The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-03-26
Ioriginal.
oR.KNEK, ~
7oR THE 10
FORTUNES OF JULIET CLAYBURN.
CONTINUED,

20
CONTINUED.
The bride stood before the mirror
fully arrayed. Itsihard proportions re-
the human sight. There she stood, in
her rich satin, her diamonds, her heeoy
flowing veil, her gossamer lace, and the
white orange-fowers, wreathed in her
yellow hair, looking moro like an angelic
visitant from another sphere, thon any
thing mortal and earthly. There stood
the fair bride, we Bay, and below stairs,
in the drawing-room, stood the reverend
clergyman who was to perform the cere-
mony. The bride, the clergyman, the
father who was to give the bride away,
the invited guests, who we're assembled
to witness the ceremony, all were ready,
but where in the meantime was the
bridegroom?
Rudolph entered the back door, dis
tress depicted on his countenanoe. The
evening train was belated-this day Of
all the days in the yearl
1t was rumored some dreadful accident
had occurred.
Rudolph returned Immediately to the
depot. to wait the arrival of the train,
and to bring Karl up at the earliest mo-
ment. There was q long discussion as to
who would acquaint the gentle girl up
stairs with this unfortunate state of
things. Every one shrank from the task.
At last, Mr.. Olayburn nerved himself to
discharge duty, which, however disa-
greeable, was undoubtedly more incum-
bent upon him than any other.
Mademoiselle was with Juliet.
eve heard the bridegroom coming
up stairs" said Mademoiselle, smiling.
els he well, fsther?" asked Juliet,
clasping bracelet ''aud does he seem
much fatigued from the journeyP"
He broke the truth to her as gently as
possible. She trembled violently
vestige of color deserted her face, and in
shuddering accents she said:
Father, perhaps my bridegroom has
been crushed to death, and is now cold
corpse!"
At 10 o'clock, Mr.. Clayburn took the
minister aside, and having spoken q few
words to him, Mr.. Wainwright an
nounced to the few assembled guests,
that on account OF the detention of the
train, on which Professor Won Open
helm was expected, the happy event, for
whose celebration they had met, was
necessarily postponed, to more auspi-
cious occasion.
About IL o'clock, Rudolph returned
tIou VIC uepoL. hlchREQ InurlOW and
his wife were sitting together in the par
lor; the other members of the family
were above stairs with Juliet.
whats the news?" exclaimed Rich
ard, springing up at the sight of their
nephew.
Rudolph's face was white, even to his
lips.
"The train has arrived" he said, ''but
Uncle Karl was not aboard. He's among
the casualties-seriously injured, it is
said. The mail agent brings word for
me to come to him Immediately"
Dreadful! dreadful!" cried Mrs.
Richard, "Where did the collision hap
pen?"
"Just above Grove Station. Will you
tell Julie? I cannot. I must try to rest
little, for I start to him on the o'clock
O. m. train"
eyes, will go up and try to comfort
the poor darling" and the warm hearted
little woman arose and left the room.
Thus ended Juliet Clayburn's wedding
day.
CHAPTER XIV-FALsE!
Falser than all fancy fathoms; falser
than oil songs have esung.-Tennyson.
Rudolph remained with his uncle some
time. He returned to Ashburn alone.