St. Landry democrat., 1886-02-20
before ! am missed" she said, in her
usual impulsive way:

appointed hour. Two messengers had
been dispatched to inquire into the cause
of the delay, and in the vestry-room the
groom and his attendants awaited the
expected summons. Suddenly the YES
try door opened and one of the deacons
of the church entered, with face in
which i'll news was SO palpably written
that Gilbert Warner started to his feet.
"What is itp'' he said quickly.
'What has happened?'
And then he heard what every one in
the village church was already repeat
ing to each other. Alice Graves and
Joe Curtis have run away together.
They were seen driving at breakneck
speed down the mill road in the direc-
ton of the station-to catch the north
bound train, no doubt.
Warner heard the news in silence, but
with white face and set lips. And when,
some two hours thereafter, the southern
bound train went shrieking past the
nearest station, it bore away among its
passengers, not happy bridegroom, but
stern and disappointed man.
Fifteen years passed, and the village
where Alice Graves had lived had pros
pered and was fast growing into little
town with bright prospects ahead. One
autumn evening tall, grave. middle
aged gentleman stalked slowly up the
street with his eyes thoughtfully wan
dering over the faded old house and its
neglected grounds. Pausing where boy
was idly swinging on gate of one OF
the new houses he said: II see the prop
erty over there is for sale. Who is the
present ownerP''
s'Old Mr.. Landon Graves was the
owner, but he's dead now-been dead
two ..years-and the place now belongs
to his daughter, Miss Alice
Miss Alice? You mean Mrs.-Cur-
tis9" 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 among the shrubbery came has
tily forward.
miss Alice Graves has never mar
ried,' she said Il suppose you must
somehow have heard the old story
which got about of her running away
with MI. Curtis on the evening she
was to have married another. It was
all mistake-a false report. She
merely rode a short distance with
him in his gig to take leave of an
old lady of whom she was fond. But
the horse was young and skittish, and,
taking fright at something, ran away,
throwing them both out. People be-
lieved It an elopement, until when,
some hours after, they were found
in the old mill road, Alice badly
bruised, and Joe with his leg broken.
The man she was to have married be-
lieved it and left her without a word.
Joe Curtis is my husband now," she
added, with smile, ''and Alice Graves,
though she has not lacked offers, has
never married. She could not easily
get over disappointment like that.
'.But why was not he-why was not
Mr. Warner informed?" inquired the
stranger, in voice of such oppressed
vehemence that the boy turned and
looked at him wonderingly.
ssAlice would not allow it. She was
as proud as he; and when she heard
that he had gone she said: If he could
believe such thing of me it is well that
we should part. Let him gor'.'
The stranger made no reply, only
pulled his felt hat lower over his brow
and Mrs. Curtis added: eff you would
like to inquire about the place, you will
find Miss Graves at home. / saw her
upon the porch few minutes ago"
She watched him as he went slowly
down the street. .
''He thinks that did not recognize
him. AS if I would have said what did
about Alice to any one but Gilbert War
ner! And / can see that he has not for
gotten her either. All, I hope it may
all come right now.'
When Gilbert Warner knocked at the
door of the old Graves house, it was
opened by fair, graceful, sweet-look-
ing woman, in whom he had no diff
Guilty in recognizing his old love, Alice.
But it was not until he stood in the full
light of the parlor lamp that she knew
him; and then she involuntarily drew
back step or two, and looked at him
with white face, as though she had
seen ghost.
.'Alice-don't you know meP' he
| said, holding out bis hand.
II know you; but why do you come
here?' she answered, as thoug Oh striving
to be cold and proud, while her voice
faltered and her eyes filed with tears.
II came to ask forgiveness. he re-
| piled. "Until to-day / thought that
you had wronged me-and you did, Al
Ice, in not letting me know Of my
! wretched mistake. So many years of hap
piness lost to us both! Oh, Alice, is it
too late? May we not yet be as happy as
we once expected to beP"
1t took some time, some pleading,