The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-02-05
THE MISSING BRIDE.
BY 8. A. WEIss.

LIE MlSClNG BRlDE.
BY 8. A. WEISS.
IT. was Alice Graves wedding eve.
and the young people. with whom she
wa q ~favorite, 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 md busy fingers they
disposed the freshly gathered roses here
n 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.
Sons were disappointed that there
was to be no wedding party, but only a
sober ceremony in the church, with the
bride attlred in a travelling suit. What
satisfaction could there be in being a
bride if there was no bridal dress or veil
q wedding gaietyp
Tho groom, Mr.. Gilbert Warner, had
proposed to give a supper and q recep-
at the hotel, but Alice had seemed
strangely set upon her own plan of
leaving Immediately after the ceremony
for her future home away in the South.
The girls wondered whether Joe Cur
Dis would be at the marriage. Some
thought he would shrink from the or
deal of seeing his old sweetheart the
bride Of another, while others were of
the opinion that Alice's treatment of
him had estranged tho love he had once
felt for her.
nShe certainly did treat him shame
fully" said one of the group which was
standing close to the vestry door. 1--WE
all remember the attention he paid her,
and how she seemed to encourage it.
No one doubted it would be a match;
and for my part, | felt awfully sorry for
Joe when she came back from the
South engaged to this stranger, Mr..
Warner.
ade's g better match for her than
Joe Curtis" said a 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 I don't blame her. One
cab be SO much happier with money!"
Il don't believe that Alice is marrying
for money" said a tall, dark-eyed girl
with some indignation in her tone. II
have observed her, and l am certain
that she is more in love with Mr.. War
ner than eve she was with Joe Curtis.
/ don't think she ever cared for Joe ex-
cept as a friend, though she may have
thought SO. ItcH yoA, girls. one never
knows when one is really in love until
the right N comes"
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 their talk
had been overheard by a tall, dark gem
tleman who stood just inside the vestry
door; and that their careless words had
planted 9 sharp pang of doubt and
jealousy.in a heart which an hour before
had been Drumming with the happiness
Of q loving and trusting bridegroom.
Nj. Warner and his .best man had
come quietly to the church, at the re-
quest Ct the clergyman, in order to go
through a 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 sestry door. which
stood q little open, and overheard the
whole OF the conversation on the other
aide.
Il was q shock and q 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 II true that she had ever loved an
other, Or that she vas marrying himself,
as her thoughtless young friend had
limited, for money? But then came the,
Wordss Of the grave, tall girl with the
dark eyes, TO soothe and reassure him.
Yes, he would believe Alice true and
noble, rs he had hitherto, thought her,
kps4aid TO himself, though even at the
moment he was conscious Of the pang
~ doubt, which would illtrude itself,
despite his resolve
Up { the little Graves homestead,
just on tho borders Of the Village the
btidal party was assembled-Alioe and
shok Sx bridesmaida.
Ths m had set, already the village