The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-08-12
THE LONELY BRIDE.
A PLEASANT STORY.

ate way WesbWhru, CurVluB Wlbn every
curve of the Connecticut shore, and
clinging to the water side as though
actuated by sentiment for coast seem
cry. On one side of the track lay the
blue, white-capped sea and the other,
low rolling hills with the fairgrounds of
brown meadow and golden sedge, over
all the superb arch of sun-lit sky. 1t
was delicious, late autumn day, and
Miss Mallows found "That Husband of
Mine" so little engrossing perhaps be-
cause of her maidenly unacquaintance
with the possessive case of that article
that she flung it down and betook
herself to gazing from the window. She
was growing dreamy, as gazers at
rapidly changing scene are apt to do,
when word reached her ear, and
aroused curiosity enough to make her
turn her head. 1t was a woman's name,
and an uncommon ne-"Arethusa."
The persons who uttered it was man.
His seat was on the opposite side of the
car, and little in advance Of that which
Miss Mallows herself occupied, and she
now observed that there was something
odd about his appearance. His head and
shoulders were massive and finely form
ed, his face seen in profile was good
one, with kindly eyes and striking
forehead, broad and benevolent. But
there was something dwarfish in his
appearance, and when presently he half
rose to shut the window it became ap-
parent that he was dwarf. There was
no deformity, but the large head and
broad shoulders were balanced by mis-
cradle pair of little legs not longer than
those of child of ten years. He was
not young, for there were grizzled hairs
about his temple and in his full beard,
and altogether his appearance was half
attractive, and awoke a feeling COM
pounded of good will and pity SO strong
ly mingled that it was hard to tell which
predominated.
His companions evidently the =" Are
thusa" addressed-was girl not over 20,
of that delicate type of prettiness known
as " American" which fades so early,
but is charming in its brief flower time.
Her new grey suit, with crepe lisse
ruff1es at throat and wrist, the crisp
feather in her hat, even the shining red
leather of her travelling bag, and the
perfectly fresh, carefully put on gloves,
bespoke the bride, but there was some
thing very unbridal in the face which
these fineries surrounded. The eyes,
blue in tint and beautifully shaped and
set, were swollen with crying, and quiv-
cred nervously, every vestige of color
had fled from the round childish cheeks,
and the hands in new gloves were pinch
ed together with tightness like terror.
Once or twice, as Miss Mallows watch
ed, she fought with emotion, and calle d
up a wan little smile in answer to some
thing said to her, but she meyer spoke.
Her companion, ON the contrary, talk
ed necessarily in a low-voiced steady
strain.
Miss Mallows could only catch word
now and then, and her curiosity about
the couple grew so strong that she felt
that she would pay any price to know
their story.
There could be no doubt as to their
relations, she thought; they were hus-
band and wife, and just married. The
little man evidently had no thought
except for his bride. Mile after mile he
talked and talked, devouring her with
his eyes the while, and she sat with
half-averted head, never meebing his
gaze or replying by word to anything
he said. Once she turned and looked
at Miss Mallows with wild appeal in
her face which was startling, but she
instantly looked away, and presently
laid her arm on the window sill and her
head on her arm, and began to cry in a
still, dreadful manner, not sobbing aloud,
but trembling all over with a pent-up feel
ing which was worse than an out break.
The man tried in vain to soothe her; she
repelled him gently but decidedly, and
at last he finally gave up the attempt,
and silently sat beside her with grave,
troubled face.
81 shall die If can't find out about
those people," though the excited OBJ
server on the other side of the car. But
she did not die, neither could she find
out. One cannot walk up to perfect
strangers and demand, "Your story or
your life Pit is impossible. So Miss
Mallows sat still, her conjectures aflame
and her fingers fairly twitching with
impatience, till at last the train stopped