The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-03-15

Turned ropnQ ana spoke 70 Lee.
"Come, squire-hic-come you get up,
I did when he:called me-"
THE MISSING BRIDEGROOM. :.
of-Pa1I Winchester nothing had ever
been heard since his disappearance on
the day rset for the wedding. It was
perfectiy-sure that he had left Concord
on the ilFsfated train the night set for his
wedding, sbut after the accident there
/. was no trace of him..
Ris, diary, left behind at his. boarding:
house, contained illusions to his inten-
tion Of going to Ashley at eight; and a
letter written to friend, just as he was
on the point of setting out, still more
strongly corroborated the testimony of
his landlady and the railway conductor.
TMost3 people! believed him dead :
drowned On the night of the accident ;
and il. Maude ever indulged fo1d doubt
that he Was still with the living, the cold
reality would start up grim and stern
before her, and she would put the illu-
sion 6ut of her mind. t.-h.
Admirers without number fiocked to
the feat of Maude Ashley. The roman
tic mystery attaching to her intended
marriaee. eaye a new charm to her
beauty, and the quiet sadness, of her
eyes was more fascinating than the scin-
tillant brilliancy that had dwelt there
Tn Ma,ch tha ;ntsn.a cold weather
f,oze mn the lake, and rivers and all
Ashley tnrned out on skates Maude
amone the rest. -
She never looked better than she did
that cnl6p ciear frosty dSv in her robes
If ~ v;v;d scsrIet trimmed With soft white
fi,r and the dainty can of black, velvet
VT With I Il. SNOWY fsatSsr a svean;np down
and mineling with the floatine gold and
brown of bef hair -, -
The comnanv draw a little away from
her. she lad ,distanced them all. and
thew stood looking on with envy and ad-
miration. One gentleman alone refused
to Weld the palm.
Howard Wheatcliff was a stranger in
heavy importinp firm in Philadelphia-
detainei3 lat Asb}ey by7 7unexpected busi.
ness sn1 invited To foin thu skaters by
the iandiorfI,s SON
Whaatciiff little and sinewy. kent
mace with Miss Ashley. She saw his
au;et nersistence. and redoubIed her eff
forts tn leave him behind. n
Roth did brayely. The keen air
wh;stled- rorlnd them sharp and biting
Tho ;cs fairly shr;eked beneath the va.
ioc;ty of their moyements and excited
hv The mad race neither noticed how;
vs,v near thew were coming tn Thunder
Fails. -, -
The spectators saw the daneer-they
shouted ifrantically-threw up their
hands and struck ont after them, but
if Wheatcliff recognized the peril, he
swept straight on toward it.
A few flashes more-one bold stroke
Wheatcliff shot past her. and lust as her
unconscious feet touched the water, he
flung his arm around her and drew her
to q ph@.af safety; amid the shouts of
the EystaHders.y ~ e{1-a-,-t . 10y I.
Lookinp up into the pale face bending
over 06r. Mau0o f66QZeQs SOm6L0Iu& Oh
the danper from which heI had ESCAPED.
ButsvNen aha eAould have thanked him.
the nnsis,ff6zs. ON hsr <lips: The white
heat of passion in his eyes scorched her.
He held her tol 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 a daep, crimson glow crept up
m His d1sky cheek-his whole soul sur
rendered ;tseif to the intoxication of the
moment-his hair touched her forehead
she shiyered and flung off his arms. In
nm instant he was cold as herself. /!
"You had better 90 home. Allow
me-n q
He .unstrapped the skates from her
feet svnno thom lon his arm. wrapped
b;s travellSno shawl around her, and nm.
ha.S;nn I tha 3;ne .uhtla scorn of her man
n ner whSch S,ouId have deferred most men
he I ,,olted home bv her aide.
80 AZ the cate he stopped: She turned
ond faced him SfESt
W %Yonlbaye saved nv life," she said,
botlv HI sunpose / ought to thank You,
but I believe / hate you r"
saThank Won for that expression of in
terest !" he said softly, and leaning over
her, Before she guessed at his intention,