The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-03-20

rehearsal 6ach SATURDAY evening, baaG
the music on Sunday would be greatly inn
proved thereby; and it was approved by
the minister and by the choir. So, it was
at once carried into effect.
From these ~rehearsals it became his GUS
tom to accompany Rose home-as he did
evenings in the week he had the pleasure
of being with her alone for a short time;
and a pleasure, indeed, it was to both OF
them. H FL
Along in September, as he and Rose
were on their way from a rehearsal, the
latter said:
"Next Saturday evening will be my last
with you"
"Your lastrehearsal with us !" exclaimed
Mr.. Ainslee in surprise.
Eyes. The year for which 1 engaged
with Mrs. Mason expires one week from
morning that after that time she should re-
quire my services no longer"
"What reason does she assign for not re-
engaging YOUR
one to teach her daughter for a smaller sal.
airy h she pays me-"
"Yes. And what do you think the reason
is?n
There was no answer to this question,
and he continued:
"Let me tell you, Miss Mason is at the
bottom of the affair. She does not wish
any one as a member of the household, who;
will win the regard which she desires
should be her own. Rose" he continued
presently, 81 love you as I have loved no
other woman" The hand resting on his
arm trembled. "Ihave known what it is
to lead a life of luxurious ease; I know
what it is to earn a living by the sweat OF
brow. If you can love a poor man,
who loves you devotedly, will you be my
wife?" NJ
And, hating, he gazed into the face over
which the moon poured a flood of yellow
light.
''If you can be satisfied with the love of a
servant, know hat it has been yours in
fullest measure, for a long time; that l will
become your wife whenever you choose.n
He drew her face to his and kissed it.
ST should like to lave the marriage cere-
mony performed on the evening of October
5-my twenty-fifth ~birthday-and in ths
church here, as it was in this town that wa
met and loved each other," he said.
'That will suit me as we'll a. another
time and place. Now I have one favor to
ask of you"
at is granted, before asked"
81 shall be obliged to go home for a few
days before I assume the responsibility of
becoming your wife. On my return I will
go to Mr.. Vernon's. Esther is q dear
friend of mine, and I shall not hesitate to
confde the secret to her. I shall not come
back till the day preceding the wedding,
and I prefer you should not call upon me
till you come to escort me to the church.
"Very well,"ewas his reply, though he
could not but wonder at her within.
They had reached Mr.. Nason's, and he
kissed her good night.
Three weeks from the next day, the con,
gregation in the church was electrified by
close of the afternoons discourse, that
'Thers will be a wedding in this place
next Wednesday evening at eight O'Clock,
to which, without further notice, you are
invited" Every human heart has a pen
chant for the mysterious, and the pro-
spective wedding-of which this was the
first intimatfen that any one had received
a deeper mystery than had ever beer
known in Campton.
"Who can it be that is going to be mar.
ried?" whispered one to another, as they
stood with bowed heads while the bene-
diction was pronounced.
No one could make reply. And, at the
conclusion of the service, not few were they
b rushed to the pastorr hoping he would
youchsafe a solution to the problem. HI
did not, and none of them ventured to ash
him point blank who the bride and groom
were.
"Rose shall be present, any way" OBJ
served Esther Vernon to one after another
sfor 1 will write her about it this very day,
if it is the Sabbath"
This remark tended to mystify those
"wise in their own conceit," who suspected
Rose might be the bride, but who were
aware, that, if such were the case, Esther
| would be informed of the fact, so warn
was the friendship between the two
Moreover, Mr.. Aineslee, the only gentle
man in cam,pton who had ever shown Rost
any marked attention, was quite indiffer
emit to the whole matter, and didn't ever
change color when the announcement wa!
made, according to the contralto singer, {
keen observer of men n things-espec
tally the former-shrewd at guessing, ant
a notorious gossip.
At twenty minutes of eight, on tn
evening when the event which, for tire,
days, had agitated the minds of Campton
was to take place, Mr.. Ainslee rang th,
bell at Mr.. Vernon's and was conducted BY
Esther to the vacant parlor.
"Rose will be here presently" she said
$50 please excuse me-"
Soon he heard a light step, and, looking
up, saw a vision of loneliness near hin
that almoft took his breath way. Coul'
this creature in a brocade-satin, with
fchu of the rarest lace, with diamonds il
her ears and about her neck, be Rose, tn
poor teacher?'
-Aren't you glad to see me?" b asked
gracefully, moving toward him, and the
putting her lips to his.
"Yes- butt he stammered.
w must be on our way to the church,
she remarked. 81 do not wish to keeI
those hidden to the wedding in a state O
anxiety longer than is necessary" smiling
81 will get my hat and shawl, and we vii
start"
As, accompanied by the groomsman an,
Observation-Disclosures Vernon and her fanc
the couple entered the sanctuary an
passed up the aisle to the altar, the orga
pealed forth the "Wedding March, in
manner that proved the keys manipulate
by more skillful fingers than any to who's
touch they had previously responded. An
when the people slightly turned their head
to see whose entrance was thus proclaimed
and perceived Mr.. Ainslee in an expensiv
suit of black broadcloth, Hose in richie
attire than ever before had been worn int
their church, their establishment wa
indescribable. No was it diminishe
when he placed a diamond ring upon he
finger, whose intrinsic value they realize
must exceed that of the best farm i
Campton. And the start that Rose inat
vertently gave, beholding the gem. ind
Gated the gift as great a surprise to, her q
to any of those present.
When the final words which made thel
husband and wife had been pronounced
their friends went and congratulated then
Even Miss Mason, with trembling lip
did so under protest was easy to perceiv,
Learning, as they shortly did, that M
Ainslee, from property in New York Cit,
had an annual income of thirty thousan
dollars, that Rose was the daughter of or
of the wealthiest men in Boston, the poo
people of Campton were astonished b
yond measure. And the two directly col
cerned in the affair were not less SUI
prised; neither having suspected the othe
of masquerading. The truth is, they ha
become disguised with the homage pal
them by reason of their wealth, and pu
sued the course they did solely to lear
whether they possessed traits of charactt
which, in themselves, would win the 9
TEEN of others. And Roses only motiy
in requesting Mr.. Ainslee not to call upo
!, her till he came to escort her to the churcI
was the desire to keep from him every int
, nation that his wife, to be, was other tha
the poor teacher he supposed her; and 81
| knew, seeing her wedding garments, l
would wonder how she could afford them
, as he did
i The contralto singer and Miss Nasc
were greatly annoyed at the strange d
{ n0uement. The former, because her rep
tation for cleverness in ferreting O,
r secrets was irreparably injured; ar
' over = her lost distinction she she
. many tears. Miss Mason grieve
not only because another had won Il
!, "only man for whom she had ev,
- ~ -