The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-05-19

.fance, and declared it was charming
plan, and he was delighted that sue had
Suggested it.
The day came, clear and cool, and
bright with sunshine All the miners
took q holiday, and washed themselves
by way of dressing up Some of the
more aristocratic among them, treated
themselves to clean shirts, and turned
their overalls inside out,so that the coat.
ing of mud might not be quite SO per-
ceptible.
A clergyman had been brought from
q town hundred miles away, and every
thing was propitious.
At ten o'clock, the bridal party, ,moun-
ted upon ponies, rode in upon the scene.
The bride was dressed in flowing robe
of crimson, with diamonds upon her bare
neck and arms. Her magnificent hair
was unbound, and here and there, amidst
its raven folds,sparkled the priceless ru-
bies which were thickly set in The golden
coronet which held back the hair from
her forehead.
Bretonne, handsome, suave, smiling,
stood by her side; and Col Lauderdaie,
a little in the background, waited to give
away the bride.
The miners,to the number of couple
of hundred, stood around, leaning
against the dark rocks, while overhead
the sun shone in cloudless sky, and at
their feet, THOUSAND feet below, thun-
dered the mountain stream over its rocky
bed.
The clergyman offered UP prayer.
and rising to his feet, advanced towsrd
the waiting and expectsnt pair.
But quickly between him and them
glided a tall figure, with an eye which
cleaned like fire, and face set and hard
as the everlasting mountains around
them. The miners uttered an invoun-
tary cry of surprise, for they all recog
nized Charlie King.
What was TO come next they need not
imagine.
Hold - said Charlie, in clear, firm
voice. Il forbid this marriage!'
'Wherefore!'' cried the clergyman,
sternly, while Bretonne's fair face flushed
with passion, and his hand involuntarily
sought his pistols.
Because the man is already married" /"
said King, slowly, and never removing
his flaming eyes from the face OF the
would-be groom.
at is lie!' thundered Major Bre
tonne, drawing his revolver, but those
who looked at him saw that his hand
tremb!ed, and his lips were ashy white.
'Silencev' said Charlie King, in n
voice which rang like steel, II have q
story to tell. Three years ago, in fair
New England town, that man." pointing
TO -
hearted girl named Llcy King. Sac was
the only child of an old father, who.
though poor, was of as proud race as
ever stepped on the Puritan soil of New
England. The man could not make her
his, as he desired to do, without marri-
age, for the girl. though a fool, as all
girls in love are, was pure ard chaste as
snow. He took her before q minister,
and there said the vows which made him
her husband"
"But the minister was no miniSter!'
cried Bretonne, savagely; che was only
a tool hired for the occasion!" $50 you
told me afterward," said King, and the
knowledge did not break my heart as it
did my fathers. 1t turned me into stone.
When you deserted me and my unborn
child, Luke Bretonne, I took VOW to
revenge my wrong. 1 followed you to
these wilds, that l might redeem that
vow For, my friends, I am Lucy King,
and | appeal to you all to decide the case
am I,or am not, in the sight of heaven,
Luke Bretonne's wife p
And from a hundred throats came the
cry, deep and strong:
"You are his wife! Let him deny it,
if he dares!'
With wild cry of rage, Bretonne
sprang upon the slight form of his ac-
cuser, and bore her toward the edge OF
the precipice.
The wronged woman flung herself
back, and grappled with him in deadly
struggle. Only for an instant did it last,
and before the astonished men around
could lift hand, Luke Bretonne had been
dashed over the precipce. A sharp, de.
spairing shout came hack, and then moth
ing was heard but the wild roar of the
torrent.
Lncy King stood on the dizzy brink,
and gazed downward with hard, dry
eyes. Then, half turning to the crowd,
she said:
Il have revenged my wrong, and now
I am going whittier he has gone. For
though his heart was black with villainy,
and the name of his crimes was legion,
loved him! Ilove him still"
They rushed toward her, but it was
too late! She had gone over the brink
There is little more to tell.
Miss Lauderdale bore herself like O
heroine, and if the truth must be told,
the colonel was not broken hearted at the
turn affairs had taken.
He carried his romantic daughter back
to Philadelphia, where she married O
stout, respectable iron-monger, and has
doubtless forgotten all about that start.
ling little episode at the Devils Canyon
1t is stated that over. $4,000 people
have been driven from their homes by
the Lower Mississippi food, and that il
will cost 1926 600 day to furnish them
with food alone.
Messrs R B Curtis and w NJ Ev-
arts have each furnished an elaborately
prepared opinion that the new railway
law of Wisconsin is unconstitutional
mainly because it takes the property o.
the roads without compensation.
AS an illustration of the immense re
sources of Texas, it is stated that Ont
breeder there boasts that he will have
Is 900 calves to brand this season. He
says that be branded $4,000 last year
and 10000 the year preceding.
An old Scotch lady had an evening
party where young man was presen
! who was about to leave for an appoint
ment in China. As he was exceedingly
extravagant in his conversation abou
himself, the old lady said when he wal
leaving: "Tak' gudc care O yoursel
when ye are ava for, mind ye, they ca
puppies in China!'