Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-06-12

| caprlclOuS, sometimes responding to q
| request to sing with graceful readiness,
| at other times singing outright without
pretext or apology. From a garrulous
| old woman who accompanied her, in
| the capacity of duenna, | learned
that she was the daughter of
| an impecunious sprig of nobility,
Sir Edward Draper, and was going out
| to Jamaica to marry young officer sta
| toned there, to whom she had been en-
| gagged long time, but would make her
with an uncle, the rector OF small
| inconsequent parish in the interior of
| the island.
81 inquired if her uncle was one of
| the passengers out.
"'Oh, no, sir; he is not aboard the
steamer, but will meet us in Kingston
when we land.
Who then is the tall, elderly gentle
man with black hair, who is with her SO
| much of the timer
You mean the man with a high
| forehead, and hair like lions name p
81 assented.
oh, he is only an acquaintance Miss
| Isabella has made since we sailed; but
he is quite proper man, | assure you
| sir-a wealthy coffee planter, or some
"For two or three days past l had no.
| ticed stout, foreign looking gentleman
| paying conspicuous attention to the
young lady, but I gave the circumstance
very little thought, supposing him to be
relative or guardian; but the in orm-
| alton impaired to me raised half sus-
! picion of the girls motives, whom, for
| the sake of my companion in arms, l re-
| solved to watch closely. What right
| had she to be coquettlng with stranger
selected from a motley horde of steam
ship passengers while her lover was
| awaiting her arrival in Kingston with a
bridegroom 8 eagerness and impatience ?
| When l passed them on my way
through the cabin [ unconsciOusly
| flashed her an indignant glance which
| My Lady returned with interest, as she
suddenly ceased talking and looked me
steadily and defantly full in the face,
her half-veiled eyes glowing with dis
pleasure and resentment until I was
fairly past.
"'Strange 2 l thought thatshe should
have noticed my mood; l did not intend
to make it rudely apparent. But then, l
| reflected, the old woman, her compan-
ion, may have told her of my question
ing, and she doubtless feels justified in
resenting possible interference. But
throughout the remainder of the trip
the planter claimed her undivided at
tention. to the exclusion of everyone
else, which | thought augured unfavor-
ably for the expectant bridegroom.
"When We finally arrived in port, and
were come ashore, my attention was
once more drawn to Miss Draper and
her companion, by the arrival Of two
gentlemen, in one of whom / instinct
lively recognized the rector, and in the
other an old East Indian comrade,
Capt. Henry Lightner, whom l had not
seen for several years. / was delighted
to see him, and while at the same mo-
ment he discovered me and came for
ward to greet me, | heard the young
lady remark in low tone to the clergy
man: "Not tonight, uncle; am sorry to
dlsappolnt you, but am really far too
weary to undertake the long drive into
the country SO soon after landing. I
shall remain at the Lake View House
tonight, and you may send the coach
man Tor me any time Tomorrow Then
turning to Capt. Lightner, she laid her
small well-g loved hand lightly on his
arm and continued: AS for you, Harry,
you had better return TO the rectorv
with Uncle, and be his guest for the
night, and [ Will follow in the morn
ing
Southeast, he whispered reproach-
fully, would you deprive me of your
company tonight, after all these weary
months of waiting?'
"She hesitated, disconnected, and l
thought turned trif1e pale as she an
swered: Don't be absurd and tiresome,
Harry, but please do as [ wish. am
really i'll and exhausted from the jour
ney, and quite unequal to company to-
night. 60 back with Uncle, and do
not worry about me- [ will rest COM
fortablv in the hotel, and blossom out
like fresh-blown rose in the morning.
"He pressed her hands sadly as he
gave a reluctant consent, and after
seeing her and her companion safely
housed in the hotel, he entered the
carriage with the clergyman and was
driven homeward.
81 resolved to keep an espionage upon
his affianced during the evening, but to
my surprise heard it rumored that
marriage ceremony had been per-
formed in the hotel reception room
Immediately after dinner, and that the
bridal couple were about to start for
their future home in the mountains.
The bride, it was said, was vision of
loneliness, and the bridegroom planter
of great wealth and vast estates. When
they drove away into the bright moon
lit night I stood on the veranda, and
had no difficulty in recognizing my late
companions en- Uoyage, and then [ fell to
wondering how poor Harry Lightner
would bear the treacherous blow.
1.-TWO months later I read in the
Colonial Record of the sudden death of
the unfortunate bridegroom. who had
beoueathed all his worldly possessions
to his fair young BRIDE"
'Did you ever meet her again ?" [
asked, as the Major paused and reflled
his pipe, which had burned low during
the recital.
Eyes; I met her several times during
the ensuing year, once in Spanish Town,
once in Port Royal, land frequently in
Kingston. She dressed in widows
garb, and seemed deeply religious,
driving long distances to attend service
in the parish church, and re-
spending literally to all clerical
calls for local charities or missionary
support. She was young, rich, and Of
course as beautiful as ever, and had
Harry been in the country l should have
greatly feared her influence over him.
But fortunately he had been recalled to
England shortly after her marriage, and
donbf If bo ovor bao rd IF bor widow