The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-09-08
CHAPTER Xxx.

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--7S{likNHTH 1910. The sun
Iz5sgIy|f5 shone with the
MAI brilliant light of
NIWs June, and the
" leaves of the
trees looked as
green as though they were just bud
ding. The birds seemed to know that it
was gala day, and sang their merriest
songs. Nowhere did they sing more
merrily than among the branches of the
black heart cherry tree that stood guard
over the village rectory. They must
have known that this was the wedding
dag of their kind friend, the rector's
daughter. who fed them every morning
with crumbs of bread.
Inside the rectory all was pleasurable
excitement. The wedding was to take
place at 10 o'clock, and the groom was
70 meet the bride at the altar. The
bridesmaids spent the night at the house,
that they might be with the bride as long
- possible before their final separation.
BY half past 8 they were all dressed and
ready to enter church. Amy never
looked sweeter and prettier than in her
pure white dress and orange blossoms.
The bishop of the diocese and DR.. Bay
iiss were in the vestry room, putting on
aeir robes. The hands of the clock in
The tower were fast moving around to-
Yards the hour, and the picturesque lit
lie church was filled with eager friends.
Tom Bayliss saw Rush Hurlstone hurry
Tag around to the vesTy room, which
1 ,de clergymen were just quitting, and,
y Je!ieving that John was with him, he
gave the signal for the bridal party to
move up the aisle. The organist played
lively waltz as the procession advanced,
a buzz of admiration passed over the as
sembled guests and the bride stood be-
fore the altar.
At this moment Rush Hurlstone. wild
Of eye and white Of cheek, appeared in
side the chancei railing. He whispered
\ few words to DR.. Bayliss, and the old
rector's cheeks turned as white as his.
Without word he stepped outside the
chancel
Come home with me, my daughter"
he said, putting his arm around Amy and
leading her down the aisle, while the 9TH
ers came after, followed by murmur of
surprise from the wedding guests.
The frightened bride could not find
voice to speak. She knew something ter
rible had happened, but never for mo-
ment dreamed of the truth. Her father
led her back to the rectory, and, taking
her into his study, said, with broken
voice:
My child. ash Gods help to bear a
;tFrible blow. John Hurlstone is dead"
And the tears ran down his wrinkled
cheeks and fell upon his gown.
Amy seemed turned to stone. Her
large blue eyes gazed in speeches. Won
der into her fathers face. He took her
cold hand in his.
1T is true, my dear child-awfully
true. Would to God your mother had
Teen spared to comfort you in this great
trialr %.
Still she did not speak. Her lips
seemed to move, but there was no sound.
DR. Bayliss led her to a chair. She sat
down and stared at vacancy. He would
have given all he owned if he could have
seen tears in her eyes; but they were
dry as stones, and encircIed by black
lines tina: seemed to grow larger and
darker as the moments went by. John
Hurlstone's two sisters in the drawing
room had to be told of what had hap
pened, but he was afraid to leave Amy
iloue: so he rang the bell and sent for
them to come to him. They came, their
young faces as white us the dresses they
wore, and the old man broke the news
90 them. Their grief was terrible to see.
Amy looked 1T them with vacant eyes.
They threw themselves upon the floor at
her feet. and their tears fell thick and
fast upon her wedding dress; but she sat
silent, stunned by her sorrow.
Rush had told the news to the bishop,
and he in turn had broken it to the we'd
ding guests, who left the church with
sorrowing hearts, for John HTlstone
vas a great favorite in Farmsted. All
day long they stood around the streets
in little groups, discussing the strange
news, and wondering what on earth
could nave lnQuCeN THAT naHuSOme, gay
young man to take his own life. At the
homestead the shutters were bowed, and
the bereaved mother lay PROSTATE on her
bed. surrounded by her children. At
the rectory they succeeded in getting
Amy to her room; but she would not
take of her wedding dress. For hours
she sat in awful silence, or paced the
floor with monotonous tread, her white
veil floating about her and the orange
blossoms filling the air with perfume.
Rush took the first train to New York,
to make arrangements for bringing his
brothers body home. 1t was sad jour
ney. He thought of the last evening
spent with John, and of his wild words,
which his death explained. But what
did it all mean? What reason had John
Hurlstone, of all men, to take his own
life? Arrived at his brothers rooms. the
body was given over to him by the au-.
thorities. Then began those heart break
ing but necessary details that have to be
attended to after a loved ones DEATH and