The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-06-15
THE MISSING BRIDEGROOM.

No; | don't like him. - FFts
John HammersleY's fist fell heavily
upon the table to give emphasis to the
brief sentence uttered in a loud tone.
Margaret, his niece and orphaned
charge from childhood, looked up ap-
pealingly. Then her voice, very sweet
and low, made answer. re. 81
al love him. -
"More's the pity" growled her un-
Gle. "Why can't you love some one
else?n
=. just shy smile, with lurking of
fun in it, for an answer to this ques-
ton. -
"Here's VIII Hall been courting you
ever since You were baby; and Marx
Halstead would give his eyes for you;
both smart young sailors. No; you
must turn up Your nose at them, and
fall in love with nobody knows who"
81 though he told you he was jun
iOr partner in a wholesale house. F"
"Told mel" was the contemptuous
reply; $50 he did. And you love him?
Now, here you've lived all your life on
the sea-coast, amongst strong men, and
you set your heart on a pretty curly
headed doll, with. hands Ike girls"
He's tall and strong, and manly,
too,n urged Margaret; 81 he does not
know any thing about boat or a ship,
and his work does not require tarred
hands and coarse clothes; but he is not
efleminate, uncle. b. z Et.1H ~
Humph! VIII Hall is a man fit to
marry a saiiOrAs sdaughter; mate of n
fine vessel; and making money. 1t is
rough to see him thrown overboard for
chap more of US had ever seen six
months ago. ! wish he had drowned
before he came TO Brashaw to tHIn your
head" RI G ..'a re-. III ...iIf' d
"Uncle,'' Margaret said very earn
estly, If Harry Craige had never come
TO Brashaw, il would have made no diff
ference in my answer to Will Hall l
would not marry him, if l had never
seen Harry" -. --.--
A dark, evil face that had been press
ed close TO the closed blinds of the room
where this conversation took place was
lifted here for a moment, and a clench=
ed fist was shaken into tie air.
"Bah! If you had never seen Harry
Craige, yeu would have married Hal
when he asked you six months ago. If
your fine beau vas to go home again,
you woulds forget him in six months,
and marry Will, like a sensible girl. ?
Margaret'S low-spoken but sensible
reply, "Never!" Yaslost in the snap
of the garden-gate. suddenly closed, ,and
the rap on the cottage door
The listener skunk around the corner
of the house, and sped away. But the
visitor entered the cottage, and greeted
uncle and niece. A tall, handsome
man, with a very frank expression.
Though Uncle John growled ard fum-
ed, Margaret was the very darling of
his heart, and he could never seriously
oppose any wish of hers. SO, while the
evil-faced man who had listened at the
window sped over the fields, Harry
Craige pressed his siit till John Ham
mersly was won TO give his consent to a
marriage that was really a worldly ad-
vantage 10 his niece.
Consent once gained, Harry pleaded
hard for speedy wedding. So the
bans were published, and the guests in
vited. NJ
Marx Halstead, a second cousin of
Margaret's, with sad and disappoint-
ed heart, consented to be groomsman,
but Hall kept aloof, though he met
Harry often, and gave him a grudging
civility.
The wedding-day came, and the
cottage was decorated for the festivi-
ties after the marriage Margaret's
wedding-dress was already donned.
The bride was waiting, but Harry did
not come.
Mark Halstead, after whispered
consultation with Mr.. Hammersley,
went to where Harry had boarded He
was informed that on the previous even
ing a note mad been handed in for Mr..
Craige, and Immediately afterwards he
had driven away. That was all that
Mark could find out that night.
The guests dispersed, Margaret re-
fusing all eompanionShip but that of
her uncle. e--ss ~. -... ...
When they were alone together, she
crept into the strong arms that had
been her protection and shelter from
childhood, and lay there, white as the
bridal dress she wore, shivering and
fearless, And, looking at her mute
misery, John Hammersley restrained
the torrent of indignant words rrem-
bling upon his tongue. and soethed her
as If sheshad been an infant III
"He is sick or bur, - the old man
said.
In his heart he added, land if the
false villain Is sdeceivinss my iri, will
shoot him Ike a dog. But he had no
opportunity to Keep the pnspoken
threat.
A letter was written TO the firm, and
one of the senior partners came TO Bra
shaw.