Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-06-10


Well, after that night I tried to be
happy; and he said to me--Mr. Whar-
ton, | mean:
"Let us be married very soon. my
dear"
And I gave him his way. We were
to meet at the minister's one morning,
and there to be married. Kate May
would go with me, and DR.. Jalap. the
apothecary, with Mr.. Wharton; and l
went--God knows to make that home
as happy as VIC man might.
bought no great finery for my we'd
ding-only pearl gray silk and white
bonnet, and looked, Kate told me,
more like Quakeress than bride,
they were so plain and quiet.
We got there frst-to the minister's 5
wife, who had been her Sunday School
teacher, to see her new baby-when
the door opened, and in walked tall,
fair-haired mamie looked at me and
stood still, with his eyes on my face
l looked at him, and my heart seemed
to stop beating. 1t was George Gil
lot.
Only that l could not move l would
have ran away. 1t was so terrible to
see him there them so altered, too.-
He was thin and wan, and stopped a
little-he who had been straight as an
arrow-and deep. deep in his eyes, l
saw look / never thought to see there
"a yearning, longing look, as though
that which he pined for was always
from him.
He drew his breath with a little
shiver, and then came toward me and
said:
sis it Mamie Ausarn
said: Eyes, and l hope to see
you well, SIR"
That, with my heart throbbing as
though it would kill me. But women
learn to do these things--the poor
est and most ignorant woman can hide
their heart secrets, if they will, and
God be thanked for it.
"My aunt is dead" he said, after
pause; "she died two years ago. I
live in the city. 1 have had losses and
bad health, and the farm is mine no
longer. l did not know you ever came
here, and l know them so WE'LL
81 never came BEFORE" l said. 81
am here to-day to be married"
And was glad to sayit, for it would
show him that l was heart free of him
at least. But he turned glance on
me that made me start.
81 thought you married five years
ago." he said.
"Not l." L said; "but it's longer
than that since you were, no doubt"
81 marriedr' he said. "The thought
has never been in my mind--one wo-
man turned me against the rest of her
all her simple ways, as coolly as the
finest belle could"
81 grieve you've had so bad sample
of US, sir" l said; "not that l ever
thought Miss Rose Clifford one to be
constant long"
"Rose Giffordl' he cried. "Ah, you
act well, Mamie Ansar! You know
it was you who left me in the lurch, af-
ter so much as telling me you loved
me. It's only right you should hear
it on your wedding -day-you who have
poisoned life for me-
l gave little scream.
We looked at each other, and the
truth came to both of us.
"You were not engaged to Rose Gift
ford?" said /.
81 never wanted any other wife but
you," he said. '1'ye pined for you
these long, long years. And she did
this-my aunt Tabitha. She always
wanted me to marry Rose--curse-"
"Hush!" cried, ':dot not curse her,
she is dead"
And he sobbed.
"Oh, my God! l have loved you,
and now l have met you, and have
learned the truth too late"
And he knelt down at my feet.
And all my pride and strength left
me. Had l died for it, l must have
done what did. l bent over him and
kissed his pale forehead, and his
dropped eye-lids, and the cheeks over
which hot tears stole, and said:
81 have plighted my troth to a good
man who loves me, and cannot break
it. l must be his wife; but l never
loved any man but you, George Gillot,
and l never shall--ob! Heaven help
me, never SHALL"
Oh, was it wicked to say so? Tc
this day l don't know.
lifted up my head after those kisses
and saw through the window car
riage at the door, and my bridegroom
in It. He caught my face at the pane,
and kissed his hand to me--one foot
was on the step of the coach that mo-
ment; the next there came the clatter
of horses feet, a whirl of wheels
shrieks from the people in the street
there was nothing where the carriage
had stood an instant before, and all the
crowd rushing in one direction.
I knew nothing more until the wo
men stood before me, and with pitifu
voices and streaming eyes, told mt
that my bridegroom was dead! HI
had uttered but one word after they
had picked him up-that word wal
"Nanniel"
Well, Heaven knows that was re
morseful, and that wept for him, ant
had meant to be true wife to him
and it was long before I would lister
to any word of comfort. But the hear
, will have its way; and my love and
had both suffered SO, and / could no
| always be cruel to him and myself
and to-day am George Gillot's happ.
wife.