The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-06-06

Mr.. Weldon came forward to his wife.
." 1t is little strange, Mary, it is five
minutes past eight, and Strong is not
here" ed. ~.E E.-
"Can any of his friends explain his
detention Z"
Just then the door opened and among
the select few wts admitted Charlie
Strong, Al city man and Il cousin of
Dicks.
"Ah, Charlie! is Dick with you Z"
asked Mr.. Weldon.
"Dick No! Isn't he here"
mo"
"Why, that is very odd l left him
an hour ago on his way here
"On his way! Was he drivingt'
"No. You know what queer fell
low Dick is. 1 wanted to send for q
carriage; but he said that was all nom
sense for such short distance, and in
spite of my objections, he put on an old
summer coat to cover his evening dress,
and started to walk here with me. l
told him he did not look much like a
bridegroom to which he gave the char
acteristic reply, that Looks aren't every
thing"
"And how far did you come together Z"
ITO Fourteenth st. there l turned
off to Irving Place, and he started up
Broadway"
The disappearance of the bridegroom
was rendered more mysterious by this
statement. There seemed absolutely
nothing to do but wait for his arrival as
patiently as possible and as people be-
gan to pour in, the time for the reception
having come, Mrs. Weldon received
them with what selt-possession she
could, not telling them to go away,
since. at any moment the missing man
might appear, and the ceremony pro-
ceed. The company was very dreary,
however; every one knew what had
happened, gaiety was out OF the ques-
ton, and the only amusement was to
rush to the docr of the hall every time
anyone came, i'll hopes of seeing the
pleasant brown face of Dick Strong.
Charlie Strong went down to the no.
tel on the chance that for some mex
plicable cause Dick had returned there.
No, he had not been seen. Mr.. Strong
next inquired of the policemen along the
route if any one had been taken sudden
ly i'll, as this supposition had occurred
as possible explanation of Dicks alb
sence--his splendid health rendered it
rather an absurd one. No, nothing un-
unusual had happened, except that there
had been a fire ON Broadway and a
great crowd. This was the news with
which the young gentleman came back
to the house, and the non-appearance of
the bridegroom seemed stranger than
ever.
Poor Edith sat in her rooms looking
like pale and stricken flower; her
bridesmaids and friends were gathered
around her doing what they could to
cheer her. but she grew hopelessly sad.
The hours of the wedding evening stole
by without any news of her lover. From
time to time when there was the hustle
of an arrival below, one of the girls
looked out to see if Mr.. Strong had
come, but each time only 10 return with
fresh disappointment, so that in the
bridal-room, as well as III the parlor,
there was a gloom and anxiety.
And now to tell of the man who had
so stangely disappeared. When he part
ed from his cousin, Dick, as Charlie had
said, went straight up Broadway, which
was the nearest road to Mr. Weldon's
home on West Twenty-sixth st. When
he had passed Union Square, he saw
that quite crowd of people was assem-
bled in front of one of the stores, from
the upper windows of which smoke was
issuing No thoughts of turning aside
to avoid the throng occurred to Mr..
Strsng's mind no, he was broad-shoul-
dered and powerful, and he began to
push the throng, elbowing right and
left, and hurrying on at little less
than his usual brisk pace. He had pro-
ceeded in this way, getting good many
angry looks, and some very uncompli-
mentary remarks to which he had paid
no manner of heed, until he had reach
ed point where the crush was densest
Here he was iostled about somewhat
rudely, in spite of his endeavors to force
ahead unchecked. He began to feel a
little angry at what seemed the unnec-
essary amount of hustling he received,
and was pushing on rather unceremoni-
ously when he was suddenly grasped by
man, fully as powerful as himself,
who cried out" You have got my
watch Police. Police Stop thief !!
Police -
The man roared out the words in a
voice that rang above all the murmurs
of the crowd, and Dick in fury of rage
turned on him like tiger:
"You Internal scoundrel, what do you
mean? Let me go. Let me go, say"
He struggled tiercely, but the man
who seized him by the shoulder had
him at disadvantage, and continued
to shout:
"Police! Help help! Stop thief"
In q moment three or four men had
hold of Mr. Strong, who had fought and
raved in his wrath and Indignation, and
then two policemen appeared on the
scene and summarily took him into GUS
tody.
"There you scamp-now we've got
you" cried the man in triumph.
Dick glared at him, almost speechless
with anger, though he managed to say
TO the policeman
You surely don't intend to take me
into custody on the charge of that ma
MAC z"
Indeed we do, my good man, and
you might as well come along peace
ably"
Now if there was one thing that more
than another Dick Strong despised, it
was any boasting of position, or family,
OF money. He had always declared
that people would know man was a
gentleman without any need of telling
them so," and that it wasn't any con-
sequence what man wore if he only
behaved himself" He had hattered
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