Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-08-10
THE BRIDES BLACK
R0X

that Miss JOY was right when, of her
two suitors, she chose Dick Pepper
corn. Dick, like other people, had
his faults. He was very passionate
and headstrong, and a little over
bearing But then a more frank, hon
est, manly, young fellow it would be
hard to meet with. John Crabb, on
the other hand, was a mean, sus-
piciOus, vindictiVe individual, who
always left the impression on ones
mind that he would be cruel where he
dared. Miss joys happiness was,
therefore, much more likely to be Sc
cure in Dicks keeping than IN his.
The two rivals had been acquaint-
ed before either Of them began to pay
attentions to Miss JOY, but their
competition for her hand soon put an
end to their friendship. As the riv-
airy went on, their relation became
more and more strained, until, a lit
tie time before Dick acceptance, they
ended in an open quarrel. When the
engagement was announced, John
Crabb became perfectly mad with
rage and jealousy. He went about
telling mutual friends that Dick and
Miss JOY had treated him UNANIMOUSLY,
and swearing that they both should
repent it. OF course, his words were
soon carried to Dicks ears; but that
successful youth was two happy and
cOntented to take Offense at them.
At the same time, his knowledge of
Crabb's cruel and revengeful charac-
ter made him attach some signifi-
cancetO the threats. He resolved, as
he said, to keep his weather eye open
in Crabb's direction.
Once accepted, Dick, in his eager,
headstrOng way, was for being mar
ried off at once. Miss JOY, Of course,
would not hear Ofsuch a thing-WOm-
en- have always such a lot Of prepar-
atiOns to make for the happy event
but in Difference to Dicks pressing
wishes she consented to make the de-
lay reasonable. They had been be-
trOthed in the early winter, and it
was settled that they should be mar
ried in the spring. As Dicks business
engagements would not permit a
long stay Out Of town at that period
of the year, it was arranged that
their honeymoon should consist of a
fortnight or so at Brighton, and that
their wedding tour should be put off
till the autumn, when Dick would
have more time at his disposal.
Miss JOY, in making her prepara-
lions, often awaited her of Dicks as
sistaRce. All through lent never a
week passed she did not give him
some commission or other to execute
for her. One of these, which rather
tickled his fancy, was to order for her
at the bOX-maker' a gOing-aWay box
for her gowns, etc. She gave him
minute details as to its size, shape,
and covering, insisted that it should
be waterproof, and blushingly insinu-
ated that the initials put upon it
should be those Of the name she was
about to assume. Dick laughingly
did all she desired; indeed, he did
more, for hetOld all his acquaintance
Of the peculiar commission his future
wife had given him to execute.
There was some delay in forwarding
the box, and two days before that
fixed for the wedding Dick called at
the bOX-maker's to see about it.
He found the box ready. Ordering
1T to be sent off at once, ne was about
to leave the shop, when Mr.. Bord, in
an awkward, hesitating way, stopped
him.
''By the way, Mr.. Peppercorn, " he
said, begging your pardon for the
liberty, might I ask you if you know
a pale faced, oily haired CENT?"
"Well, really, answered Dick laugh
ing, and at the same time little
astOnished at the bOx-maker's in
quiry. "Well, really, 1 know several
persons who would answer your de-
scriptiOn. Might Enquire why you
wish to know"
''Well, sir, said the bOx-maker, awk-
wardly, ''yOu see, 1 suspect some
thing"
Suspect something's" repeated
Dick, with a little start. ''Really, 1
don't understand you. Pray speak
plainly"
''Well, sir" answered Mr.. Bord,
''the fact is this. A day or two ago
as l said, called here and ordered a
box, same as yours, and what struck
me as queer was thathe wanted some
initials on it. -
Indeed"
eyes, sir; and I thought I smelt a
rat. Of course, 1 may be mistaken;
but, at anyrate, there can be no harm
in mentioning it.
ooh, none in the world" replied
Dick, thinking very hard. "Many
thanks for doing so. Did the gentle
man give anyPame?"
eyes sir Ohm Smith
''And address? ?"
''No, sir; he said he would call for
it, and he did so this morning"
"Hum - muttered Dick, thought
fully. "Thanks again for telling me
of it. GOOd-day." And Dick left.
nCan III be- thOnoht Dick. as be