Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-11-20

anu eApcoll'IS W be "ailcu uoWh u
meet him; as the moments went b
and no message came, her anxietie
increased 1t was certainly yer,
strange that he had not arrived. II,
was the very soul Of punctuality-sl
ways sure to appear at the precise mo
ment appointed.
Presently people began to come int
the room; aunts and cousins, ant
particular friends; and there wa
much chattering over the bride ant
her dress.
Edith put the questions: "Ha'
Dick come ?" "IIavc you seen Mr.
Strong?' until she grew ashamed to
repeat them, and her companion.
laughed at her for her seemingly need
less anxiety. AT eight o'clock he
mother rejoined her, gorgeous in blue
velvet and dimonds.
"Well, Edith, the hour has come "
"Bnt not the man." added one o
the gay girls, laughingly.
as not Mr.. Strong here yet?" ask
ed Mrs. Weldon, in surprise.
81 think not"
"That is strange" she replied, look.
ing Enthusiastically annoyed. "But
don't turn so pale, Edith, dear, he
must be here, or come directly; | vii
90 and see about it..
She kissed her daughter tenderly
and went down stairs. In the Ii
brary were her husband and severa
gentlemen. Mr.. Weldon came for
ward to his wife.
1T is a liltle strange, Mary; it i.
five minutes past eight, and Strong is
not here, Can any of his friends ex
plain his'detention ?"
Just then the door opened, and
among the select few was admitted
Charlie Strong,..a city man and a cous
in of Dicks
"Ah, Charlie! ! is Dick with you 2
asked Mr.. Weldon.
"Dick! No! Isn't he here?'
mo"
"Why, that is very odd 1 left hin
an hour ago on his way here.,'
Son his way! Was he drivlng?"
"No. You know what queer fel.
low Dick is. wanted to send for 9
carriage; but he said that was all non.
sense for such short distance, and in
smite of my objections, he put on an
old sumner 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 characteristic reply that Looks
aren't everything"
"And how far did your come to-
gether ?"
"To fourteenth street; there turn
ed off to Irving Place, and he started
up Broadway"
The disappearance Of the bride
groom was rendered more mysterious
by this statement. There seemed
absolutely nothing to do but wait fer
his arrival as patiently as possible
and as people began to pour in, the
time for the reception having come,
Mrs. Weldon received them with what
self-posscssion she could, not telling
them to go away, since at any mo
ment the missing man might appear,
and the ceremony proceed. The com
pany was very dreary, however every
one knew what had happened, gayety
was out of the question, and the only
amusement was to rush to the door
ofthe hall every time any one came,
in hopes of seeing the pleasant brown
face of Dick Strong.
Charlie Strong went down to the
hotel on the chance that for some in
explicable cause Dick had returned
there. No, he had not been seen.
Mr.. Strong next inquired of the police
man along the route if any one had
been taken suddenly i'll, as this sup,
position had occurred as a possible
explanation OF Dicks absence his
splendid health rendering it rather an
absurd one. No, nothing unusual had
happened except that there had been
fire on Broadway and great crowd.
This vas 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, look
ing like a pale and stricken flower;
her bridesmaids and friends were
gathered around her, doing what they
could to cheer her; but she grew
LnooIo,.1,, col Tho bours oc <ho