The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-10-27

|
So when Alex left her, he carrie
wi tn him the promise that the following
Sunday should hear read then bans
but of John neither had spoken. Meth
er did she see him in the three weeks
at the end of which was set her we'd
ding-day.
| Absorbed in her new joy, she foun'
scarcely time TO wonder at this: 4: but OF
the eve before her marriage was to taxi
place, she sent for him, but shranl
away, afraid, when, in answer to he
mmons, he came into her presence
and she saw the awful change this littl,
time had wrought in him.
Timidly she held out 10 him hel
hands; but the only words she coult
command in sight of the dumb agony
written on his face, were plea for par
don.
"Forgive me, John?" she mur.
mured.
But he laughed a Earsn, snnm laugh,
as he replied:
"For what? You have done me no
wroung, for you'll never be wife to
Alex Winston. He's light o. lovew
| And with these cruel words he left
her.
She was foolish, she told herself, to
give them an instant's weight. Would
not Alex, brave and happy, prove them
false on the tomorrow? Tonight she
would not see him. lie was giving q
supper in the town-perhaps at that
very minute was lifting his glass TO his
lips with toast for her.
Still, spite of her faith, her heart felt
heavy. The night was long, and she
greeted eagerly the morning light as it
came through her windows.
Several of her companions came in 10
assist at the wonderful toilet. Size was
almost pretty when all was completed,
and sha 90. VIA. n.int Ivsu-nusu Un
her cheek, listening for her lovers
step.
Surely he would not be late, she
thought, as the hands of the clock mov-
ed with strange rapidity toward the
hour.
1t struck at last, but Alex had not
come. The rose flush faded, and she
grew very pale, but her friends laughed
at her fears, until by-and-by their
laughter died, and an ominous silcuce
fell upon the little group.
Another hour went by, and then the
door of the little cottage opened, but
only the good priest stood upon the
thrcshold-hc who had held Marjorie
in his arms and baptized her an infant.
lie made motion that he should be
left alone with her, and then all knew
that something terrible had happened
yes, something terrible indeed
Just i'll what words he told her, they
could not know.'~ tfoi,s.r
In the darkness of the night, Alex
Winston had weighed anchor and sailed
away to sea, deserving his bride, while
the first faint dawn of his wedding day
was in the cast.
How would Marjorie hear it? they
asked, one of the other, but none of the
lines laid down for her did she follow.
She simply ceased to live, and began
to exist. She ATE, drank and slept, per-
haps, but did all things as in dream:
but never did The name of Alex pass
her lips.
When others spoke of him she listened
silently. No one ever saw her weep
no one ever heard her moan. She
seemed marble statue, possessed of
life III its essence but not in its soul.
"A year passed, and all things were
unchanged. No tidings had ever
GS2eR'a oaer' All. HE iii s Sjldaegc Of the rccreant
gotten.
1t was the anniversary of her we'd
ding day, and Marjorie sat alone, when
a knock sounded on the cottage door.
She rose and opened it.
John lIarwood stood upon the ihresh-
old 1t was his first visit since the ut
terance of his fatal prophecy.
"Let me come in, Marjorie?" he
pleaded. "My hearts starving, but
didn't dare come, for fear lest you'd
blame mo that my words came true.
Silently she held open the door, and
he passed in and took chair.
"Haven't you forgotten him yetT'
he asked, and there was almost fierce
ness in his tone.
"IIush" she answered. eve will
talk of other things"
"Of ourselves my girl, maybe. oh,
Mari )rie, don't let all the folks see as
you're wearing The willow yet for n man
that deserted you that maybe had
another wife beyond the seas! Haven't
| proved my love and my faith, and
won't you give il its reward at last
I'll never rest till you're my wife. Oh,
Majorie, don't deny me-"
"Would you marry corpse" she
said, slowly, after minutes pause
"And what's body without heart ol
soul but a corpseS No John-Pd onl,
make you more miserable. Besides
there is some mystery behind all this
nd one day shall fiad ii out"
"a mystery9 Nonsense, girl?" he
answered, roughly. "You make thu
mystery, like all silly women. De sen
sibie, and show the world that Ale
Winston has not blighted your life. III
,, try TO make You happy-indeed viii
0 my little girl"
Al Rui his nleading was in vain. Th