The daily gazette., 1877-02-15
The Missing Bridegroom.
BY AUGUSTA.

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vi raul winchester nothing had ever
been heard since his disappearance on the
day set for his wedding. 1t was perfectly
sure that he had left Concord on the i'll
iated train the night set for his wedding
but after the accident there was no trace
of him.
His diary, left behind at his boarding
house, contained illusions to his inten-
tion OF going to Ashley t,igl t;and let.
ter written to friend, just as he was on
the point of setting out, still more strongly
corroberated the testimony of his landlady
and the railroad conductor.
Most people believed him dead
drowned on the night of the accident;and
II Maude ever indulged fond doubt that
ne was still with the living, the cold re-
ahty would start up grim and stern be-
fore her, and she would put the illusion
out of her mind.
Admirers without number flocked to
che feet of Maude Ashley. The romantic
mystery attached TO her intended mar
riage gave new charm to her beauty,
and the quiet sadness OF her eyes was
more fascinating than the scintillant bril-
liancy that had dwelt there before the sor-
row came.
In March, the intense cold weather froze
the lakes and rivers, and all Ashley tur-
ned out on skates. Maude among the
rest.
She never looked better than she did
that cold, cleer, frosly day, in her robes
OF vivid scarlet, trimmed with soft white
furs, and the dainty cap, of black velvet,
with its snowy feather sweaping down
and mingling with with the floating gold
and brown of her hair.
The company drew little away from
her; she distanced them all, and they
stood looking On with envy and admira-
tion. One gentleman alone refused to
yield the palm.
Howard Wheatcliff was stranger in
the place-the travelling partner of
heavy importing firm in Philadelphia
detained at Ashley by unexpected busi-
ness, and invited to join the skaters by
the landlords son.
Wheatclif, 1.-the and sinewy, kept pace
with Miss Ashley. She saw his quiet persis
tence, and redoubled her efforts to leave
him behind.
Both did bravely. The keen air whis-
ice fairly shrieked beneath the velocity
of their movements, and excited by the
mad race, neither noticed how very near
they were coming to Thunder Falls.
The spectators saw the danger-they
shouted frantically-they threw up their
hands and struck out after them, but
Maude was oblivious to everything; and
| if Wheatcliff recognized the peril, he
swept straight on toward it.
4 few dashes more-one bold stroke
Wheatcliff shot past her, and just as her
unconscious feet touched the water, he
flung his arm around her and drew her
to place of safety, amid the shouts of
the bystanders.
Looking up into the pale face bending
over her, Maude realized something of
the danger from which she had escaped.
But when she would have thanked him,
the words froze on her lips. The white
heat of passion in his eyes scorched her.
He held her to his side strongly, passion
ately-as no man, not even Paul, had
ever held her before. He, this stranger,
whom she had not known two hours be-
fore existed.
Slowly deep crimson glow crept up
1
rendered itself to the intoxication of the
moment-his hair touched her forehead
I-she shivered and flung off his arms. In
an instant he was cold as herself.
"You had better go home. Allow
me-"
He unstrapped the skates from her feet
swung them on his arm, wrapped his
travelling shawl around her, and unheed
ing the fine, subtle scorn of her manner
which would have deferred most men, he
walked home by her side.
At the gate he stopped. She turned
and faced him.
"You have saved my life," she sale
hotly 81 suppose ought to thank you
but believe hate youw
"Thank you for that expression Of in
terest," he said softly, and leaning oyel
her, before she guessed his intention, ht
touched his lips to hers.
She broke from him, angry, defiant
with throbbing brain and face thai
burned crimson.
He had insulted her-had ignored the
purity of her womanhood-had dared tt
do what no man had dared before him
And yet, though she said to herself tha
she hated and despised him-that sht
would never forgive this deadly insult
she nevertheless would not have had any
living creature cognizant of what hat
passed between them.
The next day Mr.. Wheatcliff called al
Athley. He was tender, respectful, rev
erent-like no one she had ever met be
fore. He fitted into nichein her life new
er filled before. She was fain to acknow-
ledge to new sweet rest and content IL
his presence-her life reached up aftel
, nights of infni ly she had never yearnet
for-her soul expanded-she was lifted
into rarer atmosphere-she took holt
on higher and purer existence.
Thoughts of Paul Winchester fled; hi:
memory became to herlike misty dream
She saw only the dark, penetrating eyes
of this Howard Wheatcliff, and heard on
ly the low tones of his magnetic voice.
He came to Ashley every day. She die
not invite him-he came without it.
One clear, moonlit night, he wa.
strangely restless. 1t was no time fo
walking-the wind was cold and bleak
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