The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-14
A MISSING BRIDE.

Blake and Edgar Gcland, which was to
take place that evening Mt o'clock. Geor-
gia was MI attractive girl and Edgar tall,
awkward boy, whose good qualities made
up for tho lack of good looks. Both wero
great favoritcs Mt tho Grove, and the people
looked upon the match as IN ideal one.
Tho Grove had not celebrated q marriage
for nearly ID months and the fact of lat
last" having wedding aroused much en-
thusiasm there and In the vicinity among
all, old and young, who looked forward to
the event of tho evening with keen de-
light. BY O'Clock tho room was crowd
ed, by 8 scarcely standing room for tho
guests. Those from tho Grove wcro there
In full force, and tho surrounding bayous
were represented by Il goodly number. All
wore merry and chatting gayly, though
triilc impatient for the coming of tho
bride. But when the little cricket clock
on the mantclpicco struck silence rcigncd,
and all eyes were turned an6. rivctcd OH
the door thorugh which the couple were to
enter, and there they gazcd full one hour
for the clock struck 10 before the latch on
the door made any sound. Then it raised
and the door opcncd-only to admit tho
tear stained face of Mrs. Lawrence, who in
an excited, sob broken voice told the guests
that Georgia could not be found
She had left home early in the afternoon
for the puprosc of gathering water lilies
and other wild flowers and had not vet
come back. Her long stay did not create
any uncasincss until sunset, when
straightway II man was sent to hurry her
home, and he had just returned bringing
with him only her hat, which he found on
the edge of the water One can hardly
imagine anything that would have given
the people SO sudden Il shock us this. Tho
wOmpn rho lnol-n1 e l,
windows and doors, simply ut v;cuity.
for it was black without, then put on
their hats and instituted u search ut once
which was joined i'll earnestly by every
man present.
The search continued all night, many in
their excitement going over the same
ground, until daylight convinced them
that there, at least, were no more traces
of her than those which had already been
found-hcr hat and II few tracks in the
soft sand near by. And thus was spent
the night that was to have been one of rev.
clry.
Bayous were crossed, and the scarchcrs
went here, there and everywhere, to places
where there was and wasn't the least
probability of tracing her. But all in
vain. Then, one by one, worn out and
sad, loath to give up, yet believing further
steps MS fruitlcss rs the first proved, the
scarchers-mcn and womcn-wcnt home
now surcr than ever that Georgia had been
drowned and had gone on with the tide,
down Cedat bayou, over Spanish lake, out
then to the gulf
There was one, however, who would not.
could not give up-yct. That was Edgar
Gcland He went from place to place
looking, praying hoping that he might
yet find some trace of her, for as vet he
tI1I 1...1s. 4.
went by, and his long wcarying steps. his
eager, watchful eyes for anything that
would bring him tidings and his listening
ear for any sound by which he might Inc
guided were all in vain. Hope was dead
In his despair he gave his homc-the
ono which was to have been hers also-to
the Old couple who had sheltered Georgia
lor so many years, and them having no
more interest there, tho boy, crushed in
heart and spirit, left the Grove determined
never to return
Up to that time all had gone we'll Mt the
Grove, but this sad affair had east IL gloom
over the place, the shadow of which was
deep and threatened to be dsmally long.
But one morning, just as the sun reached
up TO the tree tops over Spanish lake. Il
schooner came in sight and cast anchor at
the mouth of Cedar bayou-whch was too
seen to glide away from the side of the
vessel, coming straight to the Grove. This
was something that had never happened
before, and the people were curious to
Know what it meant, SO curious in fact,
that many had gone down to the shore
and stood there shading their eyes and
Watching to see who were the three in the
yawl. How little they dreamed that the
shhii inquire III the bow-so that she might
be the first one out-was Georgia Blake.
She it was, though, and few minutes
more she whom they had mourncd as dead
for all these months stood before them
safe and well.
In few words she told her story:
On the afternoon of her disappearance.
not being able to find as many flowers ms
sho wanted she set out in an old skitf, one
that had long since been useless. She
knew it was risky, but cngcr for the flow
crs she bailcd out the boat and started
OIL, padding and steering, all mt the same
time, with II little board which she found
oil the shore. She had done that many n
time before. but not in such skiff. How
ever, she reached the spot where the lilies
grew thckcst. Wild with enthusiasm
over their beauty, she gathered so long us
one was in sight, and then. with u sigh of
content and pleasure, She looked down Mt
the heap of beauties ut her feet and found
they were floating. And no wondcr-thcrc
was n foot OF water in the skiif and it was
coming in faster and faster
She picked up the little board which
had served aS II paddle and began to bail.
But she could nct guide the boat and bail.
too, and while she gota triilc ahead of the
water tho boa: got ahead of her. 1t Sc
lectcG, with the aid of the tide and wind,
Its own course and driftcd farther and
farther away from Cedar Grove. She look
cd around, hoping some boatnlan might
come in sight, hut not So Her face grew
rcd from IhN nw..ri inn tAyn lAi.r ..,lt .4..,.-