The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-08-21
FIVE YEARS.

- e.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK,
Il was the day Of my marriage. A.
brilliant day, filed with tho bloom
Of flowers and the caroling Of birds. I
awoke with the notes Of 4 robin in my
car. As tho soft: strain pierced the
thin veil Of morning slumber I felt .
pang.. What was itl I awoke thor
oughly, and realized what it vas.
About the room we're scattered various
articles which were to form a part Of
my new wardrobe. A gray silk shim..
mered in the sunshine. A large trunk
stood open, revealing glimpses Of linen
and lace. I spr,ng ont ot bed With !
confused sense Of gathering excitement,
Il was now six o o'clock. At six in tho
afternoon l w.s to be married. Our
arrangements were completed, and at
sunset We should be on our way to my
new home for the next Eve yesrs-the
strange Oriental country which all my
life had been = subject Of fascinated
speculation with me. Mr.. Ayre would
have returned long before, but for his
engagement to me ). and our wedding
day had been .hsstened to meet the ex.
igencies Of the time which we're urgent,
news having been received some time
previous that Mr.. CArle, the partner at
Canton, was iu~ the most precarious
health. =
L was standing by the door consult
ing with Liz about some matter of dress
on that momeotous day, not long after
I had risen, when MI. Ayre suddenly
appeared, holding an open letter in his
hand. His eountsnanoe was grave and
preoccupied q he said:
"Carle is dead It is ..p,oyidential
that ( had arranged to: s.il il. this
steamer: l must have gone ID ,pit. Il
every thing, somehow"
The psng at my heart came again,,
Moro and more I was waking up 10
reality. A fearful fate seemed closing
about me from which there was no es.
cape. Why had I invited it, Why
left to myself to make this choice Of
isolation ? Had I been madl At least
I felt SO now. My pulses were beating
with heavy tbrobs, my brain. whirled.
Mechanically I went through my pre-.
pafations. Morning ran to noon, aud
noon to night. I suppose in all these
hours l talked, and answered questions
much as usual, but I felt in q horrible
feverish dream. Thus I found myself
standing beside Jhorburn Ayre, and
heard the piping Of the bride, while
the sun streamed through the blind
bars, and soft >odors of summer waited
in, while farther than all these seemed
the voice that was sealing my fate.
"What God has joined together let
no man put asunder." - !;
I listened to these words, and knew
what they meant. l listened to tho
words that followed; congratulations
and greetings. I felt kisses upon my
brow, my cheeks, my lips l.; but the fear.
ful spell did not break till I entered
my room to change my bridal garments.
Liz vas there pale and watohful Of me.
I was crimson with fever. Al I met
her eyes, as breathed the quietness
Of that chamber, never more to be mine,
the FIRE burst forth. In : passion Of
tears and sobs I cried
"Oh. Wy did I DO thi.l Why did
I marry him !. do not love him. |
hate him; and { can not, oh, I can not
60 from you al With him! T do not
know him, I am too. young. I am
frightened to death! Oh Liz, Liz! my
grandmother has done it.: not 1: I
have been in 4 dream !"
As I said this wildly and bitterly, :
aeod'tide seemed to mount up from my
heart to my brain -; my pulses throbbed,
= lava stream poured through every
vein: - Then oil sensation stopped.
Where was 1 !? Darkness and confusion
had. settled upon me. ssss
+; Iopeusd my eyes. IN NY ".1.' I. T.
aIs that you, Liz ~. ssss.;* .a:s,z~
'.Ob, Kate !" And Lis, I saw, was
crying. @::s#sssasSs-. =rzs ~~<& E..~.
~ Hooked .bout me. I vas lying up.
on the bed in our. little room, and there
was an odor Of oamphor. u; I +
j.. '.What Is it, Lizi What has happen.
ed r i. !. .....5 s........>>ss., j.
Il She told me that I had hllsn down
insensible the day Of ny wsddisg.
my wedding. day When was it,
Liz I" d. z*s. :<sz.s.ssls.ssss@,s@.. 4.
"It is July nov, Kate" And she
bent and kissed me. z:..sz .55s=: ! /
July! My vedding-day was ID May.
! wonder whore xas Mr.. Agony
husband. ! said, family:
'sTell me all about It, Lis"
And she told me. had fallen 10.
sensible = / stood speaking 70 her.
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