The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-03-23
CHAPTER ".

True tovc i like the moon it bOrrows it, light
from Heaven to shed It over world alone.
Lawrence Davenport was putting the
finishing touches 10 a careful toilet. 4
lew weeks ago hc would hav. been as
sisted therein by a skilled valet. who
might doubtless have arranged tliat neck
tie With more conSUmmItc art or flickrd
the stray particles of dust from that
brand-Hcw coat with greater dcNteritv.
But lattcr!y Lawrence had dispensed
with such luxurious aid as not warranted
In a man Of limited means. ON this bar
tiCular morning he felt satisfied that lie
had succeeded in attiring himself with an
ability worthy of supreme occasion.
And few events in life are - important
rs the marriagc-day. II i the first sen
III = new Iath dclib, ratciy sclCctri
Whatever motives may have influenced
our rGrClSlOn-whcthcr guided bv = pure.
unfa,ling affection, or impcilc,l bv Wild
but cphcmcrJl passion, or drawn by the
cold chains OF mere worldly cOrsidcra-
tipn-foT this once the rcIus OF our dcS-
Tiny seemed placed in our hands to grasp
OF rclInquish, as best plcascs Us.
Lawrence had many solemn reflections
mingled with his more JOYOUS ones as he
waited for the carriage which was 10 con-
vcy him tp the church. But never 4
doubt cast i shadow over them. He felt
p.uc>S; that whatever nll5ioytuucS the
future might hold in store lac had 81
cured one bright tryusUrc-Out source OF
perennial Ela'!u-sS sS-oi which lac could
never be deprived by the worlds chan
srS-
lie deeply regretted his parents anger.
For Rates sake, more than his own. he
WIS affected by the threatened loss Of
wealth and position. He woulI also have
preferred a brilliant wedding surrounded
10y friends and wCll-wishrrS, and crowned
bva warm welcome To his fair bride
lie WAS panied when he pictured his
fathcr-whom he had duly informed If
the date and place Of his Iaarriag,.-s,t-
ting lonely and uniorgiving in chilly
grandeur, and, PERHAPS, cur<ing him in
bitterness Of spirit. But a. he thought Of
these things hc looked forward hopefully
To 4 time when their hands should again
meet in the grasp OF friendship, and the
breach should be healed.
Davenport senior, finding all argument
and rcmonstrancc entirely thrown away.
had finally told his son 10 take himself
oH - soon as he liked" And Lawrence.
deeply wounded 10y his fathers Ol,durlcv,
has SIrcastically replied that he was
obliged for the Kind permission" and de-
parted.
From the windows of his present modest
apartments he looked ont frequently to
congratulate himself upon the glorious
June morning that heraldcd i'm what he
peculiarly referred 10 as the double
event. And every time he glanced uD
and down the thoroughiare he noticed n
youth OF lean, cadavcrOUs appearance,
.ounging aimleSsly abuut-now at one
corner, now at another, now on the other
sIlr-whoSc sole object seemed to be the
absorption OF sunshine from the ambient
air. Lawrence vaguely wondered whether
anybody paid that youth a SALARY for
Keeping his hand continually i'm his
pockets, and gazing leisurcly at the uni
verse.
Presently the anxiously-expected car-
riagc arrived.
Two minutes late" said Lawrence 70
the driver, with frown.
The man smiled. He had driven fever
.sh bridegrooms before, and understood
a.. their little peculiarities-
''All right, sir: well easily make that
rP on the road, sir" he replied sooth-
.nc.v.
A. Lawrence stepped into the vehicle.
ard est before u drove away, the head
81 lie .t.e anG Cadavcrous youth ar,-
F-afed for i moment AT the of-side win
Io~
"Yorr name Davenport ?" ne inquired,
;r .VuisTsr.
= Waat 10 you want ~
"iieFes letter tor you. There's no
.rsA-r"
lar carriage rolled on, and Lawrence
'o'Lt plain blue envelope in his hand.
There was no autTt->> or writing Of anv
kind upou il; - that turning il over,
nIarvcliin2 what ON earth II contained
aud where the deuce II came from, WAS
not likely To solve the mystery.
''Sumc practical poke, l expect. I'm
-iIl ! thought Ol thIt- Forv-Aayned l.