The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1882-12-29
Hliscell allenltS.
The Lost Bridegroom.

In q rugged and mountainous district of
Wales is situated a mining village noted for
this little story which the miners tell to their
children.
Years ago in the village Of, there
was an humble but neatly-kept cottage, where
an old miner dwclt with his wife and only
child-a son. And Alick was but a young
bow when he first descended into the mines
with his father.
One evening, as the old miner was return
ing home from neighboring village, his at
tention was attracted by a little girl. She
was weeping bitterly. A few broken, almost
inarticulate words told that she had been de-
serted by her mother. The child, weary and
hungry, had cried itself to asleep, and while
she was sleeping the unnatural parent had
forsaken her.
The old man was touched by the incident.
Raising her tenderly in his arms, he wander
ed his way homeward. Entering the cottage
he placed the light burden in his wfe's lap,
saying:
"God in his wisdom has seen fit to choose
our home from all the other homes in the viii
LACE to shelter this deserted child. Knowing
your kind heart wife, l did not fear to bring
the little one to you"
The dame pressed the good mans hand
affectienately in reply, and Amy-for so the
child was called-was soon seated before q
simple repast.
| Alck, on his return from the parish school,
welcomed the little girl with every expression
of pleasure ,.u
Years passed away, and Amy's childhood
| days were spent
| Without great claims to beauty, there was,
nevertheless, a charm about her which they
all recognized.
The miner and wife were not surprised
when Alick one day asked them for their
consent to make Amy his wife, and to this
request they accorded their heartfelt blessing
The day for the rustic nuptials were named
and was looked forward to as an occasion o.
general rejoicing. The happy day arrived
work was suspended that all might join il
the merry-making.
Taking the hand of the trembling CIR
within his own, Alick, according to thu
long established custom of the village, lee
the way to the little uncovered churcl
where the parish priest blessed their love-
Chrildren strewed flowers by the way sid
and sang gay songs. Each guest had mad
modest offering, but to no one would Alicl
confide the nature of his gift, wishing, as h
, did, to excite an agreeable surprise.
When they had returned to the cottag
Alick kissed his wife, telling her he woul,
leave her but for short season. He left TIL
house, and, with one last, lingering look at til
doorway where Amy stood waving merr
adieu, he hurried off in the direction of til
old mine, and a curve in the road soon hi
him from view AS his 1.-THE figure disar
peared Amy uttered faint sigh, suggestiv
of dull forebodng ofevi or the fullnesss {
her mirthful joy.
, DAYS passed, and search had been mad
: everywhere Weeks followed then months
But the bridegroom did not return, Nc
: could his absence and strange disappearance
] be accounted for. No clew was gained b
, those who searched untiringly. AT lengt
hope was abandoned. The widowed brio
clung tenaciously to one idea which SCENE
almost like folly in life or death, she woul
see her husband again before she was callle
f away from earth.
= Forty years were gone, but for the sa
wistful face of old Amy, and the whispert
stories of the peasantry, the unaccountab
'' disappearance of Alick would have been 70
d gotten. But the tale told in an under-breai
j. by many heart was, that Alick had bee
carried off by an evil spirit, with whom
:. had held compact. Many even went so Fl
as to say that his soul haunted the old CO