Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-02-04
church was lighted and the people were

| pi'tccS lor Witnessing tne 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 cozy
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.
This last was favorite haunt of hers.
At the end of the walk leading from her
door was vine covered arbor, where
she had spent many u quiet and happy
hour with her books or work. Why
should she not take last look at this
spot, and of the flowers which she had
trained over and around itp 1t was out
of sight of the road and of the other
part of the house, so no one could see
her.
Slowly and pensively she strolled
down the walk-paused for moment
under the arbor then, approaching
the little gate which here opened upon
a green lane, she stood looking across
the fields toward the woodlands.
The sound of swiftly-approaching
wheels aroused her. It was Joe Cur
tbs, in his gig, driving rapidly down the
lane
Before Alice had time to turn away,
he drew up suddenly opposite the gate
on which she leaned.
81 don't know that l ought to in
trude upon you at such time, Alice"
he said; "but l have just seen old Aunt
Peggy Barnet, and she was speaking of
you. Do you know that, as l passed
her cabin, the old soul was standing
in her doorway watching for you"
"Watching for mep" Alice repeated.
"Yes. She said she knew you would
not 60 way without bidding her good
by, as she might never again see you"
A pang of remorse shot through the
girls heart.
How was it that she had been so pre-
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. Il feel as though /
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,
lido you think you could drive me
there and back in your gig? 1t would
not take ten minutes, and IL have an
hour before me-" she added with n
blush.
IF you choose, Alice" he answered,
little hesitatingly.
mo one will see me; 1 shall be back
before l 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, speeding down the
lane toward Peggy Barnett's cottage.
At the church every seat was filled,
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 vestry room the
groom and his attendants awaited the
expected summons.
Suddenly the vestry door opened, and
one of the deacons of the church en-
tered, with face in which i'll news was
so palpably written that Gilbert War
ner started to his feet.
what is itP' he said, quickly.
what has happenedP"
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 driv-
ing at breakncck speed down the Mill
Road in the direction of the station-to
catch the north-bound train, no doubt.
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 a 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 a
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 lon
ger stood alone in the midst of its gar
den and fruit trees, but was encroached
upon by newly built houses, and a
board nailed on the old front porch in
formed the public that the place was
"For Sale"
n ~