River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-10-05

IN the vestry.
Nellie was to enter on her fathers
arm, followed by her bridesmaids and
groomsmen-six in number-w while
was to enter in the nick of time from
the vestry, the minister from his study,
and meet before the altar.
1t was all very pretty, but almost
knew | should make mess of it-and
did, with a vengeance.
| had requested to be allowed to be
alone, SO as to keep my part in mind
and for the same reason went early te
the church, not to be stared at and con.
fused, for this show affair was not one
bit to my mind.
Just at the last moment Tom cam {
rushing in, followed by the regular sex.
ton.
"I've got telegram from Lettie,
said Tom, his voice quiveriDg. "She
is worse and must start at once. just
time To catch the train. Goodbye, old
boyl God bless you'll"
''fm going too; just come to wish
you Joy, Mr.. Bert" said the sexto1,
who had known me since | was lad
'sorry / can't see you married. My
roads the same as your brothers, sc
I'll go with him." and off they both
hurried, the door shutting with sharp
click behind them.
The time for the arrival of the wed
ding party drew near; advanced to
the door that opened into the church
designing to open it and peep through
1t resisted my efforts. struggled with
it sharply, no usel the door was locked
muttering curse on the stupidity Of
the sexton, strobe to the other door
In shutting the door, it, too, had be
come locked, and was as fast rs fate.
Great drops of perspiratlon stood out
on my forehead. What was to be donef
asked myself the question, and
mopped my face with an Immaculate
handkerchief, but failed to find the
answer.
Then | flew back to the inner door
and listened. The organ was playing
gayly, and subdued hush told me
that Nellie was entering on her fathers
arm, and here | was standing like a
Gagged rat.
Oh, how / tried to open that door
My gloves split. and the perspiration
ran in rivers down my face and dropped
off the end of my nose; but not one
inch could bulge it.
/ have wondered since how should /
have looked if / had succeeded in open
ing the door and been suddenly pro-
iected before the cremede Ia creme. with
limp collar, torn gloves and distended
eyes. | can smile now, but | can as
sure you | saw no fun in it then.
l tried the door till positively no hope
remained in that direction. Then l
flew again to the outer door, and
pounded and even shouted, but to no
purpose.
Utterly hopeless, 1 returned to the
inner door ence more. All was silent.
Should thunder on its panels and pro-
claim my presence and demand to be
"let out ." Nobody likes to look like a
fool if he can help it-and hesitated.
| glanced around. The windows
caught my eye-why had / not thought
of them | could at least make my
escape, and the ceremony might be de-
layed, and consequently awkard; still
Nellie would not be utterly put to shame.
Like the madman | was / seized the
table, dragged it to the window, climb
upon it and up to the high and narrow
window sill; throwing up the sash |
prepared to leap OUT, but had reckon
ed without my host, the cord that held
the weight was broken, consequently
the moment my hand left the sash the
window descended with startling rapid
ity, striking me full upon the head and
knocking me off the narrow sill dashing
my head against the sharp corner Of
the table, and at last landing me full
length upon the floor.
| 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 stagger-
ed to my feet; then a black mist arose
around me and knew no more.
This was Thursday eve. Sunday
afternoon the sexton, returning to his
duties, found me lying on the bed half
dead, wholly delirious, my face covered
with blood, and a hole in my head
large enough to let the life out of any
man. That mine was spared was be-
cause | had fallen with the wound
down, and the soft pile of the carpet
acted like lint to stanch the blood.
AS soon as l could control my
thoughts l begged to know of Nellie.
Poor little grill she had been quite
overwhelmed. When | failed to ap-
pear Hates husband rushed cut to in
quire of the sexton if he had seen me.
He was positive that had been there,
and equally positive that | had left
again In company with his brother
said he could not be mistaken both
seemed in a great hurry, and had
jumped into carriage and been driven
rapidly away.
Messengers were sent to my hotel,
but without gaining clew to my
whereabouts; 80 after mortifying wait
Nellie had been taken home, and the
very morning OF the day | was discov-
cred the whole family sailed for Eu-
rope.
As soon as was able to stand sailed
in search OF the woman | had SO inno-
Gently Inundated. Not knowing her
whereabouts it was two months before
| found her. At last, one evening,
wandering on the seashore of a quiet
little English town, espied her-and
alone.
That she believed me most black
ened villain was plain, for the look she
gave me when she recognized my pres
ence was one of unutterable contempt.
Now that / had found her was de-
termined that she should hear the
truth.
Nellie" l cried, hurrying to her
and grasping both of her little hands
before she had time to escape.
"Well, sir" she replied haughtily,
trying, but trying in vain, to free her
hands.
'My darling" 1 pleaded, "you will
at least hear man before you con-
denim him?'
Her face flushed angrily.
"What can you say" she burst out
holly, ''that will make your conduct
less dastardly? Have you not made
me the object of everyone's ridicule
and contemptuous pity? Offering me
public insult no woman could ever for
give? Have you not made me hate
everybody, myself most of all? What
more do you wish? Bertram Langley,
you william"
| WINGED little at the word, as |
thought of my broken head, though
God knows did not blame her, believ-
ing as she did.
"Why are you here? And why did
you run away?' she demanded with a
whole world Of scorn on the words "run
away"