Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1874-04-02

ncxt,an stillsno tidingsfr the absent
loveE Mr.. fUxbridge cased at his home
and discovered thntille fadn,t been seen
by my of his relatives sinceshe day he
wsns horseback riding with Nlidred. 1t
lackERd one day ofalweek when he young
lady dYreceiverlthe following note: NJ i,ft
assD DEAR MILDRED !: IiiWas takenAs sery
IL u q affse night 4 left your house. stopAed
at tile 9th Ave. Hotel, and have bee,
here ever since, MOST of the time uncon1a
scigNs! Am very much better, and shall
see!yyos, tomorrow a :
Iio came looking very i'll, and Mrs.
USbridgetooki himeright into her heart,
and ,nursed him like one other children.
During thctime that -interyenedbetwee
this and the marriage, onlya little more
than three months, Mildred had several
times been called upon to wonder at the
strange absences of her lover His excuse
wnsillness ON each occasion, and his iag-
gard f,ce and woe-begone appearance
generally, testified toits worth. Mr.. Ux-
bridge feared the young man would be-
COME a confirmed invalid; Mrs. Uxbridge
was filed with gloomy forebodings, and
Mildred, bereft Of her usual light-heart-
ness, prepared for tho wedding.
Sometimes L think Walter" said the
anxious mother one evening just before the
wedding, 'or rather fear that II AIRY dissi-
pates at these times he is away. He will
moi, consent to see our physician; declares
there is nothing especially the matter,
and still can't sec that he improves in
the least. / am free to confess that my
confidence is shaken, and / desire very
much that this marriage shall be post,
|poncd until | come TO n more thorough
understading ofthe case" IF all the
women were like you wife. this world
would be II purgatory," responded Mr..
|su4bridgc, with his usual coarse, goodna-
/ |slared y laugh.
\" You torment yourself" lie continued,
"and YOU Try to torment me. If you had
your way, Mildred would be Al old maid,
| should live on bread and butter, and
weak tea. and When my friends came to
sec me, they would be treated to glass
OF water and temperance lecture Now
you've mounted II new Pegasus, and
suppose you'll ride linn till he is played
out, and then hunt up something else.
Let the young folks alone, and don't
bother your head any more"
Thus rcpulscd, Mrs. Uxbridgc knew
not what to do. She dared not whisper
Il word of her dreadful suspicion to her
daughter,and there was no way of posses
sing herself of the information she stood
so much in need Of With heart al
most parayzcd, she watched the proposes
of events. Inexorable old Time brought
the wedding day ut last, and with grief
unuttcrablc, the fond mother parted with
her daughter for her wedding trip. Mr..
uxbridge superintendent the win. depart
ment, and champagne had sparkled in
fair hands, and far lips had pledged the
newly ly'wedcd pair in numbcrlcss toasts.
Harry Carleton touched not, tasted not.
"Now, my son." said Mr.. Uxbridge
with great impressment, passing him q
glass of wine with his own hands, Here's
toyou and yours, yours and mine! drink,
man." as the young gentleman made no
motion to touch his lips to the sciantillat-
ing beverage.
you will please excuse me-" stam-
nicrrcd the ncw-made husband with q
painful blush. you know / am not very
well. and champagne does not agree with
me-"
"All right" replied Mr.. Uxbridgc.
"Gou and my wife will do to 60 to-
gcther; but Pm not sure but two temper
ancc advocates in one family will be too
much for me-"
The wedding journey came to an end,
and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Carleton went
to housekeeping in their own pleasant
home, and for awhile everything went oil
smoothly, and the heart of the mother
grew light. Six months of delightful
pf, m IL, &,>l