The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-12-25
EBENSBURG. FRIDAY. DECEMBER %. s9

to be married in church in that. /
won't put off the wedding, and | won't
stand up before a crowd in anything
but my white satin dress, But III be
married ut the appointed hour for all
that. SO telegraph for my trunk and
come back soon
when l came back / found Miss
Grigg in bed and the doctor sent for.
He was puzzled. | could see that. lie
couldn't tell what was the matter, and
Miss Grigg was too faint to speak. He
questioned me, 1 said she had been
very much agitated. He prescribed
something and went off. bidding me
send for him If she seemed worse The
evening papers published the report
that Miss Grigg was dangerously III,
and Mr. Birch came to the hotel in a
terrible fright. as pale a sheet. to
ask how she was. l took him down
her love. and she was very ia.
Then Miss Grigg said 20 the ladies
who came in= Leave me with my faith
fni Flora, and we were left alone. |
can't sax that was surprised when she
sat up in bed and said brislly:
Lock the door, Flora I'm sick of
lying on my back. I've taken them in.
haven't IL Nou see what / am about
now
- Exactly, miss said L. to be too i'll
10 be married when the time comes
No said she, to bc i'll enough to
be married in the white drcssing-gown-
I'm going to be married on my dying
bed. Flora
II gave a screech- and she Laughed.
and then she made supper of sardines
and biscuits aud wine, and she threw
theIncdicine out of the window. Early
next day the doctor came. answered
hisquestion to what sort of q night
his patient had passed by saying she
had been much the same And then
| took little note she had written to
MIR. Birch.
u knew what was in il. She told
him that rather than leave the world
without keeping her vow To him she
would be married on her dying-bed
powdered her up well, miss, and
dressed her in the embroidered dress
ing-gown. with tuberoses at the throat
lpuiled down the green shades and
darkcncd the ROOM She fixed the pill
lows to prop herself up with and then
skipped into bed.
- Give me my pearl bracelets she
said. and the handsomest of these
handllerchicfs and all my rings; and
Flora, mind you must sob all through
the ceremony; I'm going to be- calm
I'VE hadn't five minutes more, but
Just as the first knock came to the
door she whispered:
-''-'Oh, dear, if only could have slew
music. Couldn't you catch that Ira
viata" organ, Flora. and get him to
play forshalf an hour outside the win
dow? He's always on the corner.
Flora, I'll leave you something nand-
some if you do
Il did it, short rs the time was
caught the man and he ground ont his
quarters worth
The clergyman was a very nice,
neat, nearsighted old gentleman. Mr..
Birch was the dreadfulest sight-pale
as ghost and shaking from head to
foot. The groomsman looked dread
fully sorry; the four or five intimate
friends looked Is though they were at
n funeral; and to see her, with her
calm smile and powdered face. one
hand against her heart, the other in
his-I was glad I'd been told To sob; i
had to do something. \ nd 50 they
were married
- L feel said Miss Grigg, slowly.
that this, perhaps the last moment of
with my hand in yours-ah. Dear
friend, adieu- Flora. my faithful maid.
take this ring | saw her pick ont the
cheapest; but no matter. Remember
me by it. Now-leavc us
Then everybody kissed her and
went out of the room sobbing.
In n moment more there was n
scream; Mr.. Birch had fainted away.
1t took an hour TO bring hin to.
The reporter of the evening paper
was waiting outside for the news. It
was published all over that night. but
the next afternoon the travelling dress
came back in the black trunk.
''Yes, miss, of course Miss Grigg-I
mean to say Mrs Birch-rccovered at
once. And that's the whole story. I'm
the only one that knows it, and /
wouldn't mention il to anyone but you,
ma ANN. y. News