The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-09-23
A WIDOWED BRIDE.

A WIDOWED BRIDE.
A mellow spring twilight, with The
crocuses lifting their tiny spears o
gold along the garden walks, and
early violets beginning to spanglt
the ground with blue, on the south
side of running brooks. Such twi
light as touches a thousand chords
of memory and involuntarily dis
poses one to sadness. Nor did jim
Marchleigh, leaning back in the ex
press train with folded arms ano
eyes fixed dreamily on the amber
glory of the sunset, escape its infiu.
ence.
But he reused himself with an eff.
fort.
Il must not let myself drift into
melancholy tonight of all nights in
the year. be said to himself as be
glanced at his watch. Il must re-
member that l am going to be mar
ried.n
John Marchleigh had been engag.
ed for three years For three years
How long it had seemed when first
be plighted his troth to pretty Isa-
bel Ives. How short it seemed now,
to look oack upon. He had steadi-
ly worked his way upward from al
most the lowest position in Messrs.
Howell & Starke's great importing
warehouse to a position well-to-do
and comfortably salaried, and now
be was on his way to be married.
As he sprang from the train at
the little way station, the usual i'd
lers who haunt such a place looked
at each other, with nudges, winks
and meaning glances.
"They all know that l am coming
home to be married, he thought,
eoloring. and a Little annoyed. vii
lage gossip travels fast in place
like this"
Yes. They knew that. and they
knew more. John Marchleigh
would hardly have whistled as buoy.
antly as he did, crossing the great
rye meadow. where a meandering
path close 10 the old stone wall
made "short cut" of we'll nigh a
quarter of mile, had he known all
that they knew.
Il wonder how he'll take it," said
one.
Hell be raving furious, of course,
said another.
"But that won't mend matters,
remarked a third.
Women is all alike-and always
was" commented the philosopher
of the party. "He might ha' know
ed it."
The old Ives homestead was red
bright house, its north wall over
grown with glossy sheets ofivy, and
its porch shadowed with the droop-
ing boughs of pear tree, pronounc-
ed by popular tradition to be hum
dred years old. As Marchleigh step
ped on the steps slight, pretty girl
of seventeen ran out at the door.
"John !"
She colored and trembled and
laid her hand on her heart.
"Yes, it is l, Edith. Did l star
tie you so much"
"No-yes-it isn't that J" as he
laid his hand on her shoulder in the
affectionate way that became her fu-
ture brother-in. law. Didn't you
get your telegram, John ?"
Telegram? No! Has anything
happened p
His face paled as he stood there in
the uncertain twilight. Edith Ives
began to sob and wiring her hands.
"Oh, John john How cruel,
how heartless you must think US
all Bell is married
"Bell married. Good heavens y
he calculated. clasping both hands
over bis eyes, ''am l dreaming ?"
"She was married last night. She
has gone to Niagara. We all oppos-
ed it, but she would have her own
way. You know how wilful she
was, John; and he bewitched her. /
believe. He is very rich, and he
owns a villa in Switzerland, and a
yacht. and a Newport cottage, and
he's heir to title. / believe, and"
"He? Whom ?" hoarsely inter-
rupted John Marchleigh. "You for
get that you have not even told me
his name as vet"
"Evelyn-Captain Carston Eve
|yn. of the British army. But come
70, John; don't stand there. looking
white and chastity, like a corpse.
Dear John. we are all sorry for you'll"
And again Edith burst into q pas
sion of hysterical sobs and tears.
stop ln said John. always with
The husky lump in his throat
don't speak to me now, please
Leave me here a little by myself. II
Will come In presently. Married
Bell married p
Isabella Ives was an ambitious
girl, but up to this last lightning
swift episode in her life she had not
been a bad girl. She had loved
John Marchleigh truly and tenderly;
she had intended to remain constant
to him; but somehow the glitter and
glamour of Capt. Evelyn's name and
rank had dazzled her and changed
The current other whole nature. She
had married in haste-was she des-
tined to follow out the course of the