Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-04-27
THE MISSING BRIDE.
A cLERGYMAN's STORY.

Helen Hunter was the prettiest and
sweetest girl, to my thinking, that |
had ever seen, and she returne! my
love with an equal tenderness. | had
not known her many months when 1
put my engagement ring upon her lin
ger, and she promised to marry me a.
soon as was settled. More fortunate
than most young clergymen, had not
long to wait; and the day became pas
tor ut NJ, urged her to set the d.,
for our nuptials. and we were married
within month.
Never shall | forget the day upon
which brought her home, the delight
she expressed at the sight of our pictur-
esque garden, with its great trees and
the old disused well, picturesque sun
dial and the great ivy which overrun
the sides of the house and the low brick
wall that surrounded the enclosure.
Nothing should be disturbed, she said.
y few bright flowers should glow in
the beds. but otherwise the old garden
should remain intact.
We had been married a week when
we went out into the garden about twi-
light to plant the seeds she had brought
from her home. She knelt down beside
the box-edged borders and turned up
the dark mould with dainty little
trowel had given her for the purpose.
remember her dress. 1t was rich
dark silk, with CLEAN of garnet
through its prevailing shadow, and at
her throat and in her ears she wore a
set of rubies that were an heirloom in
her family. The costume accorded
well with her dark beauty, her velvet
eyes and crimson cheeks. No one
could have looked more charming. We
crouched close together OH the gravel.
| felt we must look like pair of silly
children tn the grim old servant, who
came to me with the announcement
that Donald Black was very bad i'll
deed, and wanted me-
ann afraid | obpyed the summons
less happily than ought
Il shall wait tea for you. if you are
ever 81 late, Edward" she said, as
lelt her to 60 int the house.
Having secured my hat and cane,
returned to the garden where Helen
WAS gathering sumo flowers from one
of the borders.
ill not be long, said; Il will
he ss,k to tea" and then with "a kiss |
left her.
Donald kept me we'll employed for
three hours. However, the old man
was by no means dangerously i'll. AS
hurried home. recalled with pleasure
the sight of his wife bending over him.
and thought how love lived on through
care and change, and how this aged
woman had once been agirlish bride
and Donald gay bridegroom, and how
1t WAS plain tn SEE that he could never
be TO her the uninteresting old creature
he WAS TO others, just because of TIE
old love between them. And then it
came to- me SD happily. So sweetly, that
if such hearts were So true, that If one
like my Helen could be truer still; and
that all life's ills would fall harmlessly
uaon me if | were to he loved as size
loved me now throughout my life. /
had dreaded old age "a little, but if we
were spared to each other, what was
there for me To fear? She would al
ways be beautiful to me, L always tn her.
The golden glasses of love would throw
glory over everything, and hallow
life for us.
With these thoughts | passed my
Threshold and looked into the parlor.
The tea-table was spread there. Her
chair and mine faced each other as usu-
al, but both were empty. There was
no one in the room. | waited a mo-
ment, standing before the fire, which,
in this spring weather, was acceptable,
and then, surprised that my wife did
not come To me, went up stairs in
search of her. She was not in her
loom, nor in any other. Perhaps she
was still in the garden.
hurried down stairs again, and pass
ed out at the back door
'Helen :" called: "IIelen ~
No voice replied. Was | foolish
enough to be alarmed? 1t seemed so.
| laughed at myself, and called still
louder, Helen Helen Helen - but
still no answer.
II know where you are, Helen" |
cried. ''Come out of your corner
come, Helen"
Still there was no answer
'-She Is in the Kitchen, - / said to my
self. iii find her there"
1 hurried up the path. My foot
struck something. I stopped. 1t was
az = saucer that had held the seeds.
..sr on Was the trowel she had been
..-ing when l left her. 1t was contrary
to Helen's habits to leave anything ly-
ing untidily about, and q vague alarm