The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-01-31
THE BRIDAL ROBE,

"Well, mother" said the young man
cheerily, chow goes III"
Tue Widow North heaved borean
sigh.
MY dear" said she, "this is a world
Of change and sorrow"
"Well, mother, and what has happened
now?"
Il was down TO the store this morn
ing aaid Mrs. North, "buying a sktin
of carpet thread and two eight-ounce
papers of tacks, and had 10 wait for
the change till the vonng gal that runs
the telegraph machine had writ out the
message. And 1 couldn't help SEEM it
over her shoulder; it was from young
man down in York State to Fanny Cleve-
land"
"Hush, mother!" said Andrew North
reddening to the roots of his hair.
Don't tell me any more. 1t is not for
us to examine into Mrs. CleYeland's pri-
vate affairs" .......
"But it is my bounden duty to tell you
this, Andrew said the old lady. No
young woman has any business to de-
ceiye man as Fanny is deceivIng you.
The bridal robe is finished, was what
the young man telgraphed. Come and
see it at once" Don't look so struck of
a heap" added Mrs. North. Job, An.
drew; never did put very much con-
hdenee in Fanny from the first moment
/ set my eyes on her. Yes, you may de-
pend upon it, abe is going to De married
right OFF. and to some young man in the
military business.
But the last words of the old lady
lugubrious sentence we're lost in the ears
OF her son, as he strobe away under the
apple trees toward the bayfield,.
Poor Andrew" she sighed. "I'm
afraid hell take it hard. But l never
did think it right for widow to marry
again"
And Andrew! Very different we're his
thoughts as he stood out in the middle oi
the level field where perfumsd waves Of
outter-cups, daisies, and delicious grass
followed the sweep of the merciless
blade.
Il don't believe it" he said aloud NJ
. he examined the edge of his scythe, no
knowing wheth er it was sharp or dull
u can't believe it. Fanny is not n wo
man who Aud yet, what fool ! ami
Suddenly finging down the scythe,) III
there q woman in The world who is fre
from deceip Aud. after all, we have no
been formally engaged. ! loved her ant
) I was idiot enough to believe that sh
! loved me-
=, The old lady meanwhile went nroun,
among her friends relating tho horribl
r story of the telegnphic message upde
Y solemn promise Of secrecy, and in twel
= ty-four hours everybody in Lindenvill
8 knew all about it-that Mrs. Cleveland
the pretty young artist vino had take
"Wild Rose Cottage" was to be marie
very soon, and that the bridal dress wa
G already completed at fashionable en-,
t porium in New York.
T Fanny Cleveland was entirely ignorar
of the tide of gossip that ebbed an
flowed about her, and ell that surprise
Il her was the unusual absence from ht
S side Of Andrew North, the stGlwa
I young farmer, whom she had learned
regard with tepderer feelings than that (
u Indifference.
= Mrs. Cleveland was of The fair Sake
s type of beauty--rosy.oheek and sum,
IT haired, with blue eyes, and dimple
her ehIn-and as she walked dow
toward the railway station with tri
a little bag on her arm, she seemed scaro
~ ly day over ls, although in very tru
she was three aud twenty. And as la
would have it. the very first person 81
3, met at the station was Andrew Nor
n himself He bowed constrninejly.
p oh Andrew" she cried, "are you g
ie ing to New York;
"Yes, he said.
" II am going to the city aIso," sa
le Fanny.
M YES" he said ooldly. "Pray, allo
III me to congratulate you"
upon what?"
"Upon your approaching marriage,
,r, be sure" said Mr.. North, with spa
'st modio sort of smile.
ed "But I'm not going to be married
so said Fanny. "At least, not that knC
~ of, What makes you look so stranl
is Andrew"
II And then North told her the whl
- story.
"Ah" said Fanny, whose color h
id varied from white to pink as he spol
e. $50 that is the mystery7 Yes, it is
us true. The Bridal Robe is fnishC
- I'm going 10 New York to see it. But
y, isn't dress at Ell-it is a picture whi
my dear brother has Just completed.
lis is to go into the autumn exhibition, a
N. Jerome wants me to criticise it a lit
- before it Is framed. And to think II
On my friends could possibly believe that
ps that"
Fanny Cleveland turned away, wi
he her eyes brimming over with tears I
a whistle sounded--tha passengers hurri
ks out upon the platform the ticket age
Iot closed his window with a reyerberati
ud slam. Andrew and Fanny were olol
and in one second be had olasped her
MT his arms.
ur 'BGt You will be marued9 To n
lty Fanny. For love you, darling, bet
ay than all the world"
he
ers Mrs. North was very much smaa
when Andrew came back With the