The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-01-02
VOL. XXVII.-NO. 9.

you passionately Maria blushed, and
bent her head still lower,
Il have behaved imprudeutly, yielding,
as [ have done, to the seductive pleasure of
seeing and hearing you daily" Maria re-
collected the first letter of st. Preux in
sLa Nouyelle Heloise" at is too late
now to resist my fate. The remembrance
of you your dear Incompatible image, must
from to-day be at once the torment and the
consolation of my existence. | have now
grave duty to perform, a terrible secret
to disclose, which will place between us an
insurmonntable barrier
at has always existed = interrupted
Maria II could never have been your
wife"
81 know he replied quickly; Il know
that you once loved. But death AMI three
years of mourning may have worked some
change. Dear, kind Maria, do not try to
deprive me Of my last consolation; the idea
that Won might have consented to make me
happy if. Don't speak, for Gods
sake don't speak-you torture me, Yes,
know feel that you could have been mine,
butt am the most miserable of beings
| am already married !"
Maria looked at him in astonishment,
81 am married, continued Bourmin; ''l
have been married more than three years,
and do not know who my wife is, or where
she is, or whether | shall ever see her again.
"What are you saying?" exclaimed Ma
ria: chow strange? Pray continue"
''In the beginning of 1872" said Bour-
min, 81 was hurrying on to wilma, where
my regiment was stationed. Arriving one
evening late at station, | ordered the
horses to be got ready quickly, when
suddenly Il fearful snowstorm broke out.
Both station master and drivers advised me
to wait till it was over. | listened to their
advice: but an unaccountable restlessnesS
took possession of me, just as though some
one was pushing me on. Meanwhile the
snowstorm did not ahate. could bear it
no longer, and again ordered the horses,
and started in the midst of the storm.
The driver took it into his head to drive
along the river, which would shorten the
distance by three miles. The banks were
covered with snowdrifts. The driver missed
the turning which would have brought us
out on to the road and We turned up in
an unknown place. The storm never
ceased. | could discern light, and told
the driver to make for it. We entered {
village, and found that the light proceeded
from wooden church. The church was
open Outside the ratings stood seyera
sledges, and people passing in and out
through the porch.
''Here Here p cried several voices.
told the coachman to drive up.
"Where have you dawdled p said some
one to me. "The bride has tainted; the
priest does not know what to do; we werC
on the point of going back. Make haste
and get out y
| got out of the sledge in silence, anC
stepped into the church, which was dimly
lighted with two or three tapers. A cir
was sitting in a dark corner on bench
another girl was rubbing her temples
'Thank God" said the latter, "you have
come at last You have nearly been the
death of the young lady
The old priest approached me, saying
'.Shall begin -
"Begin-begin, reverend father,
replied, absently.
"The young lady was raised up.
thought her rather pretty. Oh, wild, un
pardonable frivolity I placed myself BY
her side at the altar The priest hurried
on.
Three men and the maid supported the
bride, and occupied themselves with hei
alone. We were married
''Kiss your wife" said the priest.
My wife turned her pale face toward
me- | was going to kiss her, when she
exclaimed: %Oh it is not he-not he :
.,,1 en- Ill ;,.on,;bI,
The witnesses stared at me. turned
round and left the church without any at.
tempt being made to stop me, threw my
self into the sledge and cried "Away y
"What?" exclaimed Maria. .'And you
don't know what became of your unhappy
wife p
al do not,' replied Bourmin, "neither
do know the name Of the village where
| was married, nor that of the station from
which started At that time thought
so little of my wicked joke that, on driving
away from the church, fell asleep, and
never awoke till early the next morning
after reaching the third station, The ser
want who was with me died during the
campaign, so that ] have now no hope Of
ever discovering the unhappy woman on
whom played such a cruel trick, and who
is now so cruelty avenged.
"Great heavens" cried Maria, seizing
his hands. "Then it was you. and you do
not recognize me p
Bourmin turned pale, and threw himself
at her feet.
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