The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-01-13

come = Have you SC n Mr. Strong ?"
until she grew ashamed to repent them,
aud her companions laughed at her for
her seemingly needless anxiety. At
eight O'Clock her mother rojoined her,
gorgeous ia blue velvet and diamonds.
Well, Edith, the hour has come"
But not the mnn, ;" added one of the
gay girls, laughingly.
" Is not Mr.. Strong here yet p ask
ed Mrs. Weldon, in surprise
3" think not"
That is strange" she replied. look
ing Enthusiastically annoyed. But dent
turn So pale, Edith, dear, he must be
here, Or come dnectly; will 20 and
see about IT,"
She kissed her daughter tonderly,
and went down stairs. In the library
werJ her husband and several gentle.
men Mr.. Weldon came forward to his
wife.
4" 1t is littlc strange, Mary, it is five
minutes past eight, and Strong is not
here"
"Cau any of his friends explain his de
teniion ?"
just then the door opened, aud among
the select few was admitted Charlie
Strong, city man and a cousin of
Dicks.
" All, Charlie is d, * with you ?'
asked Mr.. Weldon.
Dick 3! No Isn't he here 2"
No"
Why, that is very odd I loft him
an hour ago on his way here
"On his way! Was he driving"
mo. You know what a queer fellow
Dick is. wanted to send Tor car.
riago but ho said that was all nonsense
for such a short distance and in spite
OF my objections, he put on an old SUN
mer overcoat to cover his evening dress,
aud started to walk here with me. |
told him he did not look much like a
bridegroom to which he gave the char.
acteristic reply, that " Looks aren't
everything"
And how far did you come
together 2"
To Fourteenth street there turn.
cd of 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
began to pour in, the time for the re
ception having come, Mrs Weldon, re
ceivod them with what solf.possession
she could, not telling them to 20 away,
since at auy moment the missing man
might appear, aud the ceremony pro
coed. The company was very dreary,
however; everyone knew what had hap
pened, gaiety was out of the question,
and the onl amusement was to rash 10
the door Of the hall every time anyone
came, in hopes of seeing the pleasant
brown face Of Dick Strong.
Charley Strong went down to the
hotel on the chance that for some mex
plicable cause Dick had returned there
No, he had not been seen. MIR. Strong
next inquired of the policemen along the
goute If anyone had been taken suddenly
i'll, as this suppositlon had occurred as
a possible explanation of Dicks absence
his splendid health rendered il rather
an absurd one. No, nothing unusual
had happened, except that there had
been fire on Broadway aud 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 room looking
like a pale and stricken flower; her
bridesmaids aud friends were gathered
around her doing what they could to
cheer her, but she grew hopelessly sad
The hours OF the we iding evening stole
" without any news of her lover. From
time TO time when there was the hustle
of an arrival below, Que Of the girls
looked out to sec if Mr. Strong had
come, but each time only to return with
fresh disappointment, so that in the
bridaI-room, as well as in the parlor,
there was gloom aud anxiety.
And now to tell of the man who had
so strangely disappeared When be
parted from his cousin, Dick, as Char.
lie had said, went straight up Broad
way, which was the nearest road to Mr..
Weldon's home Oh West Twenty sixth
Street. When he had passed Union
Square, he saw that quite n cowd of
people was assembled ia front of one of
the stores, from the upper windows of
which smoke was issuing Nothoughts of
turning aside to avoid the throng occur.
red to Mr.. Strong's mind; no, he was
broad shoulderod and powerful, and he
began to push the throug, elbowing
right and left, and hurrying ON at little
less than his usual brisk pace. He had
proceeded in this way, getting good
many angry looks, and some very un.
complimentary remarks, to which he
had paid no manner of heed until he
had reached point where the crush
was densest. Here he was jostlod about
somewhat rudely, in spite of his endeav.
ors to forge ahead unchecked He bo
gan to feel little angry at what seemed
tue unnecessary amount of hustling he
received, aud was pushing on rather
unceremouiously when he was suddenly
graspei by man, fully as powerful as
himself, who cried out-"You have got
my watch Police ! Police Stop thief!
Police p
The man roored out the, words in
voice that rang above all the murmurs
OF the crowd, aud Dick in fury of rage
turned upon him like tiger.