The Portland daily press., 1883-05-18
g5 PRESS
FRIDAY MORNING. MAY IS.
My Terrible Wedding-day.
1.-THE Argosy.l

we Tell ID love Wiln S@SH otnSi as Hist
sight.
About two months before my tale COM
mences, Mr.. Harrington had come from tho
south of England to Leascar as assistant
engineer to the new line of railways in pro
cess of construction along the coast, a rival
line 10 that which already conn. cted our
smsll seaside village with the large CONNER
cial city of N -.
|, Leonie Sylvestre, was at this timeinine-
teen. My mother-an Englishwoman-ded
at my birth. My father--a French professor
of music, many years resident in Leascar-
had been dead about twelve months; and |,
having good voice and considerable knowl-
edge of music, maintained myself by giving
lessons to the principal inhabitants of this
small northeast coast watering-pace.
hated teaching, however, and lacked pa
thence for the drudgery entailed; therefore
when Mr.. Harrington asked me to become
his wife, even had loved him less, believe
could have married him.
Miss Sylvestre! Leonie! I must walk
home with you Tonight Mr.. Harrington
whispered as he turned page of my music
on one memorable evening at whist and
musical party given by DR.. Grey.
His tones and looks caused my heart to
beat loud with hope, for they told me more
plainly than his words had ever done--he
loved me. Making, therefore, some excuse
erings, dismissed her; Edgar and l walk
ing alone together for almost the first time
in our lives.
.Leonie, do yon love me? Do you love me
well enough to follow me to the worlds
erdg he asked in an agitated voice the mo-
ment we were outside DIR. Grey's sase.
Must follow you? And wave of
gladness seemed to sweep over me as
raised my eyes to his in the November moon
light.
No, my darling was his answer; go with
me, should have said. And you will
read ii in your face. God bless you for that.
Yesterday dared not have asked you such
Question, for | was poor man, then. To
day my prospects have frightened. Ireceiv-
ed letter this morning offering me an APP
poin ment in IRdia which will make rich
man of me. But. if l accept The post, ! am
bound ia honor to leave England OF Wed
nesdav next. will you-can you-trust
your life's happiness 10 my keeping?'
| answered at my hearts diciation. Yes
Then Edsar gave me 10 understand that he
had no relative in the world and Te rei0c-
ed mntn.aiiv that we were thus arbiters of
Sur own fases. No one had right to mar
our plans.
"A clever, rising young fellow in his pro-
fession, doubtless said DR.. Grey to me,
when he had heartily congratulated me on
-. lily tn%dHtiIcuts dttd d ScuLict1tl dil QNtT.
But he has no heal for whist
Whist being the doctors ia ,orite reerea.
ton, he was ace lstomed to make 1t rather
test point Of mans ability. Ny answer
was inevitable.
i do not care for whist doctor
And yop do care for Edgar Harrington?
Then marry him and be happv. l make
only one proviso, and that isl must myself
give the bride awayp
Little enough time was there for prepare
tions, but Edgar undertook to make all nee
my India outfit which was to be ready on
our arrival in London.
On Saturday said my last goodby to my
lover-so soon to be my husband-when he
told me 1t would be impossible to see me
again mill we met in church on Mond ay
morning; bur The certainty that on Monday
we two were to he made ore for ever calsed
me to think lightly of the few hours separa-
ton.
Lightly? Alb, how little did / dream of
the terrible catastrophe destined to happen
in that interimi
As IL will be necessary later in my story
for you to have some idea of Edgar's person
al appearance, will endeavor to describe
him here. In figure slight and agile, be was
rather under than above the medium height.
His complexion clear olive, with eyes that
WIZ urrp-ctL, expressive. anu q nose
in outline almost Grecian A heavy, droop-
ing, dark moustache entirely concealed his
mouth. His manner, naturally retiring, in
company almost approached shyness; but at
all times he had quiet way of deferring TO
the opinions or prejIdices of those with
whom he talked which showed itself in
strong contrast to the rorgher, more rugged
manners of the north-conntry men.
/ rose early on Monday morning-long be-
fora Aax init nd Dr. al
lng-dress when DIR. Grey called for me in
his carriage. / remember leaning on his
arm as | walked up the aisle of the little
country church. remember seeing, as in a
dream, in the early and still misty morning
light, solitary figure standing just outside
the altar rails, next whom | took my place.
The service at once commenced and pro-
ceeded to the close.
Will any married woman who has read
thus far, try and remember if. during the
Ceremony, she looked at the face of the man
to whom she was being united? | believe
most women wonld tell me they never raised
their eyes. Any how, this was my case. The
ring was on my finger. the blessing given; L
was led to the vestry on the bridegroom's
arm. A timepiece Ginning as we entered
gave warning that it was later than we ex-
pected. DIR. Grey iocularly hurried us for
ward 10 sign our names.
Edgar wrote bis and placed the pen be-
tween my fingers. After writing my old sig
nature for the last time, [ looked up at my
husband, then stared bewildered, startled at
the change i saw in him. At the first glance
| scarcely recognized him, the lower part of
his face being completely altered. His dark
monstache-,he admiration OF all the girls in
Leascar-had disappeared.
A deep flush spread itself over his counte-
nance as his eyes met mine. He bit his un-
derip and looked away.
When the last faTewells to the few kind
friends who saw US off at Leascar station
had been spoken, and the train had started
for N, an uncomfortable feeling of EN-
ba-rassmeni crept over me on finding myself
alone with Edgar. He wo lid have taken
my hand, bu, Involuntary drew back !;
then seeing his look of chagrined surprise,
/ suffered him to kiss me, but could not re-
press a slight shver as be did so.
Why do you shrink from me, Leonie? he
asked reprOachfuly
For the siiesi reason 10 the world when
put into Words / answered, quite happy
aad laughing now, with a sudden strange re-
vulsion. Only because the man promised
to marry had moustache, and you have
none. What UNI easoDing, foolish creatures
we arei But it changes your face so com
pleteiy that hardly knew you.'
'Yon are quite sure you have no other
reason? be inquired, with more earnestness
apparently that The question needed.
Quite sure. What other reason conid |
have. But you had no right to make such
change in your appearance without nv
leave, Edgar-the very day of our marragel
Why did you do ~ asked playfulIy; I'll the
time looking at him iDtently, and trying to
learn his face over again, and as it were, got
used to 1t.
i will tell nay darling all about 1t some
day, when we are far away upon the sea
Would we were there nowp he added fer
vently. And noticed that his lips trem-
bled nervously after he bad spoken
In less than half an hour we reached NJ
There we had barely time to take our seats
In the 10 o'cinck express for London. 1t
was not possible to have compartment to
ourselves. An old gentleman, white-headed,
specialized, with the best tempered looking
face l almost ever saw, occupied that which
we entered. He was enveloped in rugs and
studying bis newspaper with the deepest at
tenlion. Except by swift, expressive
glance from pair of deep-set, small black
eyes he did not appear to notice our intru-
sion.
Stocks and shares, Parliamentary debates,
or whaf?-for wa not a comic paper he
was reading-I wondered vaguely, as watch
ed the rnddy, jpvlal face. Edgar spoke to me
in whispers from time To time but the con