Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1875-01-28

: ture slipped in. For example, sup
l pose he should try to have one las
5 look at Charlotte Lilly, the lady o
: his love.
/ In a desperate frame of mind, h
walked right toward her house. HI
. entered at the gate and he rang the
, dOOrbell, and in Il few minutes liz
stood in her presence.
His words were wild. Upbraiding
} and despairing language fell from his
lips; and then he turned to leave her
She sprang and caught his arm, and
drew him around toward her again
And his eyes once more rested on
that fair form dressed for the wed
ding.
What did you say?" she said.
"That you love me? Do you wish to
marry me?"
He glared at her.
''Did you say so?" she repeated,
giving him slight shake, as though
to bring out his reply.
'I'll 60 shoot myself" he cried.
"Would you rather marry me?'
"What do you mean by asking that?
You torment me, Charlotte. Yes, it
was l you should have married."
swell, I'll marry you
He stared.
"This afternoon" she said.
He glared.
Sat five o'clock"
He stared and glared.
"In ST. Anne's Church. Yes,
know what you would say. Was l
about to marry him? No! | was
about to crush his heart. As | am
woman, he offered me an insult which
this will alone wipe out. Will you be
there"
"Bnt-"
He clenched his hand.
''No" she said, II will listen to
nothing. AS l have planned it, so it
must be done. Will you be there?"
"To take his place."
"Yes."
81 will"
Il
st. Anne's Church was filled that
afternoon with buzzing assembly of
people, young and old come to witness
the ceremony which was to unite
Charlotte Lilly to James Britner.
Carriage after carriage drove up at
the door, and deposited the relatives
and friends of the parties. A very
fine affair it promised to be. The
bridegroom stepped from his carriage,
and entering the church, walked up
the aisle to the altar, there, for the
first time since the day of his engage
ment, to look upon the bride--in ac
cordance with the arrangement upon
which she had insisted DIR. RigdOn
stood awaiting them. Charlotte pres
emily entered and took her place
DIR. Rigdon began to read the service.
Charlotte lifted her face to his, and
in a firm voice, interrupted him with
the words:
'This man came here expecting to
we'd me; but he is not the man whom
| will we'd
CHI
The ejaculation fell from the cler
gyman's lips, and he stared at her
over the book. Britner turned death
ly white. Tom Millet stepped forth
from among the people at the side of
the altar, and took his place at Char
lotte's side.
Proceed" he said, looking at the
clergyman. "There is the certifi
cate.p
"What does this mean?" asked the
minister
''Retribution," replied Charlotte, in
n tone of voice that reached the ears
Of the people who were standing near.
You preach, Sir, of retribution.
This is that of which you preach.
That man insulted me with words
no true wOman's nature could brook.
This is the result"
DIR. Rigdon turned to look at Brit
ner. The latter stood with his white
face turned to Charlotte. His mouth
was moving hysterically.
''It is that of which my soul proph
esied," fell from his lips in a low,
tone. "Let it be as she
says. Let the ceremony proceed"
"Her directions have your consent.
Mr.. Britner,' said the clergyman.
Il can see no obstacle to the progress
If the ceremony. You all know your
,wn affairs better than / do"
He went on with the ceremony,
md presently Tom Millet left the
church with Charlotte as his bride.
The proceeding occasioned much
ak, and not a little of the talk was
A year afterward Charlotte
that, had she thought of [
he consequence, she would have
chosen some other method; perhaps [
more Christian one. '
AS to Tom Millet, he expected to {
,e discharged by Mr.. Britner. In ,
tead thereof, his employer retained i
md promoted him. c