The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-11-06
A KIDNAPPED BRIDEGROOM.

The excitement of the day had tired
me out completely, and did not even
stop to undress as | flung myself on the
bed. Tomorrow | was to be married to
Mary Ireton, whom | had won in spite
of host of competitors.
Thinking of the morrow kept me wide
awake for time, but when asleep finally
came it was droamless and heavy ms If
was in swoon. / cannot remember
what hour of the morning it was when
awoke with strange sense of fear
What was my surprise to find myself
not in my own familiar bedroom, butt
the depths of forest.
Alarmed at the thought that had
gone mad ran here and there trying
for an explanation of the circumstance.
/ found / was on an island uninhabited
even by wild beasts, and sparsely COW
cred with trees and tall grass.
How had come there could not im-
agine, hut there was nothing else to do but
accept the situation philosophically to
find shelter and food, The shell-pit in
the beach supplied the latter need, and |
was soon established like second Cru
soc on my island home.
w nat lllOSJ VI all DlcoSCu upOll NY
spirits was the fear of what Mary Ireton
might think of my mysterious absence.
How could she account for it, How
could account for it nationally myself?
Must she not conclude that | had shame
fully Tilted her? The very thought was
tortlring beyond endurance.
One morning, as ! lay in my rude hut
Illuminating on the hardship of my fate
and striving to solve its terrible mystery,
heard the report of gun, followed by
loud halloo, Bounding to my feet
started and ran in the direction of the
sound, shouting with all my might.
Words cannot picture the joy that
thrilled me at the sight of n small
schooner, from which boat with two
men were putting in for the shore. l
dashed into the surf, catching the rope
flung out, and the next moment the
PROV rested safely on the beach.
"Owen Forbes how are you old boyP'
cried hearty voice which hadn't heard
for ten years, but recognized at once as
Dick Jocelyn's, my old chum at DR.
Cramboy's academy, and whom | had
Invited to come thousand miles to be
"best man" at my wedding.
Dick must have thought bear was
hugging him, as, in all the shagginess of
two months growth Of hair and beard, J.
sprang forward and caught him in my
arms.
"Dickl nv dear old friend, how did
YOU find me out?" | cried, sobbipg like a
baby. ,,
"Come aboard the schooner and III
tell YOU" said Dick. 81 suppose you We
no particular amount of packing up to
1etain you"
With a laugh sprang into the boat,
followed by Dick and his companion, the
latter first giving us good shove out
and in two minutes we were ON the
schooner's deck.
"Do you know how I got there?'
asked Dick, as we scudded past my late
abode.
''Not possessing the gift of wings, it is
safe to presume you didn't fly" he re-
piled. "But that isn't answering your
question. i only found out the truth
myself two nights ago. You know Lot
eyes, he was my chief rival for Mary
Ireton's hands. But stay-what does
Mary Think"
''Be patient" said Dick, "and you
shall hear ALL"
"After travelling night and day to b'
in time for your wedding, l arrived tt
find the bridegroom missing and every
thing in confusion. There were but tw'
ing false Your humble servant was on
and Mary Ireton the other"
"God bless her!' L couldn't help in
terrupting.
''Mr. Ireton, it seemed, had Away
favored Gresham's suit, and after you
desertion, as he called it, he sought agai
to urge him on his daughter, but her re
fusal was tirmer than ever.
81 was taking q stroll the other night
and at the same time trying to think ou
the puzzle of your disappearance, whe
overheard two men in earnest converse
ton.
'Some words overheard caused me {
stop and listen. j soon discovered thf
the speakers were your late abductori
and that one Of them was Lot Gresham
The other was insisting on the none
promised for his share in carrying oil
the plot, and Lot was begging off bC
cause his sci eme of marrying Mis-
Ireton and getting in funds by it la
come to naught.
"All l had to do was to follow Il
Gresham's accomplice, pay him liberi
sum down, and promise as much MOI
when he had piloted me to you, whic
he has faithfully done"
"But how did they spirit me away%'
couldn't refrain from asking
in that big, lonely house of yours; waite
till you fell asleep; chloroformed you
and kept you in that condition till the
left you in place whence your comir
back was as little likely as from IL
grave"
/ will not prolong my story by attemI
ing to describe the meeting of Mary al
myself As my friend had truly state
she had never for moment doubted m
A new wedding day was appointed, al
this time the groom was forthcoming
1t was a lucky thing for Lot Gresham
considering the state of public sentimer
that he was among the first to learn
my return, and took prompt advantage
the knowledge to decamp for parts u
known.
What He Supposed.
Boston courier.
The small boy was six years old, al