The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-01-03
The Missing bridegroom.
No don't like him."

a
John Hammersley's fist fell heavi
! ly upon the table to give emphasis
to the brief sentence uttered in q
loud tone.
| Margaret, his niece and orphaned
charge from childhood. looked up
appealingly. Then her voice very
sweet and low. made answer.
81 love him.
"More's the pity" growied her
uncle. "Why can't you love some
one else?''
just a shy smiIe. with lurking
Of fun in it. for an answer to this
! question.
Here's VIII Hail been eoarting
you ever since you we're baby /;
and Mark HaIstead would give his
eyes for you; both smart young sail
ors. No; you must turn up your
nose at them, and fall in love with
nobody knows who"
Il thought he told you he was a
junior partner in a wholesale house"
Told me = was the contemptu-
Gus reply; $50 he did. And you
love him? Now. here you've lived
all you life on the sea-coast, amongst
strong men. and you set your heart
on pretty curly-headed doll, with
hands like a girls
He's tall and strong. and manly,
too," urged Margaret ''he does not
know anything about boat or a
ship. and his work does not require
tarred hands and coase clothes but
he is not effeminate. uncle"
'.Humph! Will Hall is man fit
10 marry a sailors daughter; mate
Of fine vessel. and making money.
It is rough to see him thrown over
board for a chap none of us had ever
seen six months ago. / wish no had
drowned before he came to Brashaw
to turn your head"
Uncle" Margaret said, very earn
estly, ''if Harry Craige had never
come to Brashaw. it would have
made no difference in my answer to
Will Hall. l would not marry him,
if | had never seen Harry"
a dark. evil face that had been
pressed close to the closed blinds of
the room where this conversation
took place was lifted here for q mo-
ment, and clenched fist was shaken
into the air.
Bah! IF you had never seen
Harry Craige. you would have mar
ried Hall when he ask you six
months ago. If your fine beau was
to go home again, you would forget
him in six months. and marry Will,
like a sensible girl
Margaret low-spoken but sensi-
BILE reply. Never! = was lost in the
snap of the garden-gate, suddenly
closed, and the rap on the cottage
door.
The listener sluug around the cor
ner 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 growfed and
fumed, Margaret was the very darl-
ing OF his heart, aud 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 suit
| till John Hammersly was won to give
lis consent to o marriage that was
really a worldly advantage to his
/ niece.
Consent once gained, Harry plead
ed hard for speedy wedding. So
the bans were published, aud the
guests invited.
Mark Halstcad, a second cousin
Of Margarets, with sad and disap-
pointed heart, consented to be
groomsman, but Hall kept aloof
though he met Harry often. and gave
him a grudging ciyiiity.
The wedding day came, and the
cottage was decorated for the fes
tivities after the marriage. Margar
cts wedding dress was, already don
ned. The bride was waiting, but
Harry did not come.
Mark Halstead, after a whispered
consultation with Mr.. Hammersley
went to where Harry had boarded
lie was informed that on The preyi
Gus evening a note had been handed
in for Dir, Craige, and Immediately
afterwards he had driven away. Tha
was all that Mark could fad out tha
night.
The guests dispersed, Margaret re
fusing all companionship but that o
her uncle.
When they were alone together
she crept into the strong arms tha
had been her protection and shelte
from childhood. and lay there, white
as the bridal dress she wore, shiver
ing aud fearless. And, looking a
her mute misery. John Hammersle,
restrained the torrent of indignan
) words trembling upon his tongue
and sootned her as if she had beer
, an infant.
"He is sick or hurt" the old mar
), said.
, In his heart he added, 'sand il th'
false villain is deceiving my girl,
will shoot him like dog But h,
had no opportunity to keep the nn
spoken threat.
A letter was written 10 the firm
and one of the senior partners cam
TO Brashaw.
1t was some comfort TO heart
broken Margaret to hear of th
: high esteem in which Harry wa
held, and see the evident sorrow @
the elderly gentleman who spok
warmly OF his partner.
7 1T is absurd to suppose he la
5 run away said his partner; '.h
4 is a man of influence in busines:
r and his social standing is of tl
$ best, and''--and here lie turned {
I Margaret-"his love was pure, hoJ
: orable and sincere. |, who hav