The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-04-21

up her MIND that she knew what was
best for Lizzie, and she did not mean
to let her plans fail.
And Robert Was he ignorant Of the
state OF things? He might have seen,
but he would not lie heard il said that
Lizzie loved Mark Boynton, and he
would not believe IL. Had he not loved
her all her life as no young man couldp
Had he not right 10 herP He had
missed happiness once, and now il was
again within his grasp, who should say
that he ought 10 give IL upP Lizzie
would be happy. She loved him al
ready: she would love wholly when she
was his wife. That other was but n
passing fancy. He shut his eyes 20 the
evidence Of her pale and sorrowful face,
silenced all inward circumstances, and
held his way.
The preparations for the marriage
were rather hurried forward, for Mrs.
Ezra thought the sooner il was over the
better. Lizzie made no objection. Since
il was 10 be, all times were alike 10 her.
The day for the wedding was fixed, aud
they only waited for the regular three
weeks .publishmcnt,n one of the legal
forms essential in those days. There
were To be .'criedn for the first time on
that pleasant Sunday afternoon on which
this story opens. And Mr.. Bcaman,
whose duty IL was To perform that Of
flee, stood mp before the congregation
and published the banns of marriage
between Elizabeth Heath and Mark
Bovnton! No wonder the people were
thunderstrnck, and that they moved in
silent amazement out Of the church.
But once the crowd was fairly out
side the sacred cdiiice, comment and
question were free. Mr.. Beaman was
beset by inquiries. Ezra Jocelyn was
there, angrily accusing him of wanton-
ly insulting his daughter and his broth
er. The poor man was completely be-
wiidered. He did not understand that
any thing was wrong. lie had been
called upon by Robert Jocelyn 10 pub
lish the intention of marriage between
himself and Lizzie Heath, and he had
done il.
"Why, man alivei" exclaimed by
standor, :" IL was not Robert Jocelyn's
name that you called. but Mark Boyn-
TONS
The unlucky clerk could not believe
it possible that he had made such mis-
take until the reiterated assertions of
all his neighbors convinced him. lie
could only explain it by the fact that
he had thought good deal Of the pc
culiar circumstances of the case--hc
had heard, he said, the women folks
talking il Overland had pitied the adj
verse fate of the two young people
crossed in love; and he must have had
Mark Boynton so much in his mind that
he had spoken the latter's name uncon-
sciously. A fine connection his blum
der had raised.
Mrs. Jocelyn, with flushed and an
CRY face, took Lizzie's arm and hurried
her away. She believed the whole
thing was trick Of Marks; and she
suspected that Lizzie might be priyy 10
it. But she prudenty repressed her
anger Hntil they reached home, and
there Lizzie quickly escaped to her own
room and locked herself in so the good
woman's lecture had 10 be postponed.
As for Mark Boynton, the last sylla-
BILE of the benediction was hardly spok-
en- before he was out Of the house. Gu
rious eyes followed him, but no one had
time to speak TO him, for he quickly
sprang over a stile leading from the
churchyard to a foot path across the
fields, and disappeared in the wood be-
yond.
But doubtless the saddcst, the most
plying sympathy of the crowd went
after Robert Jocelyn, as, with face
white and immovable as that of the
dead, he moved through the throng,
which divided TO let him pass, and
walked away 10 his home. He sat down
by the open window through which the
pensive autumn sunshine streamed in
warm and sweet, and burying his face in
his hands, remained a long time lost in
gloomy thought Bitter memories
crowded thick upon him. The struggle
in his soul was a cruel one, but il was
the better part of him which conquered.
After long time he lifted his head, and
drawing out his watch, took from the
inner part of the old fashioned silver
case lock Of hair, faded now, but once
bright warm brown Over il lay a
little watch-papcr, on which was paint
ed in water-colors a wreath Of forget
me-nots encircling two clasping hands.
Underneath the whole was the name
"Phmbe." He gazed at these treas
ures long and steadily, while the hard
look Of suffering went out Of his face,
aud his eyes grew tender and moist
with tears. lie leaned his elbow on the
window sill and looked out across the
happy autumn fields to the churchyard
where for so many years poor Phmbe had
rested from her sorrows. Then his eye
went on to his brothers house, from the
door Of which he presently saw little
Lizzie pass out and the path to the
orchard. At sight of her his lip quiv-
cred slightly; he heavcd one great sigh,
and then said, as II summon.ng strength
IL IL. u 4 :.