Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1889-07-18
CHAPTER III.
A MISSING BRIpr,eRoox.

| MISSING BRIDEGROOM
Young Dixon emphasized my words by
striking his clenched hand upon his knee.
and grinding his teeth; Jocelyn nodded ap-
provingly at me; the ladies' looked pleased
and even the parrot set up a sort OF APP
plauding squawk, accompanied by jubilant
| demands for crackers and cheese.
The grandfather alone seemed annoyed
and freshly mortified.
Still, you only saw him for an instant,
as you say" he urged.
! True, Mr.. Dixon, replied, with gen.
tleness, "but human faces and human
manners are charts that 1 have studied
closely for years. I can sometimes read.
motives, whole histories, in them at sin
gle glance.
Dear me! Then your impression of De
That he was an adventurer, an impos-
tor, brilliant but specious scoundrel, be-
| yond doubt" / ventured to interrupt with
| quiet firmness, for began to like and pity
the old gentleman too much to mince mat
tiers with him.
He gave sickly smile and sank back in
his chair, 10 my words occasioncd an even
more demonstrative stir in my support, not
| forgetting another yell from the parrot and
| fresh demands for crackers and cheese.
He tried to make friends with me. but
| l saw through him from the first, " said
| young Dixon, ext1ltingly.
mr. Dixon will remember that fire.
| quently warned him against the mans de-
signs, said Jocelyn-
| We'll, well, how is this all going to help
| ps now, l want to know" cried the grand
father, beginning to lose his temper. Il
give in to having been taken in, swindled,
turned inside out, if you will, and isn't
| that enough? Mr.. Piercer. what want to
know is this" he added, regaining his
self-control, and turning theoretically
| toward me. you say you can read mems
motives, as we'll as their histories. Well.
| explain to me the motives that induced the
| Count de Marchmont las shall style him
until he is fully proved an impostor) to
break off this marriage, which he had only
| got my consent to after long and persistent
demands, which only secured my grand
daughters consent to after still greater
difficulty and worriment. and which, final
| ly, it wassin every way to his advantage
and self-interest to consummate? That.
sir, is the mystery wish explained
Will you permit me to make blunt in
quiries?" said l.
II desire that you should do SO, !" replied
Mr.. Dixon.
In the first place, then, how were money
matters between you? You lent him
money!"
ayes; at different times and in large
amounts, was the slow and reluctant nd
mission. Though Of noble birth, he
freely acknowledged his poverty. But,
| then, of course" Frightening up, "as my
Lulus husband, he would never have been
called upon to pay me anything he bor-
| rowed.
nodded.
"And you agreed to settle dowry upon
the young lady?"
'Of course and handsome one. She
and Richard here are to be my sole heirs,
| subject only to a certain trustee and guard
ian, should die before they are of age"
| As Mr.. Dixon said this, he cast signifi-
cant glance at his steward, who looked
pleased, while Richards face grew sullen
and dark. From this I judged that the
| grandfather had already signified his in
tention of making Mr.. Jocelyn the trustee
of his estate for the benefit Of the heirs,
in the event of his death, and that the
grandson was bitterly ayerse to it.
| Were the terms of the settlement agree
| able to Mr.. De Marchmont?" ] continued.
NO; it was some time before we could
agree. He wanted her to receive the dow
! ry in lump, as IN unconditional bridal
| gift, SO that he could take care of it for her
as he said, while persisted in the plan of
settling the money upon her and such
children as she might have, in a manner to
place it entirely beyond her husbands con-
! troll.
And very likely, said ]. ruppressing a
smile with difficulty, the gentleman con-
tinued to disagree with You on this point?"
you are mistaken" said Mr.. Dixon, a
little triumphantly, "he opposed me for
long time. but finally agreed viii. me-
That was upon the occasion of his last
| visit here-day before yesterday. / AIN
still looking for that motive, Mr. Pieroer."
Perhaps l have found one," said |,
coldly. did the gentleman know how
you have willed your property"
Eyes"
"And was satisfied"
Perfectly"
Il hear that a brief note was received
from the missing bridegroom to-day. Will
| you let me see it,"
| Mr.. Dixon opened one of the drawers Of
his writing table, and took from it a letter,
| which he handed 10 me. 1t was certainly
| the curtest explanation that q laggard
bridegroom ever offered for his absence
from the wedding ceremony. 1t bore no
definite address, was in beautiful back
handed chirography and is given here
New YORK, November6, 49,.
MY CHARMING LULU: Certain circumstances
entirely beyond my control will prevent my
taking part in the ceremony fixed for to-day
| Hoping that you suffer less disappointment
than mine, remain yourown MONTAGUE.
As read this in q low tone, but aloud,
Miss Digby and Mrs. Miggles muttered,
Shameful" Mr.. Jocelyn looked indig-
nant, and young Dixon again smote his
knee with his clenched hand
THE bastard! The villain!" burst forth
the latter; III hunt him tlown-I'll follow
| him to the ends Of the EARTH"
Tut, tut, Doc" said the grandfather,
who alone seemed to have Modified his
bitter resentment against the missing BRIDE
| groom; you'll return to Philadelphia, and
finish your medical studies first.
| Pardon me, sir but shall do nothing
Of the kind, exclaimed the young man
| resolutely: You have jokingly called mo
Doc. the Physician, for a long time, grand
| father. but henceforth you shall call me
Doc the Qetactixa-, till L axancra mn ais