Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-09-10

Philip Dryer had ceased to exist. He
was living yet dead. Anew identity
lived IN his brain and betrayed itself
inthe changed face. The mental strain
he had undergone that day had proved
too much for him, and Philip Dryer,
the broker, in mind, features and
Identity, passed out Of existence.
The newspapers Of the metropolis
devoted many columns to the mys-
ferrous disappearance of Phillip
Dryer. For a time he divided atten-
tion; with the Wall street panic. 1t
was a strange case, but the newspa-
pers reasoned that he had committed
suicide on account of his failure. and
IN time the public accepted their con-
clusion.
The Wall street panic passed into
history and the Dryer disappearance
gave way to other sensations. The
reading public demand frequent
changes of mental diet.
In time Phillip Dryer, the once pop
ular young broker, was forgotten by
all save his young wife, who mourned
him as dead. She, too, had at last
been forced to accept the conclusion
OF the press that in a fit OF despond-
ency, he had taken his own life. For
weeks she visited the morgue every
time q body was brought from the
river, but at last she gave up all
hope of seeing the loved face again.
Grief will wear itself away in time,
and finally Mrs. Dryer put aside her
mourning and joined some friends
who were going West for a long So
journ in California. Three years had
passed since her husband disappear
ed, and while his body had not been
| found she was satisfied that he was
dead.
Inthe beautiful city OF P asadena CAL,
Mrs. Dryer and her friends fingered
for months. They mingled in the
best society, and the beautiful young
widow was soon great favorite.
Edward Parker, a young and sue
cessful banker, was one of the social
leaders ofPasadena. He was q hand
some man: but there was something
in the expression OF his face that
made him seem older than he was. 1t
was a look that resembled the trace
of a great sorrow, but in the gay man
ner Of young banker there was
nothing to Indicate that he had
ever looked on any save the bright
side of life.
There was something about the face
and manner OF Edward Parker that
interested Mrs. Dryer more than she
cared to admit, and he made scarce
ly an effort to conceal the fact that
| he had been in love with her from the
first time they met.
They We're together more and
more as the stay OF the New
York party heightened into months.
and when Parker told her OF his love
Mrs. Dryer could only admit that she
was very happy. "Do you know"
she said, when their troth had been
plighted, '.that there is something in
your face and your voice that inter-
ested me the first time saw you! 1t
is not that you remind me OF any one
I ever knew, but there is something
about yon that makes me feel as
though we had been friends in the
long ago. You have never seemed
| quite stranger to me-"
"You have made meso happy can
not find words to tell you all l feel"
said Parker, "but | am sure fate has
brought us together. 1t was no
chance meeting. Long ago saw in
my dreams a face and form divinely
fair and fell in love with the vision.
In my waking hours l could not re-
call the face. 1t passed away with
the dreams, but when met you it
came back to me- You are the vision
that came to me in those dreams and
before l ever saw you in reality
loved you"
At the earnest request Of Parker
Mrs. Dryer finally named an early day
for the wedding. They were to be
married in Pasadena and spend their
honeymoon in the East.
The church where the marriage was
to take place was crowded to it's ut
most capacity on the evening fixed
for the happy event.
The bride more beautiful than ever
in her wedding costume and wreaths Of
orange blossoms, stood at the altar,
and the happy groom came forward
to take her hand. He advanced a
few steps then stopped suddenly. His
face turned pale, and then those who
stood near saw a change come over it,
a change so great that the man stand
ing there to be married WAS not
Edward Parker.
The spectators vaguely realized that
something was wrong. There was a
murmur OF interest and excitement
and then the bride glanced up for one
instant to the face of the man at her
side. For a. moment only her glance
rested there, then clutching at the
railing OF the altar for support she
reeled and with a scream fell to the
floor in faint.
Only the bride had recognized the
changed face Of the pale and trembling
bridegroom.
The man who stood at the altar
was not Edward Parker, banker, but
Philip Dryer.
The dead lived again.
A Sunday on Monday.
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