Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-03-04
THE MISSING BRIDE.
BY S. A. WEISS.

BY >. A. WEISS.
1t was Alice Graves wedding eve.
and the young people. with whom she
was favoritc, were busted in putting
the last finishing touches to the floral
decoration of the village church in
which the ceremony was to be perform
ed.
As with def and busy fingers they
disposed the freshly gathered roses here
and there among the evergreen gar
lands, their tongues moved as busily,
and they talked in groups of twos and
threes about the bride and the groom,
and various matters connected with the
wedding.
Some were disappointed that there
was to be no wedding party, but only a
sober ceremony in the church, with the
bride attred in travelling suit. What
satisfaction could there be in being a
bride if there was no bridal dress or veil
or wedding gaicty?
The groom, Mr. Gilbert Warner, had
proposed TO give a supper and Il recep-
at the hotel, but Alice had seemed
strangely set upon her own plan OF
Il aving immediate ly after the ceremony
for h L future home away in the South.
The girls wond red whether Joe Cur
It's would be at the marriage. Some
thought he would shrink from the Or
Gcal of seeing his old sweetheart the
bride of another, while others were of
tie opinion that Al,c's treatment of
h m had cstranged the love be had once
fit for her.
"shc certainly did treat him shame
fllly!' said one of the group which was
sanding close to tn - vestry door. I'VE
oil remember the attention he paid her,
and how she seemed to encourage it.
No one doubted it would be match;
and for my part, | felt awfully sorry for
Joe when she came back from the
South engaged to this stranger, Mr..
Warner.
'hc's a better match for her than
Joe Curtis" said lively girl, rising
and shaking from her dress the stray
leaves that chung to it. Not as good
looking, perhaps, but he's rich, and
Alice can have all she wants if her hus-
band is generous enough to give it to
her. I've often heard her say she
would like to have plenty of money; and
for my part / don't blame her. One
can be so much happier with money!"
II don't believe that Alice is marrying
for money" said tall, dark-eyed girl
with some Indignation in her tone. II
have observed her, and / am certain
that she is more in love with Mr.. War
ner than ever she was with Joe Curtis.
don't think she ever cared for Joe ex-
cept as a friend, though she may have
thought so. | teal you, girls, one never
knows when one is really in love until
the right one comes" Z
Then there was some more light chat
ter, and the gay group, having COM
pleted and admired their work, left the
church and dispersed to their homes to
prepare for being present at the wedding
ceremony.
They did not know that tneir talk
had been overheard by tall, dark gen
tleman who stood just inside the vestry
door; and that their careless words Nd
planted sharp pang of doubt and
jealousy in heart which an hour before
had been trimming with the happiness
of loving and trusting bridegroom.
Mr. Warner and his "best man" had
come quietly to the church, at the re-
quest of the clergyman, in order to go
through slight rehearsal necessary to
the perfect carrying out of the proposed
ceremony The clergyman had not ar
rived, and while waiting for him and
the departure of the ladies who were
experimenting the decorations, Warner
had approached the vestry door, which
stood little open, and overheard the
whole of the conversation on the other
| side.
1t was a shock and a revelation to
| him. Was it possible, he thought, that
he had been deceived in the fair girl, in
whose love he had so implicitly trusted?
Was it true that she had ever loved an
other, or that she was marrying himself,
as her thoughtless young friend had
limited, for money? But then came the
words of the grave, tall girl with the
dark eyes, to soothe and reassure him.
| ha Il Il
noble, as he had hth rrto thought her,
he said to himself, though even at the
moment he was conscious of the pang
of doubt, which would intrude itself,
despite his resolve.
Up at the little Graves homestead,
just on the borders of the village the
bridal party was assembled--Alice and
her six bridesmaids.
The sun had set, already the village
church was lighted and the people were
vending their way thither, eager to get
possession of the most advantageous
places for witnessing the ceremony.
Alice, attired in complete travelling
costume, was in her room. At her re,
quest she had been left alone until the
carriage should arrive to convey her to
the church She looked about the coy
little room. which had been her own, at
the little ornamental articles, in which
she had taken SO much pleasure in
furnishing it. and through the open
side door into the garden,