Middletown transcript., 1868-01-18

| VIC WcTt early III blC CNVniiS,
at the Episcopal Church, no one being
present save ourselves and the pastor who
united us. h't Stti.'
When we returned to my sisters we
were met at the door by servant, who
alarmed me by saying her mistress was
very i'll and wished to see me Immediately
in her room / excused myself from Mr.
Van Gelt by saying | would be down as soon
as possible and to wait for me in the parlor
| then FASTENED to my sister and found
her weeping and wringing her hands. She
bade me come iii, lock the door and be
seated. l did so, and then asked her
what had happened, and what | could do
for her.
"Oh, my dear sister," she said, "my
grief is for you, you have been grossly
deceived. But how am to tell you, you
who have had so much sorrow already,
and whom / hoped to soon see happy"
| besought her to tell me, let it be what
it would, and not keep me longer in
doubt
She calmed herself, and, in an agitated
voice, went on: "
"About half hour after you left, while
busy in the rcfrcshmcnt room heard the
4 door bell, and soon a servant announced
Mr.. Lancey, the gentleman who introduced
Mr.. Van Gelt here. In few moments l
entered the parlor where he was, and was
struck with his apparent agitation. Inn
mediately he asked for you / told him
you and Mr.. Van Gelt had gone to get
married lie said he feared as much, and
asked at what hour the ceremony was to
t take place. told him. and he drew out
his watch, saying, 'My God / am too
late, they are married." told him he
frightened me, and to please explain him
self"
He then said: s'I have Just learned
that Van Gelt is a base imposter, being
nothing more nor less than a gambler,
| rogue and villain. The officers are on his
/ track now for forgery and other crimes.
o, that had known it sooner; but your
$ sister, Mrs. Gale, must be saved; some
e thing must be done to. get her away FROM
e him."
G 81 knew what he said was reliable, for
. he is an old friend i'll whom | have full
Il confidence, So l feigned illness to get
1 you to my room, and he must be sent
e away from here to spend the night so you
G can leave in the morning before he re-
If turns"
S At this intelligence, conflicting emotions
n filled my heart. ! was reasy to sink with
modification and shame hated the man
l. who could SO deceive me, and tore the
g bridal ring, which seemed to burn me
with its glitter, from my finger and threw
Q it from me, thus seycring i'll my mind all
d ties that had bound me to him. then
> rung for servant, and writing short
e note, simply stating my inability to leave
Il my sister on account of her precarious
d state, and that he would have to spend the
d night at his hotel, despatched it to him.
He was loath to leave, but having no
|, other alternative was obliged to submit.
ir The next morning was to leave in the
e. earliest train for my fathers, not daring
d to trust myself longer where he was.s My
to trunks were packed for another journey
A. but ] should need much less for this, so
hastily unpackcd them, laying aside every
III article belonging to my Wedding outfit and
as telling my sister to take them out of my
ty sight and do what she pleased with them
tn only never let me see them again, ther
r hastily replacing my old apparel and Ger
" y, WAS leauJ.
III failed not to be in time for the trair
, ;" next morning, and was soon home, sur
ie prising my parents by our unexpected ap
c. pearance, for they thought We were fal
ls away on our journey South. L told then
~ briefly of my disappointment, and that
had come home for refuge and comfort
y .'You shall have both," they quickl,
Iis replied; s'you are as dear to us as ou
ne own child, and it shall be our care to max
" you feel So"
IL | lived in constant dread of being fol
" lowed by my prosecutor, until | receive,
ri- a letter from my sister in Albany, sayinI
an Van Gelt came to seek me in an hour afte
ny I left the house. He asked for me, an
a, on being told had gone away that morn
eo ing, he swore he would catch rue yet. 3
he fastened to the depot in time to mis-
nc the train, and be arrested and conveye
ilu to prison by officers who were on the look
LAT out for him. Mr.. Lancey witnessed tn
u scene and told my sister he never saw
more furious man than Van Gelt when h
~ found himself so entirely batied. More
ny over, he told her the joyous news that on
'eo marriage was not legal as Van Gelt wa
only fictitious name, and he had bee
led from city to city and had wife at ever
sas place; two of them having appeared again
IAN him and assisted in having him arrested
This reaction, from intense anxiety, W;
no so great that it brought on severe illne
u.s. which Frustrated me for weeks. The
I'm told me after | recovered that they had /
'ep hopes of my restoration to health; that
ma was delirious for two weeks, raving Of tt
au' past, my far-off home and all the tryiI
'ef scenes had passed through.
s. When my strength returned | began
ate feel longing for my old occupation, so
hls asked father to try to get me q schoo
ing He saw I would be more contented
rip teaching, SO procured me situation al
hN kna...l..,1. salnno sx. lila hc,,t