The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-12-15

/ ny. she said, after moment.
Cheer him all you can. The TWEEN
tieth of December | am TO marry Mr..
Guthrie"
She turned as pale as o sheet with
the last words, but sat calm and
Father viii give you money. You
must get me ready. she added.
Il will not / will not put my
hand to such wiokodnessl' / cried.
Is But the marriage will take place
| Just the same" she said, quietly. 1t
will be better to have things in order.
And what then?" said /, looking
at her in wonder.
am going to Guthrie Falls 10
live, l suppose"
| did not ask her how much she
knew. What did it matter2 She was
to be sacrificed; that was the main
thing. Her father had pleaded with
her, and her love for him had done
the rest.
We'll, what could | do but see Ben,
witness his passion and despair, send
for the very seamstress who had been
already engaged for preparing Lind
sey's outfit, and arrange everything
for the wedding2
Guthrie had the wisdom not to
force his attentions on Lindsey. He
seldom visited the Colonel, either.
He seemed quite willing to keep out of
sight Of the misery he had eonsum-
mated.
But on the morning of the wedding
he came and presented Lindsey with
a deed of his splendid home at Guth-
rio Falls. ggaal-HAH
In spite of the best medical care,
the Colonel had not yet left the house.
lie looked poorly enough There
were TO be no guests. Lindsey look
ed like lily. / was afraid she
would faint; but she made the res
ponse calmly and steadily. SIS .eel
The wedding ring was the most
magnificent diamond / ever saw. She
had sent Ben back mis- sapphire, kiss
ing it frst-and then burying, her
face in her hands.
The marriage service ended. Mr.
; Guthrie kissed his wife, and l kissed
her pale cheeks and lips, and held
her head for moment, not in con-
graduation, but out of the undying
| love Of my heart. Dear Aunt Man
n.y." she murmured, aud then turned
to her father. He put his arms about
her and held her to his breast. When
he released her, her face was quite
radiant.
She was to 60 to Guthrie Falls that
very night. a splendid sleigh, MIR.
Guthrio's, was brought to the door
Immediately after the service. | could
hear the bells jingling as wrapped
Lindsey up, In her chamber above.
It's a terrible cold night, and
growing colder, dearie," said. Il
wish it were not so far. But you
must keep we'll cuddled down under
the robes" taao- a ap tt
1 was about to fold crimson shawl
around her, under her cloak, but she
| put it aside. Tgosltl 80
said. -
She caught up little wadded
sacque of brown silk. -
This will be warmer, she added.
AT last she was we'll robcd from
head to foot. A cloak of superb
Russian sable enveloped her whole
figure. So she came down, was kissed
by her father. at the door, and handed
into the sleigh by Guthrie The air
stung my face like FIRE as I lcaped
from tho hall to look alter her. She
called her last good by and they were
off. There were only the two. Guth-
RE drove the splendid Black Hawk
horses. while Lindsey sat we'll shell
tered from the cutting blast. IS .8f
After making her comfortable, he
did not speak to her. He was pr0ba-
bly, busy with the prospects of his
marriage; he must have had expecta-
tons of some difficulty in perfecting
his happiness. lsA
On they glided. They had twelve
miles OF travel before them. 1t was
bitterly cold aud every moment grow
ing more so.
Guthrie showed signs of suffering,
at last; thrashed his arms across his
breast, and muttered that no was
chilled through. As the wind fell,
the cold became more intense, and he
finally settled into a position of stolId
endurence. @ heae
The horses travelled swiftly. The
houses, trees and fences glided swiftly
by-yet the white, crisp road stretch,
ed miles before them.
A numbness aud torpidity settled
upon Lindsey. Yet she did not suffer
much. and waited patiently for the
end.
il At length the horses wound smooth
ly about turn in the road, and she
heard their hoofs strike the bridge
Il just below Guthrie Falls. laAH
Are we most there?" she asked.
Her companion did not answer.
The sleigh whirled on-past a build
ing, and finally up an avenue Dat
of her muifiings she could see light.
i The horses made a turn and stopped
at door. h slg-ila
As the jingle of the sloigh-b bells
paused, the door few open, and man
came down the steps. +.
Fritz is away. sir; l will take the
horses" he said; ...s7l
Mr. Guthrie did not stir nor answer.
"Shall l help the lady, STRIP asked
the man, advancing to the sleigh.
No reply. s-1al5
The servant stepped forward and
held the lantern to his masters face,
while the horses impatiently pealed
their bells.
Good heayensl he is stone deadl'
1t was true Mr.Guthrie, exposed
by his driving. had frozen to death
beside his bride. They carried him,
stiff corpse, into the house.
And so ended the twentieth of
December. - -. 51l
Soon, very soon, We had Lindsey
among US again. Before the Spring,
the sapphire was backupon her hand
the diamond laid away. --.la
She was mistress of the magnificent
Guthrie estate. Guthrie had surely
intended to make her happy in bis