Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-02-19
THE BRIDAL ROBE.

The midsummer sun hung high in the
heavens-the air was sweet with newly
cut grass, when Andrew North came
whistling up to the ancient well and
drew a draught of cold water in the old
bucket.
He was tall, handsome young fell
low, with silky black beard and
complexion of rich, healthy brown. 1t
was difficult to imagine how he ever
came to be related to the sour old wo-
man who was speeding harvest apples for
pies on the doorstep.
''Well, mother" said the young man
cheerily, show goes itP"
The Widow North heaved borean
sigh.
my DEAR" said she, "this is world
of change and sorrow"
''Well, mother, and what has hap
pened nowP"
II was down to the store this morn
ing" said Mrs. North, "buying q skein
of carpet thread and two eight-ounce
papers of tacks, and had to wait for
the change till the young gal that run
the telegraph machine had writ out the
message. And couldn't help SEEM it
over her shoulder; it was from young
man down in York state to Fanny
Cleveland. ~
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 Clevelaud's
private affairs"
but it is my bounden duty TO tell
YOU this, Andrew, said the old lady.
mo young woman has any business to
deceive man as Fanny is deceiving
you. The bridal robe is finished, was
what the young man lelegraphed.
Come and see it ut once.' Don't look
so struck of heap" added Mrs. North.
"Oh, Andrew; | never cid put very
much confidence in Fanny from the
first moment set my eyes on her. Yes,
YOU may depend upon it, She j, going
10 be married right Of, and To some
Young man in the military business.
But the last words of the old lady's
lugubrious sentence were lost in the
ears of her son, as estrode away under
the apple trees toward the bayfield,.
Poor Andrew she sighed. I'm
afraid he'll take it hard. But never
did think it right for a widow to marry
again"
And Andrew! Very different were
his thoughts as he stood out in the mid
die of the level field where perfumed
waves of butter-cups, daisies, and de-
licious grass followed the sweep of the
mcrciless blade.
Il don't believe it!' he said aloud as
he examined the edge of his scythe, not
knowing whether it was sharp or dull.
ho1. Ia
man who And yet, what fool l
ami Suddenly ilinging down the
scythe.) SIS there woman in the
world who is free from deceit? And,
after all, we have never been formally
engaged. loved her and l was idiot
enough to believe that she loved me. :"
The old lady meanwhile went around
among Der friends relating the horrible
story of the ''telegraphic message" I'M
der solemn promise of secrecy, and in
twenty-four hours everybody in Linden
vile knew all about it-that Mrs.
Cleveland, the pretty young artist who
had taken wild Rose Cottage was
TO be married very soon, and thas the
bridal dress was already completed at q
fashionable emporium in New York.
Fanny Cleveland was entirely ignor-
ant of the tide of gossip that ebbed and
flowed about her, and all that surprised
her was the unusual absence from her
aide of Andrew North, the stalwart
young farmer, whom She had learned
TO regard with tcndcrer feeling than that
of Indifference.
Ms. Cleveland was of the fair Saxon
type of beauty rosy-cheeked and SUM-
ny-haired, with blue eyes, and dimple
in her chin-and as she walked down
toward the railway station with trim
little bag on her arm, she seemed
scarcely day over 18, although in very
truth she was three and twenty. And,
as fate would have it, the very first per-
son she met at the station was Andrew
North himself. He bowed constrain-
eddy.
"Oh, Andrew" she cried, "are you
going to New YorkP''
YES" he said.
81 am going to the city also," said
Fanny.
Yes" he said coldly. "Pray allow
me to congratulate you"
upon whatp"
Upon your approaching marriage
10 be sure" said Mr.. North, with {
spasmodic sort Of smile.
"But I'm not going to be married,
said Fanny. "Atleast, not that / know
of. What makes you look so strange
Andrewpn
And then North told her the whole
story.
"Ahrs said Fanny. whose color hac
varied from white to pink as he spoke
$50 that is the mysteryP Yes, 1t is al
true, The Bridal Robe is finished
I'm going to New York to see it. Blu
1t isn't dress at all--it Is pictur
which my dear brother has just com