Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-03-04


occupied with her own affairs as to have
forgotten old Peggy Barnett the good
and kindly soul whom all the young
people called aunt, and with whom Al
ice had been since her babyhood spe-
cial favorite.
"Oh, if l only had time!" she said.
remorsefully. II feel as though l
could never forgive myself for being so
forgetful of the dear old woman, and
she watching for and expecting me.
joe" she added, looking up hastily,
do you think you could drive me
there and back in your gig? 1t would
not take ten minutes, and II have an
hour before me-" she added with a
blush.
IF you choose, Alice" he answered,
little hesitatingly.
mo one will see me; shall be back
before | am Missed she said, in her
usual impulsive way.
And the next moment she was seated
in the gig by the side of her old friend
and former lover, sp eiing down the
lane toward Peggy Barnett's cottage.
At the church every seat was filed,
and an impatient crowd AWAITED the
brides arrival.
1t was already past the appointed
hour. Two messengers had been dis
patched to inquire into the cause of the
delay, and in the vcStry room the
groom and his attendants awaited the
expected summons.
Sudd My the vcstry door opened, and
one of the dcacons Of the church en-
tered, with face in which i'll news was
50 palpably written that Gilbert War
ncr started to his feet.
What is it?" he said, quickly.
What has happen ad?'
And then he heard what every one in
the church and village was already re-
peating to each other.
Alice Graves and Joe Curtis have run
away together. They were seen dirty
rng at breakncck speed down the Mill
Road in the direction of the station-to
catch the north-bound train, no doubt
D. Warner heard the news in silence,
but with white face and set lips.
you will follow them, of course"
some one said.
But he answered, coldly:
Certainly not. She has chosen, and
have no wish to interfere"
And he added bitterly, to himself:
This was why she wished to be mar
ried in traveling-dress."
And when, some two hours there
after, the southern-bound train went
shrieking past the nearest station, it
bore away among its passengers, not
happy bridegroom, but stern and dis
appointed man.
Time went on its way, with the
changes which time always brings.
Five, ten, fifteen years passed, and
the village where Alice Graves had
lived and prospered, and was fast grow
ing into little town, with brighter
prospects ahead.
The little Graves homestead no Ion
ger stood alone in the midst of its gar
den and fruit trees, but was encroached
upon by newly built houses, and
board nailed on the old front porch in
formed the public that the place was
For Sale"
One autumn evening, a tall, grave,
middle aged gentleman stalked slowly
up the street, with his eyes thoughtfully
wandering over the faded old house
and its neglected grounds.
Pausing where boy was idly swing
ing on a gate of one of the new houses,
he said:
II see the property over there is for
sale. Who is the present owner?n
The boy, like most boys, was anx-
ious to give all the information in his
power.
"Old Mr.. Landon Graves was the
owner but he's dead now-been dead
two years-and the place belongs to his
daughter, Miss Alice"
Miss Alice? You mean Mrs.-Cur-
TSP" said the gentleman, hesitating at
the last name.
"She amt Mrs. Curtis. That's my
mothers name," replied the boy!
And lady who had been standing
unseen amid the shrubbery came hastily
forward.
She was tall and dark-eyed and come
ly and she looked keenly at the stranger
as he stood in the twilight.
Miss Alice Graves has never mar
ried,' she said. 81 suppose you must
somehow have heard the old story
which got about of her running away
with Mr.. Curtis on the evening she was
to have married another. 1t was all a
mistake, a false report. She merely
rode short distance with him in his
gig, to take leave of an old lndy of
whom she was fond. But the horse
was young and skittish, and taking
fright at something, ran away, throwing
them both out. People believed it told
an elopement, until when, some hours
after, tn y were found on the old mill
road, Alice badly bruised and Joe with
his leg broken. The man she was to
have married believed it, and left her
without word. Joe Curtis is my hus-
band now," she added with smile.
'and Alice Graves, though she has not
lacked offers, has never married. She
could not easily get over disappoint-
ment like that"
but why was not he-why was not