The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-03-30

SHOW uHdT was uOb OHC Utt w Htuu
just at the last moment Ton
came rushing in, followed by thu
sexton.
I've got telegram from Lettie,
said Tom, his voice quiverlng. 'Sh'
is worse, and ! must start at once
just time to catch the train. Good
bye, old boy! God bless you.'
i'm going too--just came to wist
you joy, Mr.. Berk,' said the sexton
who had known me since I was ;
lad. Sorry | can't see you married
My roads the same as your broth
er's, SO I'll go with him;' and of
they both hurried, the door shutting
with a sharp click behind them.
The time for the arrival Of the
wedding party drew near, l ad
vanced to the door that opened into
the church, designing TO open il
and peep through, 1t resisted N,
efforts. / struggled with it sharply
no use! the door was locked.
Then l flew back to the innel
door and listened. The organ was
playing gaily, aud q subdued4 hush
told me that Nellie was enterin 9 81
her fathers arm, and here was ]
standing, Gagged like rat.
l glanced around. The windows
caught my eye-why had ! moi
thought of them? ! could at least
make my escape, and the ceremony
might be delayed, and consequent
ly awkward; still Nell would not be
utterly pnt to shame. Like the
madman l was, | seized the table,
dragged it to the window, sprang
upon 1t. and climbed on to the high
and narrow window sill; throwing
up the sash, I prepared to leap out
but l had reckoned without my
host; the chord that held the weight
was broken, consequently the mo-
ment my hand left the sash the
window descended with startling
rapidity, striking me full upon the
head, and knocking me off the mar
row sill, dashing my head against
the sharp corner Of the table, and
at last landing me full length on the
floor.
l tried to rise; something warm
rushed over my face; / put up my
hand to clear my cyes-my land
was covered with blood.
l felt giddy and weak, still Istag-
gered to my feet, then a black mist
arose around me and 1 knew no
more.
This was Thursday eve. Sunday
afternoon, the sexton, returning to
his duties, found me lying upon the
floor half dead, wholly delirious,
my face covered with blood, and 4
hole large enough to let the life out
Of any man. That mine was spar
ed was because / had fallen with
the wound down, and the soft pile
of the carpet acted like lint to
staunch the blood.
AS soon as ] could control my
thoughts l begged to know of Mel
lie. Poor little girl! she had been
quite overwhelmed. When l failed
to appear Kate's husband rushed
out to inquire of the sexton if he
had seen me. He was positive that
| had been there, and equally posi-
tive that l had left again in compa-
ny with my brother--said he could
not be mistaken--both seemed IN a
great hurry and had jumped into a
carriage and been driven rapidly
away.
Messengers were sent to my hotel,
but without gaining a clew to my
whereabouts; so after 4 mortlfying
wait Nellie had been taken home,
and the very morning Of the day l
was discovered the whole family
sailed for Europe.
AS soon as / was able to stand,
| sailed in search of the woman l
had so innocently humiliated. Not
knowing her whereabouts, it was
two months before l found her. At
last, one evening, wandering on the
sea shore of a quiet little English
town, espied her-and alone.
That she believed me a most
blackened william was plain, for the
look she gave me when she recog-
nized my presence was one of un-
utterable contempt. Now that l
had found her, was determined
she should hear the truth.
Nellie l cried, hurrying to her,
and grasping both her little hands
before she had time to escape.
well sir? she replied haughtily,
trying in vain to free her hands.
MY darling l pleaded, you will
at least hear a man before you con,
demn llimY
Her face flushed angrily.
what can you say she burst out
hotly, that will make your conduct
less dastardly? Have you not made
me the object of every ones ridi-
cule and contemptuous pity! Offer
ing me public insult no woman
could ever forgive? Have You not
made me hate everybody, myself
most of all? What more do you
wish. Bertram Langley-you vii
lainp
WINGED u little at the word, as
thought of my broken ilead-thongl
God knows | did not blame her, be
iieving as she did.
why are you here? and why die
you run away?' she demanded, with
a whole world of scorn on the word
run away
i did not run away; Twas locked
up
Locked up! For what? Where?
cried poor Nell, starting back, &
look of horror creeping up into thu
brown eyes.
l verify believe she thought fol
| an instant l had added murder tt
my other crimes.
Why in the yestry,' ] explained {
little foolishly. Come and sit dowr
and let me tell you. ! am quite il
yet"
This was master stroke. Mel
seated herself without demur. ant
half sitting, half lying at her feet
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