The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-02-16

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couldn't tell what was the matter and
Miss Grigg was too faint to speak. He
questioned me. | said she had been
very much agitated. He prescribed
something and went off, bidding me
send for him if she got worse. The eye-
ming papers published the report that
Miss Grigg was dangerously i'll. and
Mr.. Birch came to the hotel in terri
BILE fright, rs pale as sheet, to ask
how she was. | took down Her love,
and she was very ILL.,
Then Miss Grigg said to the ladies
who had come in: Leave me with my
faithful Flora, and we were left alone
can't say that | was surprised when
she sat up in bed and said briskly:
"'Lock the door, Flora. I'm sick
of lying on my back. I've taken them
in, haven't /? You see what l am
about now?'
:. Exactly, miss said /; to be too
i'll to be married when the time comes?'
% No, said she; to be i'll enough to
be married in the white dressing gown.
I'm going to be married on my dying
bed, Florar
Il gave screech and she laughed,
and then she made a supper of sardines
and biscuits and wine, and she threw
the medicine out of the window.
Early next morning the doctor came.
l answered his questions as to what
sort of q nightthe patient had passed
BY saying that she had been much the
same And then l took little note
she had written to Mr.. Birch.
Enpw what yUaS in If Cha fold
him that rather than leave the world
without keeping her VOW to him she
would be married on her dying bed.
powdered her up well, miss, and l
dressed her in the embroidered dress
ing gown, with tube roses at the throat.
| pulled down the green shades and
darkened the room. She fixed the
pillows to prop herself up with, and
then skipped into bed.
"'Give me my pearl bracelets she
said, and the handsomest of those
handkerchiefs, and all my rings; and,
Flora, mind you must sob all through
the ceremony. Pm going to be calm.
1--WE hadn't five minutes more, but
just as the first knock came to the
door she whispered:
"Ol! dear; if only could have slow
music. Couldn't you catch that Ira
viata' half an hour out the Window
He's always on the corner. Flora, FL
leave you something handsome, if you
do
81 did it, short as the time was.
caught that man and he ground out
his quarters worth.
"The clergyman was a very nice,
rrl,t nlI
Birch was the dreadfuIest sight-pale
as a ghost and shaking from head to
foot. The groomsman looked dread
fully sorry; the four or five intimate
friends looked as though they were at
a funeral; and to see her, with her
calm smile and powdered face, one
hand against her heart, the other in
his-I was glad I'd been told to sob;
| had to SO something. And so they
were married.
81 feel, said Miss Gregg, slowly,
that this, perhaps the last moment of
my life, is very sweet. To die thus,
with my hand in yours-ah! Dear
friends, adieu. Flora, my faithful
maid, take this ring L saw her pick
out the cheapest; but no matter. Re-
member me by it. Now-leave US
Then everybody kissed her and
went out of the room sobbing.
''ln a moment more there was a
scream; Mr.. Birch had tainted away.
1t took an hour to bring him to.
The reporters of the evening pa
pers We're waiting outside for the news.
1t was published all over that night,
but the next afternoon the travelling
dress came back in the black trunk
Yes, miss, of course-Miss Grigg
I mean to say Mrs Birch-recovered
at once. And that's the whole story.
I'm the only one that knows it, and
wouldn't mention it to any one but
you, ma am. ."-Ne1O York NeWs