The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-08-30

Where had the money gone? Hard
~ upon herself, since, although always
elegantly alfred, in obedience to Fash
ions latest mandate, this debt excess
was Too absurdly large to be answered
for On the ground of personal expendi-
ture. But little investigation show
cd. 1t was found that this money had
been expended for laces, silks, jewelry,
ETC., which were lavished with an i'm
perial hand as presents upon her young
friends.
This was certainly little eccentric,
and quite enough to cause the eyebrow
to raise. Beautiful young ladies do
not generally run their fathers into
debt simply to give away indiscrimi-
nately costly gifts. But something
more strange was yet to come. The
debts were paid by the father, and the
current of events drifted along toward
the most remarkable feature of this re-
markable woman's life.
As we have intimated, and as may
naturally be supposed, Miss Nellie was
the brilliant centre of a large circle of
people of the best class in that vicinity.
SO that when, shortly after, each and
all of them received an invitation to
the marriage of that young lady, you
may be sure it created some little stir
of excitement. In the first place, it
was so entirely unexpected that it al
most took away the peoples breath
and secondly, what caused the most
surprise was, that the happy man had
not been selected from the large num-
Der of country gallants of wealth and
fposition who constantly surrounded
her, but was Mr.. Williamson, of the
city, who was but casual visitor, and
whose matrimonial attentions had not
! been suspected in the least. 1t ap-
pears, also, that he had been so indis-
Greet and impolite as not even to have
spoken to- Mr. Nugent about it, and
knowing the character of that old-time
gentleman, We are somewhat surprised
that the marriage was allowed to go
on, did we not also know that whatev-
er his daughter Nellie had set her
heart upon accomplishing she could
most certainly do, especially where
the fathers consent was only to be
gained.
Well. at length the suspicious hour
rolled round, and all the liz sd.siaa guests
assembled at the Nugent mansion 4,
witness tire marriage. of the beauty.
Great preparations had been made for
the event. Mr.. Nugent was determin-
, ed that the daughter who was queen Of
his heart should be mated in regal
manner. Never had the young girl
looked so lovely, as did the bride, seat
ed in her satin and lace with her at
tendant maids about her, and waiting,
= with the love-light in her eyes, for the
happy groom. 1t was now nearly the
hour for the ceremony, aud still he haC
= not come. "Where is Mr.. williamson
aud, "Why don't he come? 2" Were
= now frequently asked by those who
were present. The honr at which thu
; nuptial knot was to have been tiei
, struck with ( dismal clang, and yet u,
: bridegroom. ~9ke minister was there
with the book and gown, the guest
were there, the beautiful bride wa
E there and everything was waiting fo
the appearance of the tardy gentlemal
from the city. The fathers brow be
- gan to da ken, and ths BRIDES cheek
. to turn pale. Another dismal hou
wore away, and It's death knell wa
- tolled by the clock, and still no groom
;s Another hour, and still no groom
= POSSIBLY he may have met and an &C
! cident; let messengers be sent" An
n the messengers were sent in haste
. while the guests sat in silence, and TIL
# bride, now thoroughly convinced tina
-, her lover was,false, raved and sobbe
a like one mad. The minutes few ava
:, on wings of lead until the messenger
~ returned, who, instead of bringin
with them Mr.. Williamson, or announc
-, ing at once some reasonable cause fc
~ his non-appearance, beckoned til
ID father nssteriously apart, and whis
=, pered in his ear. The news could NJ
. be kept secret. and in a moment
- W.. Known Mr.. Williamson had NJ
-. ss.tracted the marriage, and kne
nothing about 1t. Slowly and sadl.
az as from.a funeral, the guests departe'
i glancing askantly at the bride, wi
~ sat weeping before them, and shakiu
~ their heads significantly.
is This was certainly the maddest frea
that it is possible for a young lady
commit, and the incident reads like
L..-,~snapter from Mrs. Southworth. Subs
:" quent investigation showed concl1
~ sively that the marriage had not Il
slightest foundation, so far as any il
'0' tention of Mr.. Williamson was CO.
20 cerned, and taking this tact into CO.
N sideration, it is not strange that pc
:" ME now began to sneak mysterious