The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1880-06-19
rLoREscEs BRIDEGROOM.

Itwas Wednesday evening, dull, with
low, hanging clouds of hopeless gray. A
raw east wind blowing damply. and earth
and air, and sky were full of the gloomy
presage of the coming storm.
Thursday evening, at this self-same
hour, the marriage ceremony of Florence
Marion and Harvey Calender would take
place; and on this gloomy, depressing
night Florence had taken herself away
from the houseful of guests that had been
arriving all day, and had gone away by
herself into the silence and gloom, and
loneliness of the long-deserted western
corridor, where portraits of the dead-and-
cancellations hung by scores-where
statues of marble and bronze. and black
marble and brass, stood in defiant relief
on their pedestals.
It had ALWAYS been a favorite resort OF
hers, in times of joy and times of sorrow.
She and Leon Marion used to walk there,
by the hour, that one blessed summer
time when he was at The Place, off SER
vice from his naval duties-that blessed
summertime when they learned that
cousin-ship was no barrier to lover-ship,
when he had pleaded his cause SO skill
fully that it seemed to Florence there was
no further happiness left her in all the
world-no further happiness, and no pos
sible misery.
And, to morrow she was to be married
to Harvey Callender-handsome, grave,
dignified, of high social and financial
position, gentleman twenty years her
senior, whom she respected thoroughly
and intended to do her duty by in every
respect.
: Two years ago she had bade her hand
some cousin goodbye. He had taken her
in his arms, and held her SO closely to his
heart that it seemed he would merge
their personalities into one.
He had kissed her on lip. and brow, and
radiant hair, and fingered longest at her
quiyering mouth. He had made her tell
him, over and over again, how she loved
him, that she would be ready for him
when he returned, after a years service on
his ship in foreign waters, and they had
parted.
Then, Florence lived it all overagain, as
she nestled up in a little heap on the
cushioned sea- that yelled the oriel win-
dow, and drew the hangings of leaf-green
satin damask around her, shutting herself
out from all the world.
What awful times had followed right
then, when her stately mother, whom the
girl Hau TeNeftu, anu icdfeu, anu duiiiLT Gu
all her life, more as one reyeres and wor-
ships sovereign than as girl laves and
adores mother-when Mrs. Marion re-
ceived a letter from somewhere, from
somebody Florence never dared ask
from where or whom), and soon called her
daughter 10 her, and told her that from
that time Leon Marion's name was to be
forever unspoken between them-from
that hour, Leon Marion was to be to her
as though he never had been!
She never understood why she vas
forced to accept her mothers ultimatum.
No letter ever reached her from the man
she loved, and would SO long as her heart
beat.
His portrait was turned, face toward the
wall, and, except for that deathless agony
of hopelessness that attended her endur-
ance of life, it was as if Leon Marion had
never crossed her path.
Then her mothers friend-her mothers
choice-was presented to her; gentleman
whose attentions and devotions were an
honor to any woman; and, Just two years
from the day when her lover had gone
away, she was to be married to Mr.. Cal
lender.
OF late days. Florence's obedicnt passiv.
ity had been deserting her. Tonight, she
had rushed away from the gay company in
the parlor, library and billiard-room, to be
alone with her thoughts on this her wed.
ding-eve.
1t is not given to many young girls to
appreciate the height and depth of passion
as it was given to Florence Marion
Usually. such capacity comes with maturer
years; but crouching there in the starless
dusk, with the heavy satin curtains shut
ting ont all the world. and especially
Harvey Calender. this girl offs was near,
ly heaat broken. and in her yearniug and
her helpless despair. as ever woman was
over a spirited handsome face she never
again would see--the passionate blue eyes
that looked such unutterable things in
her own-the low speaking, beloved voice
that had said such words as were meat
and drink to her glad heart.
Never again-never again 1t kept oc-
curing and recurring to her again, like
| the refrain of haunting song whose per.
sistent melody hurt her to her very soul
And just then she heard the distant thuc
| of horses hoofs. then. nearer, mans hur
ried tread, and then. with bewildered
| frightened, rapturous sensation, she saw
Leon Marion coming up the walk, the golG
on his uniform shining in the pale dusk
| He stopped short at sight of her, stand
ing like a spirit, in the oriel window.
"Florie, my darIing-my darIingl
knew should find YOU. oh. nv love. how
nave wanted TO see YOU?
! She sank down, weakly. in the chai
nearest the window that had enabled he
to catch all tho gusts of cold air that wen
past her hot cheeks.
She could not say a word in response t
his eager salutations, but her heart wa
tbrobbing SO violently that she wondered
if hearts ever did throb themselves t
death
sAre Won not Glad In see me NV dari
| ;no9 Tell mo Won orc Glad r on, eor,a'
| tn save Won from Harvay CoI,endor y,
A. ,,at E,arono, -. I'll 80 $1,000 a.e,.o
-,hat horr;hia nhws;oai Is sda.;a spomtna W., VI
,oaa,ar;ny har A. ,ss. ,s;.h l;.tia .;s
tho, ,ras ,,,;na,ad haa,;ia aarnnantJ n as9 ~
iass,,oss sha ~ "a a. ,,;,... '.o
aI 5ont nndarstsna , nnn Iaon Va
sbonld not he here Yon cannot save m
from-Mr. CALENDER. am to marry hi,
to.morrow niobt J;
He smiled fenderlv hack in bar saf
SHINING ewes hriobt with snooestions :
tears
.sBrt can save Won FIorie--tbat ;s
Won will let me. Dear darling If Won lov
me as Won did
She made a toucbino little effort IN re
fuse him the sweet nr;vilege Of his bol
speeeh.
su
at, .1u.enanl .t;a.l Marion, you !, must not sa
] SUN thAhEo W ifS any tuofC.