Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-06-26

INctuCnUcI, IAClcuo CAHSNeo - - -
you do not want 10 dissppoint her be
prompt. This affair need never be
known
Yes, Ill be prompt prompt in 60
ing To my sacrificed he exclaimed ex-
citedly; and, rising up, he began to
dress. -
It was now within few minutes Of
8 and the coach was at the door in
waiting. But we rendered all posi-
BILE assistance and soon Royal was
quite ready. 53a.,t '7I 'l
When we had taken our seats In the
carriage, for both OF us were resolved
to accompany him, Royal took my
hand. His was cold and moist, and
shook percephbly in the clasp. He
looked into my face and l observed
the extreme pallor of his own. / also
noticed the wild glance that darted
from his eyes and their preternatural
brilliancy. }is si..' -. ....I
What can it meanT said ], mental
ly. is Helene's betrothed on the
verge of insanity? ra ..Aoat.
The thought alarmed me- l began
to wonder if his strange manner
might be considered as an incipient
phase of that mslady when Royal
spoke. .b EVEr.lEi Tr-s .+os
The voice was low, hollow, sepul-
chral and set me to shivering.
Med, said be, 4 could-I do wish
l had passed away peacefully weeks
ago-sweetly, as they die who are fill
ed with the joys Of perfect peace?
Kindly hands might then strew fra
grant flowers over my bier, and low
ing hearts be not dismayedl But now
what2--oh, that l had never lived to
see this hour! A great calamity, the
magnitude Of which surpasses even my
comprehension, has set its seal upon
mel NY doom ls fxedl { cannot es-
cape it--no there is no positive way
and here the poor man bowed his head
in reflection, but only for an instant,
he again raised his luminous eyes and
continued; aRa ,-va..7 fH-lAn
Promise to stand between me and a
defamatory world! If I am centured,
and 1 must surely be, tell them / was
not 80 cowardly as they thought. Tell
them there is no reproof in the grave,
to remember that. And Helene, sweet
angel, comfort her for my sake--wlll
| vou y1roooicoo-
Already the carriage had drawn up
a: the church, leaving me no oppor.
tunity to ask single question, de-
mand an explanation or find out what
was meant by the language I had
heard. l could only bow my head in
token of compliance, when the driver,
who had dismounted from the box,
opened the door and we were greeted
lby the bridal party IN the vestibule of
the sacred edi6ce.
Helene, in her snowy robes, with a
wreath Of orange blossoms in her
thick trssses ofshair, formed the CEN
tier Of the group, apicture Of ethereal
lloyellness. a7
In d mazeof doubt and agony, and
nearly speechless with horror, I took
Imy appointed place in the procession
up.the main isle. r
The organ was pealing forth the
sweet, enhancing strains OF a wedding
march, but scarcely heard it, 1 was
so tortured with the fear of [ knew
not what. The vision of a suicide
flashed before my eyes, and seemed to
lead the way up to the very altar. 1
wondered if Helene felt the weight of
gloom that pressed upon my heart. l
wondered if she was happy in that
supreme moment of her life.
The ceremony was short, but i'm.
pressivelv solemn.
When it was over I looked at the
newly. made wife. e
She was watching Royal intently,
and her face wore q strange express
sion, in which alarm seemed to min.
gle. Had she, too, discovered some
thing wrong? 1t must be SO, I
thought. EEs ...
In half an hour the welded pair
were holding reception in Helene's
fathers house. I made one of the
company, for / was determined to
keep an eye on the bridegroom. A
sense Of duty impelled me to observe
his every movement.
While receiving the congratula-
tions Of his numerous friends Royal
never once smiled. His countenance
was grave, even to sadness, and he
seemed uncomfortably absent.minded,
as If his thoughts were far away. Yet
he bore the ordeal better than I ex-
pected he would, and as / looked up.
on the handsome couple whose des-
TIMES were united for good or for
evil, l pictured to myself the bright
ness of the future that awaited
them. Hg# G..3..E l3l0le-}
might we'll have. pictured diff
ferent scene, in which grim and
gastly object was blended.
With the intention of requesting
private interview I walked down the
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