Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-12-11
final touches were rirenP Did we no,

DC 10 cUleF our common UOIllcs
Oh! what thoughts this word home
brings to me!
A home have not known, save at
your side; home / will not know, savo
with you ever rs its queen. Home is
Your presence. wheresoever that may
10. lead me to the barren sands of
the sun-stricken SOUTH call me to tho
algid peaks of the distant north; speak
to me when journeying on the bound
less waste of the mighty deep. and I
will follow on. fer Shall only be "go-
ing. going home.
Tomorrow has comet Is counted
as to-day--we call it now.
lis that day which has been set for
the "consummatcn of our bliss"-as
they call it.
Ah!-maybe.
BIT can supreme joy be added untop
Have not our hearts beat rs one? Can
more come from a repeated vow? Are
we to look for greater love, IA love we
have not known?
1t cannot be. Love cannot exceed
itself
But bark! The wedding strains bid
me Come"
Come to what?
Come to the beginning' No.
Come" to the end? Never for there
Is no end. Such affection has no limit
it knows no termination.
Come then. to its holy plighting.
All! well. Its holy plighting. Yes.
| arise and critically sean myself in
the large mirror. | give my tie Just a
little touch. ] smooth out an imagin-
AIRY wrinkle in my sleeve. remove a
little speck of dust which had some
how found resting-place OH my other
wise immaculate bosom. Then do /
feel ready? Yes. / was ready before;
yet, strangely, there seemed to be an
invisible hand which tried to restrain
me-which strove to draw me back.
Some baflled spirit sought to deter me.
Is not this n frequent experience
among those who thus approach the
altar?
The impression, not OF dread, but of
something you cannot fathom, describe.
or name fastcns itself upon you-al-
most commands you not to advance.
This is cast off, however, aud YOU
start forward upon the greatest volun-
tary event of your life.
So it was with me and | left my dress
ing-room. passed to her side, aud
stepped nervously beneath the canopy
of flowers where n lasting unity of
hearts was to be pledged.
A few words and her little. pcarly
hand rested calmly and contidingly in
mine; the magical ring was adjusted
~ biob bnlnal ~ h;pI Tho ea,,oJ NON,
pact; then II few more seconds and
volume of congratulatory epithets were
showered upon us.
Afterward the rustling of fabrics, a
quick slam to the carriage-door. and
we were whirling over the even road
way TO our home.
There everything is in readiness
rot one essential has been overlooked.
| passed to my room-a comfort my
wife promised to allow me-wherp |
found house-jacket and slippers await
ing me. A handful of new-pluc ked
roses lay upon my table, while the
latest issue of a metropolitan daily re-
posed against smoking-inr, which
was well filled with my favorite brand
of cigars.
| glanced about me with deer salts
faction, and gave brief scope to thoughts
OF the many joyful, peaceful hours |
should pass in this coy little retreat,
for had thought that should some
times like to return again to bachelor
days for an hour or two, Just to benefit
by the comparison, by giving myself
to this one room. | soon retired from
these quarters, and, upon descending
the broad stairs, was met by the sweet
expression:
'Oh, Hervey! it does not seem that
sadness can ever come to us! How
pretty everything is!'
We grasp each others hands aud
pass from room to room, bearing the
proud persuasion that all is ours to en-
Joy, and that all speaks of enjoyment
unalloyed.
The quaint little library, with books
neatly arranged, aud with tempered
gimmer of sunlight streaming through
the vine clad window; the dining-roGm.
not large, yet atfording space for the
number We expect often to have at our
board; the large hall, where comfort is
plainly Suggested on every hand; while
snug Dboks and corners are met as we
Gideon, stopping here with an express
sioul aud there with look of JOY.
We were just passing for, mayhaps,
the twentieth time the great paneied
door leading to the porch without, when
Il violent startling knocking came 10
our ears.
Sweet Madeline convulsively grasped
my arm, rs if fearing some strange or
ominous intrusion.
Again came the fierce pounding upon
the outer door.
Somehow could not move. Every
muscle was fixed in position of rigidi-
~. | struggled iuwardly for a power
TO advance. | tried to cry out against
the cords wh,ch bound me helpless.
My wife still firmly clasped my arm
and much alarm was indicated by her
features.
Again and like great volumes of
thunder came the stokes upon the door.
and az the last echoes rcsounded
throughout the house and died away in
the far-off corners | gave forth one
mighty, supcrhuman effort against the
restraining monster, and shrieked in
tones of terror:
Come ill.,"
then felt cold draft of air upon
my moistened brow and heard gruif
voice eXclaim:
Please call at 1l01 Mansford street
at once. 4 lady is dying"
rubbed my eyes briskly. raised my
self to sitting posture, found my left
arm was asleep from a cramped
position it had suffered, noticed my
half-burned cigar upon chair beside
me, observed the soft reflection from
my dimly-burning lamp. and lastly,
caught sight of the figure of n man
standing in the doorway and leerng
at me with pair of wild and excited
eyes.
Hurriedly and loudly he repeated his
message, which was then comprehend
ed.