The Red Cloud chief., 1882-09-15

funeral could have induced him TO leave
home when Lettie WIS ILL
Next morning lsaw Nellie for q mo-
mcnt only. but the kis, iPressed on her
dear little mouth was n silent plea for
pardon. and promise for better con-
troll over my temper next time.
Evening came-fhe chuuchHss packed.
and ]. feeling most u~ncomfnonly
stiff and awkward in a span new suit
and ~spcckless gloves. was awaiting in
the vcstry.
Nellie was TO enter on her fathers
arm. followed by her bridesmaids and
groomsmen- six in n~umbcr-while !
was 20 enter in the nick Of time from
the vcstry. the minister from his study,
and meet bcforc the altar.
II was all very pretty. but almost
knew ] should make n mess of it and !
did. with a vengeance. ~
l had requested TO be allowed TO be
alone. 81 as TO keep my part in mind.
and for the same reason went early TO
the church, not 10 be stared Ut and con-
fused, for this show affair was not one
bit TO my mind. 49,
Just mt the last moment Tom came
rushing in. followed by the regular scx-
ton. -
1--WE got q Telegram from Lc.tic."
said Tom, his voice g~tiveriDg. "Sbe is
worse. aud ! must start at once just
time To catch the train. Goodbye. old
boy! God bless your
"fm going too. just came 10 wish you
JOY. Mr.. Bert" said The sexton. who had
known me since | was n lad. "Sorryi
can't see you married. My roads The
same as Your brothers.. SO I'll go with
him. and off they both hurried. the
door shutting with q sharp click behind
them.
The time for The arrival Of the we'd
ling party drew near; ! advanced 10 the
door that opened into the church. de-
signing to open il and peep through. IL
re- sted nv cforls. struggled with IL
sharply, no use, the door was locked!
Mutiering a curse on the stupidity OF
the sexton. ! strobe 10 the outer doc.
In shutting the door il too hal become
locked, and | was as fast q fate.
Great drops II perspiration stood ont
on my forehead. What "a % be done?
l asked myself the question and mopped
my face with my immaculate handker-
chief. but failelL find the answer.
Then l flew back 10 the inner door
and listened. The organ was playing
gayly. and n subiucd hush told me that
Nellie was entering on her father arm.
and here / was standing. Gagged ike q
rat.
oh. how | tried to open that door!
My gloves split. and the perspiration
ran i'm rivers down my face and dropped
of the end of my nose; but not one inch
could | bulge it.
| have wondered since how | should
have looked il had succeeded In burst
ing open the door aud bccn suddenly
projected before the creme dc In creme
with limp collar. torn gloves and dis
tended eyes. "A smile row.. but n
assure you | saw 40 fun i'm il then.
tried the door till positively no hope
remained in tina. direction. Then | Few
again to the outer door and pounded
and even shouted. but 10 no purpose. !
Utterly hopeless. | returned to tho
inner door once more All was silent.
Should | thunder upon its panels and
proclaim my presence and demand TO
| be ..let out.g" Nobody likes to look
like a fool if he can help it, and 1 hest
tatcd.
I glanced around. The windows
caught my cyc-why had | not thought
of them? | could at least make my
escape, and the ceremony might be dc,
laycl. and consequently Awkward; still
Nell would not b. utterly put to shame.
Like the mailman l was. | seized the
table. dragged it To the window. sprang
upon il, and climbed on 10 the high and
narrow window-sill; throwing up the
sash, | prepared TO leap out; but | had
| rcckonci without my hest the cord
that held the weight was broken, on
s%equently the moment my hand left the
sash the window descended with start
ling rapiditv. striking me fun upon the
head. and knocking me OF the narrow
sill. dashing NV head against the sharp
| corner of the table. and ut 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 eyes-my hand was covered
with blood.
l felt giddy and weak, still l stag
gered to my feet; then 4 black mist
arose around me. and l knew no
more.
This was Thursday eve. Sunday
afternoon the sexton. returning To his
duties. found me lying upon the floor
half dead. wholly dcGrious. my face
covered with blood. and a hole in my
head large enough 10 let the life out OF
any man. That mine was spared was
because | had fallen with the wound
down, and the soft pile of the carpet
acted like lint TO siaunch the blood.
As soon as | could control my
thoughts | begged To know of \ ellie.
Poor linlc girl, she hal been quite over
whclmed. When l failed TO appear
Hates husband rushed out to inquire of
the sexton if he had zee me. He was
! positive that had been there. and equally
positive that l had left again in company
with his brother-said ne could not
be mistakcn-both seemed 10 be in a
great hurry and had jumped into 3 car
| rage and been driven rapidly away.
Messengers were sen TO my hotel,
but without gaining \ clue 10 my where.
abeuts: so after n NOR flying wait
Nellie had been taken home. and the
very morning of the day l was dis
covered the whole family sailed for
Europe.
As soon as I was able to stand. l
sailed in search If the woman l had so
~innocently humilia'ed Not Knowing
her whereabouts it was two months be-
fore I found her. At last, oae evening.
wanderinr on the sea shore Of q quiet
little English town, l espied her-and
alone.
That she believed me q most black
encd villain was plain. for the look she
gave me when she recognized my
presence was one Of unutterably con-
Tempt. Now that l had found her l
was determined she should hear the
truth.
"Nellie." 1 cried. hurrying to her.
and grasping both her little hands
before she had time 10 escape.
"Well sir" she replied, haughtily.
irving. but trying in vain 70 free her
hands.
-l- vrslf