The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-09-05

hand tremLled little, but the touch on
mine was firm. felt that she was doing
what she did willingly.
The ceremony proceeded.
At the solemn words, 81, Arthur, take
thee. Mary" | started. How did these
people know my name? How did they
know that was called Arthur Davenport?
Ii was over. had signed the register
presented to me, had kissed the hand OF
the woman who was my wife, and my two
companions who had brought me thither
were alone with me.
@Your part OF the business is accom-
plished," said the man who acted as
spokesman. 1--WE will do our part.
He handed me package, and babe me
examine it. l did SO, and fonnd ten
hundred-ponnd notes.
1--WE will take you home now, he SAID,
and~in the same quiet aud mysterious
manner was conducted out of the house,
into a carriage, and driven away.
They left me just where they had found
me, on the river-bank, and without an
sweriDg single question ! put to them.
they vanished away in the darkness.
The first faint streak of the breaking
day shot up in the eastern sky as stood
there lost in wonder. The whole thing
was like a nightmare. Indeed, should
have been inclined TO look upon it as only
dream, had it not been for the package
of notes in my breast pocket. That, at
least, was a reality, and very agreeable
one.
went back to my lodgings with new
sense of importance. Life was worth liv-
ing. After all, there is nothing makes a
man more satisfied with his lot than plenty
of ready money.
Irssolved to begin anew. / kept my
resolution. When editors found that |
could live without them, they We're ready
to buy my productions at my own price.
Ny style became the style. had all the
work / could do. | wrote successful
book, and speedily the time came when |
was welcomed in the very highest circles,
and smiled on by managing mothers who
would lave set the dogs on me year
before if l had admired their Angellnas
and Seraphinas.
But no longer cared tor the smiles of
women. Ridiculous as il may seem, /
was in love with my unknown wife. The
word MARY" held for me all that this
world could offer of the sweetness of love.
In vain | sought to trace ler-in vain
spent sll my leisure time in wandering
around the country, trying to identity
some old mansion as the one which had
been the scene of some midnight bridal.
At length, one day took passage on an
excursion boat bound for one of the many
places of interest on the river l had half
Il dozen friends with me, Lound for just a
days outing.
How it happened, nobody could tell
nobody ever can tell how these dreadful
accidents do bappen-but four or five miles
OUT. our boat collided with another boat,
and the usual scene Of terror and confu-
sion followed.
The boats were unfit for use, and If they
had been in order, nobody would have
been cool enough to launch them; and
after few moments of widest dismay, it
was evident that eur boat must go down.
And while men we're rushing hither and
thither for the women of their party, and
women and children were screaming in
mortal terror, the boat settled 10 the
waters edge, and !, being an expert swim
mer, decided to take 10 the water and
make for the shore AS / threw off my
coat and boots, my eye fell on solitary
girl standing close by, evidently all alone.
| spoke TO her.
Madam, have you any friends on
boardT'
.No. I am alone" she said in the sweet
est voice had ever heard. My friends
went yesterday. was to join them to-
day"
/ thought she looked at me strangely,
that she blushed and trembled as she spoke,
but it was no time for critical analysis.
ssWill YOU trust yourself to me? / am
a good swimmer; if we both keep cool,
can easily swim with you to yonder
shore"
She replied by putting her hand in
mine. a sense of something sweetly
strange and yet familiar came over me at
her touch. Put my arm around her and
leaped into the water. 80
She never hindered nae, or chung to me
in frantic despair, as most women would
have done. She did as told her, and
after tough battle with the. angry water,
we reached the shore.
And as drew my companion up on the
bank, found that she had tainted dead
away.
Like any ether man in such case. ]
was practically helpless. She looked like
ueabn--dDu on. uOW UCdutitul sue Was
A wealth Of sunny hair rippling all around
her brow and falling in wild confusion
over her bosom. l lifted her up and
looseped the wet lace scarf around her
throat, and as did so slender gold chain
fell off in my hands.
stood and gazed at it like one stupe-
fed, for attached to it by golden rivet
was the other half of the ring which had
been given me on my wedding night.
: AS stood there like one gone daft, the
girl opened her eyes. She understood at
a glance, and, with cry of dismay,
struggled to her feet.
Fur moment we stood looking at each
other, and then her head dropped, and her
face grew crimson from brow 10 bosom.
What spirit of boidness possessed me
do not know, but ] took her in my arms
and whispered in her ear the question:
rs ii my wife?''
And she answered me:
Eyes, it is your wifel'