The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-11-06
THE BRIDE OF A MOMENT.
BY MARGARET CAvENDIsH.

1t was on a ferry boat that he fell in love
with her. It was love at first sight, as the
phrase goes; one often quoted contemptu-
ously, though IL furnishes US many instances
of cOnjugal happiness.
Well, 90 whom does this masculine and
this feminine prOnoun relate2 you inquire.
To which / answer: Steady going, retiring,
plain looking John Moore, who had crossed
on this ferry boat for years without ever see
ing a woman's face or form which he cared
to meet the second time. Not that he was
one of those women dissectSrs whocOntin-
ually turu the most natural movement or
uns!udisi smile into ON elabOrately precon-
certed scheme o capture ungary bachelors.
To be courteous and kind to all. more es-
pecislly women, wss one of the rules Of his
life; so, when Helen Ives drove up 10 the
ferry house ia hat much degraded, though
very useful, conveyance known as a hack,
and throwing aside her heavy Grape veil,
proceeded tO open the door-a proceeding
much retarded by her veil, for some reason,
Immediately falling over her face again
John Moore came forward, bowed, opened
the door and assisted her 10 light.
She thanked him quietly, aud then he lost
sight of her until she stepped on board the
boat. A nome mt anu she was seated and in
the act of securely fastening back her veil.
Tnat moment was the supreme one of Johns
life. He never forgot it through all time.
Was this o ct he was looking at woman
One of those or aJures with whom he had &C.
casionally oaocsd ana laughed?
Surely there must be something different
about her. or why this sudden INTEREST," He
felt as though be knew her history and that
he was born to NJ OF some use and help to
her; that hs would believe implicitly any
thing she mgnt tell him or wish him To be-
lieve. Not Ihat his thoughts or impressions
came in such an orderly and distant manner
as that He was only conscious OF strange
delight and unscceuntaole throbbing of his
hear5.
No doubt by all this You think she was
some beautiiui. ethereal young being, all
charms and gracss. But let me undeceive
you at urce. She was only moderately
handsome woman of ab put %; graceful, Ger
tainly. buJ with no volumiuous drapery or
other intricacies Of h1unce, plait or fold
Her fair hair guiltt 81 Of crimp or puff, was
put plaiIny back f.om a full, white fore
head, while beneath it gray, modest eyes
kept their watch. A mouth somewhat larger
than the rosebud style, but still sweet and
resolute These were the attributes or sec
ondaTy considerations, for over ali was such
an AIR of Guinness, sincerity aud woman
illness that you felt rather than saw the at.
traction.
Perhaps not another man on the boat
looked upon her with sucn reverence as the
glamored eyes Of John Moore. II others no
ticed her az all it was with the ref sction that
she was uI.dsnlaOly lacy.
But as Cupid had beeu long medita ing
an attack, ana not wishing TO lose his well
earned snd long maintained reputation as a
marksmsn, he chose the moment when his
vicIm was ali unsuspecting of the golden
tipped, yet stinging, arrow, aimed at his
heart.
Therefore il was she appeared to John
lovelier than other women.
The arrow had piercsd the mark, and love
had Transformed her
As the boat feared the slip most of the
passengers lefl the cabins 10 crowd about the
chains, among them John Moore, for he and
they were low as impatient to disembark as
they bad been u embark. IL was evening,
TO be sure, AID R0 business awaited them,
but still you know the characteristic New
Yorker
When Helen Ives found herself alone In
the csDin she took from small sachel
c1rd By its SIZE aud shape one would sup
pose IL to be photograph, also by the ten
der fondness which came over her Tree as
she looked at IL; sbe even smiled ut IL. Then,
as il suddenly remembering where she was,
she bit ber lips and composed her face; and
had you examine 10 now you would have
detected all added bitterness and resolution.
Placing the thumb and forshngsr Of each
hand together ON its edge. she tore it partly
ia two, bus no sooner did tue destroying
members do their work tnan they sought 10
hide il by holding the several parts closely
united. Again second thought condemned
it. and she walked to the deck, tesri < as
she went, flung the pieces INTO the water,
turned aud entered he cabin as though she
wished 10 AVOID seeing them lost like snow
flakes in the
Now, John Moore had noted this little by
play. and when one Of the scraps tinttered
back and settled at his feet. he stopped and
picked It NJ. Had l. teen nDte pager OF any
kind he would not have done 80, but think
ing IL was nothing bat bit OF common card,
ard wishing earnestly 10 hold something
which her hands Bad touched, he had bent
for the discarded trihs. And. 'lOl when he
turned IL over ne saw parSOf "a mans neck
and shirt froDt-that was all.
He could easily see the necktie and the
shirt with it, OF studs
His first impulse was 70 give it TO the
water, bul catching sight OF Helen's face, for
they were now landing. he decided TO keep
1t in memory of his meeting with her. Who
would say he might never zee her againY
Thus they met st one ferry slip and sepa-