The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-11-22
A MISERABLE MISTAKE.

1t was Christmas Day, and grand
party was taking place at Burton House.
Among the guests were Mr.. Chandler,
brother to the hostess, his three daugh-
ters, Grace, Clara and Lucy, and his
ward, Catherine Willard.
In a young man named Adrian
Holmes, who was also guest, Gather
inc had an ardent lover. The maiden
returned his love with affection equally
as ardent.
Adrian was not very rich, and he
feared to ask GATHERINGS guardian to
consent to their union because he felt
assured he would refuse. He had Of
ten asked the young girl to marry him
clandestinely, but she had always de-
clined.
Selling the first opportunity on this
Christmas Day he once more begged
her to do so-begged SO earnestly that
she was forced at last to give a reluct-
ant consent. 1t was arranged between
them that that evening they should be
privately married at the little church
On the Burton estate.
When darkness had fallen Catherine
stealthily left the mansion, and repair
ed to the spot her lover had named as
their meeting-place. He was not there,
but presently she saw man coming up
the road. 1t being very dark she could
not clearly distinguish him, and think
ing it was Adrain, she took his arm,
aud went toward the church with him.
She addressed him once or twice, but
he made no answer. OF this, however,
she took no heed.
The church was soon reached. In e
few minutes the two had been made
man and wife.
Since entering the church Kate had
not once raised her eyes to her compan-
ion 5 face. She had been as one in a
dream, uttering the responses hardly
knowing that she did so.
And when she signed her name in
the register she did not look at the sig
nature her companion had placed there.
She and the man to whom she had been
bound left the church as another couple
from the village entered it.
AS they passed this couple in the
porch GATHERINGS companion bent his
head as though to speak to her. But
ere he could utter word Kate gave 8
little cry, and tearing herself from him,
rushed away.
She had inhaled his breath. Its
odor had told her that he had been
imbibing deeply of wine, or something
even stronger.
Years ago Adrian Holmes had vowed
to his dying mother that not a drop OF
Intoxicating liquor should ever pass
his lips. Hitherto he had kept that
VOW, and to think that he should have
broken it at length, and upon such a
night, both grieved Kate and made her
extremely indignant.
Catherine soon reached the Burton
House, and entered the mansion unob-
served.
When she again appeared among the
guests she was extremely surprised to
be informed that Adrian Holmes, just
after he had left the dinner-table, had
been given letter from his aunt in the
City, stating that her son had been kill
ed in railway accident, and that the
news had thrown his father into an
apoplectic fit, from which he had never
recovered, and requesting Adrian to &C
to her Immediately, which the young
man had done.
A strange fear crept over Kate.
Whom had she married?
Suddenly in the midst of the festivity
the discovery was made that the little
church on the estate was in flames.
Nearly everyone at once hastenee
| thither to view the confiagration.
How the fire had originated no on'
| could say.
1t was after the lights had been ex
tinouished, and the church locked up
| that the flames had burst forth.
A few days later, Mr.. Chandler re
turned to his residence with his daugh
ters and ward.
One day, early in the New Year, a
old gentleman called upon Mr.. Chand
Ter and enquired if he had a young lad
living with him named Catherine vii
lard.
In response to that gentleman's al
frmative answer, he stated that he wa
Kate's grandfather.
His only daughter, he said, had fall
en- in love with an artist named Thom
as Willard, fast man about thirt
years of age.
He had told the latter that the differ
ence between their ages, and the life b
led, must preclude the possibility of h
eyer thinking to win her.
Willard gave his word of honor ths
he would never seek her society agail
A month later, letter was sent hi
the speaker-from the school whel
he had placed his daughter, stain
that she had eloped with Willard.
A year passed, and then one day /
read a notice of her death.
! He had one child left-a son, WI