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

next and still no tldin9 from the absent
loyeE Mr. Uxbridge ca,ed at his home
and discovered that llc had, been seen
by any of his relatives since,he day he
wsnshorseback riding with Midred. 1T
lacked onedasy'ofaiwo when he eyounp
ladNreceiyerl tile following ;note:fs, bas
SDEAR hl1LDRED. lAVas takens sery
i'll Inc nightfI left your house. STOPPED
ii ii He 81 9th ia a Hotel ti und nave beea
here ever since, MOST of the time unconl
scigts An very mach better, and shall
seeE you Tomorrow
He Came looking very ill, and Mrs.
USbridge took himtright into her heart,
nhd5nursed him like one of her children.
During thctime' that interviewed between
this and the marriage, only little more
than Il three months, Mildred had several
times been called upon to wonder at the
strange absences of herlover His excuse
wns illness ON each occasion, and his hag-
gard face and woe-begone appearance
generally, testified toits worth. Mr.. Ux-
bridge feared the young man would be-
come o confirmed invalid; Mrs. u Uxbridge
was filed with gloomy forebodings, and
Mildred, bcreft other usual light-heart-
ness, prepared for tho wedding.
Sometimes | think Walter" said the
anxious mothcronc evening just before the
wedding, sor rather fear that Harry dissi-
pates at these times he is away. He will
notsconsept 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 l desire very
much that this marriage shall be post
poncd until come TO more thorough,
undertaking of the case" IF all the
women were like you wife, this world
would be purgatory," responded Mr..
|Il4bridgc, with his usual coarse, goodna-
tared laugh.
You torment yourself" he continued,
sand you Try to torment me. If you had
your way, Mildred would be a. 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 IL temperance lecture. Now
you've mounted new Pegasus, and l
suppose you'll ride him 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 repulscd, Mrs. Uxbridge knew
not what to do. She dared not whisper
IL word of her dreadful suspicion to her
daughter,anl there was no way Of posses
sing herself Of the information she stood
so much in need Of With heart al
most paralyzed, she watched the proposes
of events. Inexorablc old Time brought
the wedding day Mt last, and with grief
unutterablc, the fond mother parted with
her daughter for her wedding trip. Mr..
Uxbridge supcrintendcd the win, depart
ment, and champagne had sparkled in
fair hands, and far lips had pledged the
newly.weded pair in numbcrlcss toasts.
Harry Carleton touched not, tasted not.
"Now, my son. said Mr.. Usbridge
with great inpressment, 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.
"Iou will please excuse me-" STAN
I mcrrcd the ncw-made husband with q
painful blush. "Y'ou know 1 am not very
we'll, and champagne does not agree with
me-"
"All right" replied Mr.. Uxbridgc.
"You and my wife will do to go to-
gether; but Pm not sure but two temper
ancc advocates in one family will be too
much for me-
The wedding journey came to all end,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Harry Carleton went
to housekeeping in their own pleasant
home, and for awhile everything went on
smoothly, and the heart of the mother
grew light. Six months of delightful
|