The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-05-06
A MYSTERIOUS MARRIAGE
{ was Christmas Eve.

water as it crept stealthily up around
the Shiny green piles which supported
the pier.
1t called to me with the voice of q
friend, and heaven knows that the
voices of friends were not numerous
enough in my ears at that time. Oh,
what dreary Christmas-time it was!
1t was only the old story. 1 was a
Journalistic literary hack-with some
talent; but my style, they told me. was
no call for that particular kind of arti-
cle," and the courteous editors showed
me to the door, and blandly remarked
on the weather, as if poor creature
who was starving cared what the wealth
er was.
had tried for work at anything
which offered. had gone out into
the country, and sought for employ
ment on 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 a man who would work so
cheap as that was not worth his salt; so
returned to the great city, spent my
last sixpence for a meal at q cheap
restaurant, and went down to the river,
resolved to put an end to it before
Christmas morning broke.
Yes, there was woman in the case.
There generally is when man comes
to an extremity such as was in.
l had loved her from boyhood up.
She was fair and sweet, and l 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
did not think it best that she should
marry q man so naturally shiftless.
Two weeks afterwards she was the
bride of old Goldbeater, 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.
Twas fool, no doubt; any man is q
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
care, when they found my dead body.
some day, what led to the act; it would
make a nice newspaper paragraph, and
that was all.
looked up at the sky set with stars,
a faint waning moon just coming up in
the east. No man looks his last on any
thing he has loved without a feeling of
sadness. The stars were no more part
of my world; henceforth | should be
above them, or-God knew.
l closed my eyes and said little
prayer. When opened them again l
was not alone. Two figures stood beside
me-tall men, well mutfied up, and with
an air of authority about them. One of
them laid 4 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
manr'
"For what?" l asked, struggling to
free myself from his grasp, but in vain.
''For marriage" he answered In an
impressive tone.
| laughed aloud.
..Marriager' cried. "Where is the
woman insane enough to marry poor
wretch like me, who has not courage
enough to live-who is cowardly enough
to flee from troubles that he has mo-
pluck enouoh to grapple with?"
You are to know nothing" said the
man, tightening his grasp on my should
er. Come with me; ask no questions
do as Won are bidden, and for youl
nights work you shall have the sum o
one thousand hounds paid down to vol
in cash"
Without a word more spoken betwee1
lis. I turned and followed him, tn,
other man who had not Joined i'm tn,
conversation, bringing up in the rear
At the foot of the street a close carriag,
was in waiting. Twas asked to stel
into it. / did so. One of the men tool
his seat by nv side. while the othel
mounted the box beside the coachman
We started off at rapid pace. Al
bonr,s hard driving took ms hevond th
Confines of the citv: the nayements wer
Succeeded nv soft country roads.
Rv~and- hy-it had seemed an ACE I,
meStbe carriage turned ont of the road
and beoan the ascent of a steep incline
We drove through a ponderous gate
wav- Tobted bv a lamp. up a lon,
avenue closely set on each side witt
trees. and stopped before a large hous
whose windows were dark as q tomb
Somewhere in the distance l heard
hell RING. and directly the great door Q
the house was opened. and voice bad
ns enter.
NV companion drew his arm througl
mine and led me up a tbickly carpete
stairway. alono a corridor lighted b.
ono dim lamn and at the extremity q
the MASSAGE he raped lightly ON a close
door.
II was opened silently from within
and we passed through.
/ saw a long shadow room, furnishe
in pale blue, and sitting together, on
low couch. were two ladies, both veilet
These two women rose at our Ell
trance. and INV companion spoke a fe,
words to them in a language l did nc
understand. Then he turned to me.