Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-09-04


and decorated with the cross of St.
George, having obtained leave of alb
sence for several months, took up ais
residence upon his estate, which all
joined Marie's present abode. The
young girl received him with far more
favor than she had hitherto shown to
any OF her visitors. They resembled
each other in many respects; both were
handsome, Intelligent, taciturn and
reserved. There was something mys-
terious about Wurmin, which reused
the curiosity and interest of Marie.
His affection for her was soon unmis-
taxable; he showed her every conceiv-
able attention but why did he never
speak of love, though his dark ardent
eyes would rest upon hers half dream
lily, half with an expression that seem
ed to announce an early and positive
declaration2 Already the neighbors
spoke of their marriage as a settled
matter, and mother Petrowna was more
than happy at the thought of her
daughters finding worthy husband
at last.
Ona morning when the latter was
sitting in the parlor, Wurmin entered
and asked for Marie.
"She is in the garden, answered her
mother. "You will find my daughter
there if you would like to see her."
The young officer hastily walked out
into the garden.
Petrowna crossed herself murmuring;
"God be praised To-day [ trust his
visit will have some result.7'
Wurmin found his beloved, clad in
white, sitting under tree by the side
of the pond, a book upon her lap, like
a heroine of romance. The usual salu-
tations over, Wurmin who was strange
ly agitated, told her how he had long
yearned to pour out his heart before
her. and begged that she would listen
to him q few moments She closed her
book, and nodded in token of assent
4" [ love you,n said Wurmin, 81 love
you passionateIy."
Marie cast down her eyes.
'I have been imprudent enough to
see you, to hear you-daily. 1t is now
too lateto escape my fate The thought
of your lovely face, of your sweet voice,
will hencefofth constitute the Joy and
the angus h of my existence. But |
have a duy to preform towards you :
I must re1 cal TO you secret, which
has placed an irsurmountable barrier
between us.
"That barrier" murmured Marie,
" existed always-I could never have
become yours"
"I know, replied Wurmin, in sup
pressed voice, " thatyou have loved be
fore; but death-three long years of
mourning-dearest Marie, do not de-
prive me of my last comfort, of the
blissful thought that you might be
come mine, if"
"Cease, I conjure you! You rend
my heart !"
eyes, you will grant me the comic IT
of knowing that you would have be-
come mine; but, most wretched OF
men that ami am already married y
Marie gazed up at him with look OF
astOnishment.
eyes, married for four years." con
tinued the lieutenant, ''and I do not
know either who my wife is, where she
is, or whet er [ shall ever meet her. D
"Explain yourself more clearly, y
said the girl.
"I love you Marie, aud will confde
in you. You shall know all, and you
will not judge too severely an act OF
youthful levitv. 1t was in the year
1872. [ happened to be on the way to
Wilma, with the intention of joining my
regiment. Late Ill the evening /
reached station, and had already or
dered that horses should instantly be
put to again, when fierce snow storm
suddenly arose. My landlord and the
post1llion urgently advised me to post
pone my departure but [ was deter
mined to go in spite of the rough
weather. The postillion had got it in
to his head, that by Gro ssing a small
river, the banks of which were perfectly
we'll known to him, he should find a
shorter route. He missed the right
crossing, however, and got into re-
glon to which he was entire stranger.
The storm continued to rage; at length
we deserted light in the distance. We
made for it, and stopped before q
church, from the brightly illuminated
windows of which the light shone. The
door was open, three sleighs were in
front of it, and [ saw several persons
in the vestibule One Of them called to
me: This way this way I got out
and walked toward the vestlbule.
"The person who had called advanced
toward me.
'EEGreat Heaven he said, chow
late you come Your intended bas
an4 we were on the very point
of driving home again.
"Half bewildered and half-amused,
resolved to let the adventure take its
course. And, indeed, had little time
for reelection. My friends tugged me
into the interior If the church, which
was poorly lighted by two or three
lamps. A female was sitting upon a
bench in the shadow, while another
stood beside her and chafed her tenn
pies.
"At last! cried the latter. God
be praised that you have come My
poor mistress liked TO have died
''An aged priest emerged from be-
hind the altar, and asked: Can we
begin
''Begin, reverend father [ cried,
unadyisedly.
" They assisted the half unconscious
girl to rise; she appeared to be very
pretty. In fit OF I1npardonable, and
now quite incomprehensibIe Ievity, /
readily stepped with her to the altar.
Her maid and tho three gentlemen
present were so much busted with hel
as scarcely to throw a look at me- Be
sides the light in this part of The
churck was dim, and my head was
mutf1ed in the hood of my cloak.
g In q few minutes the nuptial cere-
mony was over, and the priest, accord
ing to custom, desired the newly mar
ried pair to embrace.
"My young wife turned her pale,
charming face toward me, and was
about to rest her head upon my shout
der with a sweet smile-when sudden
ly she stared at me as if turned into
stone, tottered, and with the cry of IT
is not he!' fell to the floor.
''All the furies of hell lashed me cut
of church. Before anyone could think
OF staying me [ had jumped into my
sleigh, seized the reins, and was beyond
the reeach of pursuit"
The Lieutenant was silent. Marie,
also, gazed in silence to the ground.