The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1879-06-26
where the minister asked the all import

where the minister asked the all import
ant question Of the woman. The:preach
ers utterance was low all along, but as
he came to that point Jane pushed 8
heavy book from the table. and in the
confusion Archer failed to hear the BRIDE
name mentioned, and in fact, the greater
J part of the question. The bride however
murmured quick assent, SO there was
no necessity for the minister to repeat
the formula. A few words more ended
the ceremoney, and they were pronounced
man and wife. Archer placed note in
the preachers hand, which threw that
gentleman into a fit of pleasant abstrac-
ton, and, putting the brides arm within
his, turned to go.
lane accompanied the newly married
couple to the railroad station. The train
was a little behind time, the agent said
but it would be along shortly SO they
| went into the ladies' room to await its
arrival. The room was heated to fever
heat, as is the custom in railroad waiting
rooms, and Archer threw up window
to restore the atmosphere to something
like a bearable condition. No one was
In the room except themselves, but the
ticket agent, Gagged in his box in one cor
ner like wild beast, was within hearing
distance. Is
"We have long ride before us, DEAR
said Archer, tenderly, as he leaned over
his wite's chair; "do you feel tired?"
"No," was the short and low reply.
'Why do you tremblc so, darling?" he
asked, bending over the shrinking form
"You are not i'll, hope?'
"No."
There was sharp whistle in the dis
tancc. The agent stuck his head out of
the window in his cage, and screamed ::
''The train is coming though the cut
"I have not had the husbands kiss
yet"
His band touched the heavy veil over
hanging the brides features She made
no move. to. prevent him from accom-
plishing his purpose. He uncovered the
face, and bent down to touch the lips.
'Grcat God" he suddenly exclaimed,
''Whose trick is this?' "a
"NIiss Medring had something to do
With it, sir" said Jane with snccring
smile, as she sidled up to the covering
woman's side
The train came putting up to the sta
ton.
Archer stared at the white face before
him for one full moment; his skin had
blanched to a sickly hue; and Jane, her
self, trcmDled as she saw that dreadful
scowl deepening upon his features. She
tDornI hof cl, frio ff,
draw poor Lucy-it was, indeed, his
former toy that Archer had married that
night--out of the reach of that furious
anger. 1t was too late. With ter
rible curse, he. drove his great fist full
into the face OF the girl he had so deeply
injured, and she sank, without murmur,
to his feet. There was a slam OF a door, a
whistle and a rumble, and he was gone.
He fled, base coward that he was, from
the creature he had stricken with death
blow in his brutal passion
This, then, was Violet Medring's sweet
revenge!
Poor Lucy was carried back to Mrs.
Campbells. For weeks, and weeks her
life hung in the balance, but Violet's ten
der nursing wooed her at length back to
a hateful existence She never recovered
her former health, however, and her mind
was greatly shattered by that cruel
stroke, She bore her burden patiently
for a little over year, and one evening
as the sun was slowly sinking behind the
blossoming orchard, at the old homestead,
she sank sweetly to rest in her tottering
old mothers arms, breathing out, witt
h/r 1,c ;,,1, of Co,
the man who had ruined her young life.
They dug a grave beside that, of her
fathers, who had died few months be-
fore, and into it were lowered the remains
of John Archcr's deserted wife.
Violet ultimately married George
Steele, the. lawyers son, and at the de
cease of old Mrs. King she brought up
Lucy's boy with her own children AS
to John Archer, how he lived and how he
died, was never known.