The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-08-08

sHMAA d IN New ORR
and accomplishments OF the bride being
almost as well known as the forensic
and judicial ability of her husband Thu
newly married couple did not entertain,
however, owing to the recent domestic
misfortunes which had overtaken Mrs.
Ketelle's family; they received few
friends very quietly and informally, and
made scarcely any calls. The judge had
not been on the bench for some years
previous to his marriage; but he had a
large and important pratice as barris-
ter, and he now devoted himself to this
with more assiduity than ever. Report
had 1t that he and his wife were very
happy together, and though some people
admired the judges intrepidity in ven
turing to appropriate lady SO beautiful
and so much his junior, there was moth
ing in their relations to indicate that his
choice had not been as prudent as 1t GER
tainly was enviable.
The wedding had taken place about
the first of October, on the return of the
Nolens and Judge Ketelle from the sea-
side; and after short honeymoon they
settled in their new dwelling early in
November. The judge attended to bust
ness down town every day; his wife
spent her mornings at home, and in the
afternoons was fond of driving out in
the park in her brougham, occasionally
accompanied by her mother, but more
often alone. The weather was cold but
very fine, and the hue of the autumn
leaves was unusually beautiful. But
those who happened to see the face Of
the young wife at the window of her
brougham forgot all about the autumnal
foliage and had their thoughts filed
with the memory Of another kind Of
loveliness.
One afternoon, while passing the chill
dren's play ground, Mrs. Ketelle caused
the coachman to stop his horses in order
that she might watch the little creatures
at their games, for nothing pleased her
more than the spectacle of children hav-
ing good time.
After remaining a few minutes, she
was about to give the order to move on,
when her attention was attracted to a
gentleman who was standing with his
back partly turned towards her in foot
path that here approached the carriage
way, He was tall and well made; he
wore thin cape ulster of dark tweed
and black felt hat with curved brim
"a sort Of fashionable modification of
the picturesque Tyrolese headgear. OF
his face she could see only the outline of
the cheek and brow; he had mustache
and short, closely cut beard.
Why was it that the sight of this man
produced so strange and powerful an
impression upon her? She asked herself
this question, but could give no satisfac-
tory answer. Surely he was not an ac-
quaintance of hersl And yet there was
something about him that not only ar
rested her gaze but sent thrill to her
heart, as if particles of ice and fire were
being driven through it. Her hands be-
came cold and her teeth chartered, and
yet her cheeks were burning and drops
stood on her forehead.
The gentleman turned slowly to re-
sumo his walk. AS his face came more
fully into view Mrs. Ketelle caught her
breath with sharp sound, and her fin
gers grasped the frame of the door con-
vulsively. She could not cry out; her
lips were parched and her tongue dry.
But her whole soul went out to him
through her eyes. Was it dream? Was
he phantom2 Could she be deceived by
some marvellous resemblance? Oh, would
he pass on without seeing her and vanish
foreverl
He had, In fact, walked on several
PAGES, and in another minute he would
be out of reach. But either accident OF
one of those mysterious mental impress
sions which many persons have expert
enced in some epoch of their lives caused
him suddenly to pause, turn about, and
look directly at the face in the carriage
window. Their eyes met for a moment
then the woman covered her face with
her hands, and sank back in her seat
with breathless cry of terror, bewilder
ment and intolerable JOY.
The gentleman, who also seemed pale
and agitated, came over to the road and
laid his hand on the carriage door
"Drive on" he said to the coachman
and with the words he entered the car
rage and closed the door after him
Then he pulled down the shades over the
windows The coachman spoke to hi
horses, and they moved on.
This episode had taken place in {
short space Of time, and with very littl'
visible manifestation of feeling on eithel
side. Nevertheless, it had not entirely
escaped observation. Two men ha(
been sauntering along the path side b!
side, apparently Willing away the hou
or two that separated them from dinner
One Of them was tall, slender, graceful
fellow, with sharp but well nodded feat
ures, black hair and mustache, and
pair of restless black eyes. He wa
dressed quietly, in dark colors, and ye
there was a certain iauntiness in his az