Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-08-03


were at the door; crates Of china, bas-
kcts Of wine; then crowd of neigh
bors' children stared at the carriages
which drove from before tho striped
awning with the wedding guests, the
bride relations, tho bride herself
Then they returned, and there was
breakfast, and pretty figure in sil-
yer-grey travcling-dress entered carr
riagc. followed by an old gentleman.
"A small cab received waiting-maid
within. valet on the box by the driver.
The bride was off on her wcdding-trip.
Ii was Mr.. Totty's wish to 60 TO
Swan Lake hotel. There they created
furore. Mrs. Totty was so lovelyl
Mr. Totty was SO rich! The hotel
tlourished at time whom its glories
usually departed.
The newly-madc couple took line
suite OF rooms. Tho maid and valet
lived like prince and princess. Troops
of friends came down, all entertained
at the expense of Mr.. Totty.
All went merry as a marriage bell
until that morning, when MIR. Totty
spoke to the landlord of fishing-party
at the head of the lake.
The landlord agreed TO everything,
promised everything. The party
started off in high glee. It was a
warm day, but not a sc0rching one. "A
few little fish were caught.
AT last the cloth was spread on the
grass. Champagne-bottles we're OPEN
ed with jolly little poppings Of corks.
Mrs. Totty's health was proposed, and
he arose to respond.
Al k< Sr,41l L. Il. l. -
horror froze the words upon his lips.
IT came from Mrs. Totty's maid, who
sat on the rocks beside the lake.
What the deuce is the matter with
Therese?n he cried as she came flying
towards them, followed by the valet.
What is it, MooreP' asked Mr.. Tot
ty.
"A dead person, sir-a drowned gem
tleman, I'm afraid. He's in evening
dress. The ladies had better not 90
down. It would be best, sir. not to
let the ladies know, if you'll excuse
me. It's very terrible =
But the ladies had heartl-one of
them had gone to the shore.
'It is Leonard Lester!' they heard
her scream.
Mrs. Totty clung to her husbands
arm. Take me home = take me
awayl' she sobbed, shivering and hid
ing her face from the others.
So ended the fishing-party. N
The coroner went down from tho
village shortly afterwards. Leonard
Lester was identified. The verdict was
Found drowned. T"
The bride heard slow wheels come
up the path from tho lake after dark,
and knew they brought the lover who
had died because of his love for her.
She knew they had telegraphed the
news to a home of which he was an
idol She knew that peace would be
hers no more, for in every way that a
practiced woman of society could lead
q man on TO love and avow his love,
had she led that poor boy to his death
in the moonlit lake.
Again the moon shone white and at
her full. Again that long bright track
Law upon the water. Wrapped in
white, she leant back in her chair in
the same spot, and near her, just
where Leonard Lester had been seated,
sat her husband. He was anxious about
her.
Tho fright has been too much for
you, !" he said. MY pet. you ought to
60 to bed.
LET me stay here, " she said.
She felt too Ill 20 move, too faint and
strange. He took her hands. They
were cold in his own.
.'Sha'n Mt get you some winepn
She answered Eyes, then put her
hand up, and drew his head down.
kiss me, she said.
Ho kissed her oh, SO fondly. He
felt very happys very glad; he said to
1T was not all my money; she loves
me. =
And he went away to get the wine.
Happily he could not see into her
heart He did not know that she was
thinking how she had said to herself
that she would be won and wooed by
her young lover when this her old hus-
band lay silent rs the dead boy now
lay upstairs. He never knew, thank
Heaven!
His heavy footsteps Gro sed the tiled
hall, and she heard them fade away.
Her eyes wandered out on The track Of
light to the moon, no longer round and
fair 10 her, but q mere blurred and
wavering light. She recalled II, and
saw Leonard Lester sitting beside her
In the chair her husband had Just left.
What want to know i whether
You love me, he said. s'Do youg''
u doF' shc cried. ..Oh, Heaven, I
dor
The old man. returning with the
glass Of wine. heard her nrv
Lofty, my dearE' he gasped s.Lot-
tyr
But his wife made no answer. She
was dead.
Upon one occasion when Ax6emus
Ward was liz London cliiIdren's party
was arranged b. the great humorisI,
and to which one Of the sons Of John
Bright Was invited. The boy returned
home agIoW with DELIGHT 'sIHeII. y
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