Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-06-04
A MYSTERIOUS MARRIAGE.
1t was Christmas Eve.

anu llSleIcu 10 tHc sullen SlrHlc Oh inc
water as it crept stealthily up around
the Shiny green piles which supported
the pier.
1t called to me with the voice of
friend, and heaven knows that the
- voices of friends were not numerous
enough in my ears ut that time. Oh,
what a dreary Christmas-time it was
1t was only the old story. | was Il
Journalistic literary hack-with some
talent; but my style, they told me. was
out of fashion; and 'just then there was
no call for that particular kind of arti-
Gle and the courteous editors showed
me to the door, and blandly remarked
on the weather, rs if poor creature
who vas starving cared what the wealth
vas.
l had tried for work at anything
which offered. | had gone out into
the country, and sought for employ
mcnt on Il farm, but nobody wanted to
hire a man with white hands like mine.
had offered TO work for board and
lodging. but the shrewd old farmers
told me that q man who would work so
cheap as that was not worth his salt; so
returned to the great city, spent my
last sXpcnce for meal at Il cheap
restaurant, and went down to the river,
resolved to put an end to it before
Christmas morning broke.
Yes there was woman III the case.
There generally Is when a man comes
to an extremity such rs | was in.
! had loved her from boyhood up.
She was fair and sweet, and | thought
the little house we had so often talked
about would be an earthly paradise, but
when luck went against me, and every
body seemed anxious to help me down
hill, she joined the majority, and told
me, with cruel GOODNESS, that her papa
did not think it best that she should
marry a man SO naturally shiftless.
Two weeks afterwards she was the
bride of Old Goldbcater, who had one
wife living and one dead, and five
grown-up children, besides money
enough TO dress her in cloth Of gold, if
he had chosen.
was fool, no doubt; any man is a
fool to wreck his life for woman like
that; but was Young. ana Agnes had
formed hitherto so much of my life.
Never mind let her pass.
. had written no letters to leave be-
! hind me. Nobody in the world would
V.
some day, what led to the act; ii would
make nice newspaper paragraph, and
that was all.
| looked up at the sky set with stars.
faint waning moon just coming up in
the east No man looks his last on any
thing he has loved without feeling OF
sadness. he stars were no more part
of my world; henceforth | should be
above them, or-God knew.
| closed my eyes and said little
prayer. When | opened them again
was not alone. Two figures stood beside
mc-tall men, well mulllcd up. and with
an air Of authority about them. One of
them laid heavy hand on my shoulder.
young man." said he, give it up
and come with me. You are desperate
enough for anything. You are our
man.
For what?n l asked, struggling to
free myself from his grasp, but in vain.
For marriage" he answered in an
impressive tone.
| laughed aloud.
'Marriage!' | cried. "Wherc is the
woman insane enough TO marry poor
wretch like me, who has not courage
enough to livc-who is cowardly enough
to flee from troubles that he has not
pluck enough to grapple with?n
You are to know nothing" said the
man, tightening his grasp on my shCuld-
er. ''Come with me; ask no questions
do as you are hidden, and for your
nights work you shall have the sum Of
one thousand pounds paid down to yov
in cash.
Without word more spoken between
us, / turned and followed him, the
other man, who had not Joined in the
conversation. bringing up in the rear.
At the foot of the street close carriage
was in waiting. | was asked to step
into it, did so. One of the men took
his seat by my side, while the other
mounted the box beside the coachman.
We started off at a rapid pace. An
hours hard driving took us beyond the
confines of the city; the pavements were
succeeded by soft country roads
By-and-by-it had seemed an are to
me-the carriage turned out of the road
and began the ascent of a steep incline.
We drove through ponderous gate
way, lighted by lamp, up n long
avenue, closely set on each side will
trees, and stopped before n large house
whose windows were dark us tomb
Somewhere in the distance heard q
bell ring, and directly the great door OF
the house was opened. and a voice babe
Us enter
My companion drew his arm through
mine, and led me up II thickN carpcted
stairway. along corridor lighted by
one dim lamp, and nj the extremity o
the passage he raped lightly on u closeC
door.
II was opened silently from within
and Wc passed through.
saw long shadowv room. furnishc,
in pale bluc, and sitting together. on ;
low coz II, were two ladies', both yelled
Th'+o two women rose mt or cn
trance. and my companion spoke u few
words to them in language did no
understand. Then he turned To me-
This lady," said he, touching tn,