The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1881-02-17

"Pardon, good friends. Am l late?
Nv watch informs me that it is the
hour of eelven. am an hour behind the
appointed time. l should have been
here earlier, know. Oace before
disappointed you and my fancee. The
breaking of the reins and throwing
from. his seat Of my coachman-he
falling heavily on the ground and in
turing his arm-was my then excuse.
This time, but for most fortunate cir
cumstance, I should also have been de-
layed to your disappointment, doubt
less, and to Miss Drayton's chagrin."
"Pray explain yourself, Mr.. Adair,"
said a lady who was expected to act the
part of bridesmaid.
"Gladly," was Adair's reply. II do
not know what could have actuated the
fellow. 1t was the coachman l had
formerly employed, who, until recently
was in the service of Mrs. Silva. For
some reason he retired from madame's
retlnue Of dependents, and requested
employment from me. Knowing him
to be an excellent whip l engaged him.
When we were about six miles from
herein the heart of the morass-he
stopped the horses, and alighting, pre-
tended to readjust the harness, which,
he said, had got out of place. watch
ed him closely, but for no particular
reason. When he had re-arranged the
harness he moved to the side Of one of
the forewheels, and it being quite light,
| saw him take from one of his peck
cts pair of pincers, and on putting
the nippers to the linch-pin, he quickly
drew it out. What was his object? l
could not tell. I, however, opened the
door of the coach, and before he could
ascend to his seat l had firm hold OF
him by the collar, while the cold band
of my revolver was in close proximity
to his head.
James," l said, explain your con
duct"
''He trembled like the caitiff he is.
He told confused story, in which, of
course, I placed no credence. This
much 1 will say Out ofrevenge, sup
pose, for some fancied insult or neglect,
he sought to implicate his late mis-
tress, Nine Silva, in conspiracy that
would affect the future happiness of
Miss Drayton and myself 1t was this
motive that on the first occasion caused
him to cut the reins and leave the
horses to their own wills. He did not,
however, calculate (he said) that he
would be hurled from his seat and in
Ijured. For the hurt he received on
the occasion he was recompensed-so
he assured me-"
persuaded the fellow was worth
less liar I discharged him on the spot,
first compelling him to replace the
pin"
Mounting the box and taking the
reins, you may rest assured, my friends,
that l proved the mettle of my horses
in the six miles they have run within
the past thirty minutes?'
And the coachman?" de;?, anded one
of the guests.
~ left him to ruminate over his
treachery in the swamp answered
Robert Adair.
'Miss Drayton- Alice?" anxiously
demanded Robert Adair upon entering
the great chamber in which the ce-e-
mOny of marriage was to have been
celebrated
The young lady before referred as
having been chosen to the Office of
bridesmaid, quietly stepped to his side
and said in a low voice:
Except putting on her bridal veil,
Mr.. Adair, Alice has been waiting your
arrival for nearly an hour. You will
find her in her boudoir with Nine Silva
Go there and reassure her, for I am
| II lc1, 20
fearing some accident has befallen
you.
"Where is her apartment?' asked
Adair.
II will conduct you to it," was the
lady's answer.
; "Then," he whispered, 81 will imme'
diately follow YOU"
,, Together the groom and the brides
maid reached the door Of the boudoir
Alice,' said her friend, as she lightly
! tapped it with her closed fan. Mr.
Adair is awaiting your presence"
"Alice," added her atfianced in a
deeper tone, as he seized the handle Of
, the door and scarcely conscious of the
movement of his hand that followed
: the door opened.
| OpOll Illt uOOI llc Saw DIV 1ull
; length in her bridal robe, and seeming
! ly unconscious, his Alice; and standing
erect and immovable near her, holding
in her left hand the open pages of the
letter from which a moment before she
had read the malicious sentences of a
mischievous gossip, was Margaret Silva
> All this the young man took in at a
glance.
Stepping quickly to the side Of the
PROSTATE girl and kneeling, he sought,
by every endearing expression, to re-
store her to consciousness. Many min
utes elapsed before she opened her
eyes and recognized who it was that
was near her, laboring to restore her to
her serene self.
"Robert," she murmured, "what a
terrible dream; l was told that you had
deserted me for another"
"By whom, darling?" he demanded
in low voice.
cit was written by some one, I can
not recall the name now" she added
as she tremblingly put one of her small
and beautifully shaped hands on her
forehead "But my friend, Margaret
Silva, read it to me-"
"Fool! fool" suddenly cried Robert
Adair, as he stood erect and looked
with an expression of pity mingled
with contempt, in the face of Nine.
Silva. II know your work. It was a
foolish conspiracy, and should your
) late coachman repeat the story he told
me an hour ago, you would be the
} laughing stock Of the world I never
gave you occasion to believe cared
more for you than for any one of the
thousand women regard as acquaint-
ances-friends."
The doting woman relaxed her
rigidity of posture and her head gradu-
ally falling on her breast, she covered
her shamed face with her hands
With low moan she sank upon her
knees at the feet of the man whose
heart she had hoped by trick to win
"Forgive me, Robert" she sighed.
II have never loved but one-you! !
was foolish, indeed. Farewell!''