The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-06-20
THR BRIDEGRO0A.

don't believe he's got hundred dollars
ahead in the world!"
But, papa" poor Flora had faltered,
II love him 5%s
Flora, said her mother, solemnly,
"you're talking ina very improper man
ner. No well-regulated young woman
ever loves 3 man until she is married to
him !" II ,:ss ;s''s's
II know shouldn't love old Peckley
if Twas married forty times over to
him!" audaciously rejoined Flora,
whereupon her papa and mamma cried
out: "Hush-sh-sh, "and Flora was "put
down" at once.
Really, said Mr.. Gage, "Flora has
behaved very we'll. I didn't think the
child had 30 much sense"
Fred Templeton was here this
morning." said Mrs. Gage, gloomily.
"Well, let him come! She'll be safe-
ly married to Peckley by this time to.
morrow"
"But they made an appointment to
go out to visit the haunted house by
moonlight this evening""
II know it; but Peckley has gone
with them. Sly dog, that-sly old
dog!" and Mr.. Gage chuckled compla-
Gently.
While this conjugal tete-a-tete was
transpiring at the Gage mansion the
bride-elect was wandering over the de-
serted rooms of the old haunted house"
the valley below, with Fred Temple
ton at her side and Philo Peckley trudg-
ing behind.
as it really haunted2 ?" said Mr.. Peck.
ley, stopping to wipe his damp brow,
for he had been walking briskly, al
though it was December day.
ooh, there can he no doubt about it, I"
said Miss Gage. Nobody has occu-
pied the premises in twenty years. It's
ghost all in white that fits through the
upper room and wrings its hands"
"Shall we turn back ?" said Mr.. Tenn
pleton, quietly.
"Turn back! nonsensep cried Peck
ley, "Why, I'd as soon go over the
whole house by myself as not"
"Not into the haunted garrett"
"What haunted garrett" demanded
Peckley.
'"The garrett" said Templeton, with
great solemnity, "wllere the ghost turks
among the ruinous beams, and where
strange sounds appall the chance
passer."
Mr.. Peckley's eyes sparkled. He was
quite aware that he was rather lacking
in the romantic element-here was on
opportunity for him to outshine that
young scoundrel of Templeton.
"Come on" he cried, "you shall see
for yourselves! I'll go three times
around the garrett, all alone; you shall
hear the sound of my footsteps. Ghosts,
indeed! What nonsense!"
well, if you really have courage"
began Templeton.
Mr.. Peckley's only reply was an up
ward scramble which made the ruinous
rounds Of the ladder squeak violently.
But his blood chilled little, neverthe-
less, as he heard the retreating footsteps
of Mr.. Templeton descending the lad
der. The huge beams of the garret,
draped with waning festoons of cobweb
the vague, shimmering reflections of
the moonlight on the floor, the mourn
full whistling of the winter wind through
the chimney-stacks, which rose up like
monster mausoleum in the very CEN
ter of the place were none of them of the
most mirth-inspiring order, and as Philo
stood with chattering teeth in the mid
die Of the floor huge black rat skur-
ried across, like an imp of darkness,
close to his very feet.
Three several times Mr.. Peckley
trotted round the garret with starting
eyes, pallid cheeks, and cars that
fancied the shrek of disembodied
wind! Then he fed precipitately to
the trap-door, and strove to pull it
up.
But il would not yield to his strength.
Evidently it was bolted or chained be-
low. "Templetoni Temple -ton-n-n! !
Floral Flora Gage! Hello-o-o, say" !"
And the echoes, weird and wild, re-
turned his outcry, and then there was o
hollow horror of silence over all.
Mr.. Peckley scrambled to his feet and
ran to the end window, which COM
nlanded view of the road beyond the
frozen river and belt Of the leafless
trees. There they were, Fred and
Flora, arm in arm, descending the road
as cozily as possible, while he-Philo
Peckley-was barred and bolted
into the great garret of the haunted
house!
"No Mr.. Peckley yet? And the
guests all here-and the minister wait
ing-and Flora ready dressed this half
hour! I don't understand this OF all,
Mrs. Gage-no, not at all!"
And Mr.. Gage ran backward and for
ward, with face Us red as q peony,
and decidedly apoplectic symptoms
about his eyes.
ooh, dear!" said Mrs. Gage, wiring
ing her hands. "What shall we do?
Do You suppose Philo Peckley has
changed his mind, Mr.. Gage?"
Changed his mind, ma'am?" The
peony red changed to a vivid purple.
"Aman change his mind about marrying
my daughter! II he has, ma'am, it will
be the last opportunity he will have to
change it in my house! I'll give him
five minutes more by my watch, and
then, If he isn't here"
"Think of the big cake, Mr.. Gage"
pleaded his wife, "and the four dozen
champagne, all packed in ice! And the
roast turkeys, Mr.. Gage, and Flora's
wedding dress that cost $50, and the
scandal of the thing, Mr.. Gage!"
~ never said We should not have
wedding all the same, Mrs. Cage" he
said, with his eyes fixed steadfastly on
the aeeting second hand of the watch;
''but Fred Templeton is here-as fine
young fellow as ever breathed! No
one shall say my daughter was left to
wear the willow. IfPeckley don't make
his appearance in short order he'll find
himself too late; that's all I've got to
tell you'll"
He was Is good as his word! Five
minutes later the guests were all elec-
tri6ed by the entrance Of the wedding
cortege. But, in1tsad Of Philo Peckley,
/ the bridegroom was Mr.. Frederick Tenn.
Splstnn.
@ acAscsly had the Lowell yaad blushing
bs3de begun 70 recsiye ~ hsexlH con
Y :! ] & g +. 6 ~ -