Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-02-04
THE MISSING BRIDE.
BY S. A. WEISS.


It was Alice Graves wedding eve,
and the young people. with whom she
was 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 and busy fingers they
disposed the freshly gathered roses here
and there among the evergreen gar
lands, their tongues moved as busily,
and they talked in groups of twos and
thrces about the bride and the groom,
and various matters connected with the
wedding.
Some were disappointed that there
was to be no wedding party, but only a
sober ceremony in the church, with the
bride attired in travelling suit. What
satisfaction could there be in being a
bride if there was no bridal dress or veil
or wedding gaietyP
The groom, Mr.. Gilbert Warner, had
proposed to give supper and a 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
It's 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 the love he had once
felt for her.
"She 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 match;
and for my part, felt awfully sorry for
Joe when she came back from the
South engaged to this stranger, Mr..
Warner.
''nes better match for her than
Joe Ctrts," said lively girl, rising
and shaking from her dress the stray
leaves that chung to it. mot as good
cooking, 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 l don't blame her. One
can be SO much happier with money"
II don't believe that Alice is marrying
for money" said a tall, dark-eyed girl
with some Indignation in her tone. al
have observed her, and / am certain
that she is more in love with Mr.. War
ner than ever she was with Joe Curtis.
don't think she ever cared for Joe ex-
cept as friend, though she may have
thought so. l tell you, girls, one never
knows when one is really in love until
the right one 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 tall dark gen.
tleman who stood just inside the vestry
door; and that their careless words had
planted sharp pang of doubt and
jealousy in heart which an hour before
had been trimming with the happiness
of loving and trusting bridegroom.
Mr.. Warner and his "best man" had
come quietly to the church, at the re-
quest of the clergyman, in order to GO
through slight rehearsal necessary to
the perfect carrying out of theproposed
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 vestry door, which
stood little open, and overheard the
whole of the conversation on the other
side.
1t was shock and revelation te
him. Was it possible, he thought, thai
he had been deceived in the fair girl, in
whose love he had so implicitly trusted
Was it true that she had ever loved an
other, or that she was marrying himself
as her thoughtless young friend hat
limited, for money! But then came thu
words of the grave, tall girl with thu
dark eyes, to soothe and reassure him
Yes. he would believe Alice true ant
noble, as he had hitherto thought her,
he said to himself, though even at thu
moment he was conscious of the pans
of doubt, which would intrude itself
despite his resolve.
Up at the little Graves homestead
Just on the borders of the village th'
bridal party was assembled--Alice ant
her six bridesmaids.
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