Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-09-24
CHAPTER Nv.
John Gridiey's Disgrace.

John Grluiey DisSraNt
The arrival of the letter, Mays ex-
element and Matthew Rivers amaze
ment brought all the small bridal party
to a sudden halt. One person alone
| could have explained the reason oI
that exclamation of the master >
daughter. and that one was John GRID
ley.
He turned pale as death, his limbs
shook and his lips quivered, for he felt
that the cup Of happiness was aDout
TO be dashed from him even now
when he touched the brim.
Come. Gomez said he in a hoarse
whisper. your letter will keep"
But May heard HIM not, for size
staggered rs II in a dream. Her eyes
were distended. and her hand stretch
ed forward in a supplicating attitude.
Her lips moved but no ~art!cuiate
sounds came from them.
Come. come" John Gridley spoke
i~mpatiently. and 1T the same time
took the hand of the young girl in his
haste To lead her toward the church.
She shrunk back from him as II he
had been Il noxious reptile; and then
Matthew Rivers interposed.
II know no more than you DO. said
he. what may be the meaning of this
strange behavior: but you must see
that it is necessary for May 10 rest
a while before the wedding takes
place"
Gridley WINGED at the words, for who
was there knew better than he what
was likely TO be in that letter?
When last he had seen Ernest Hart
rey he had been struggling manfully
for life in the water: and though he
had not had ocular proof of his death,
very little doubt that he persisted *
listed in his mind; for he fingered about
Portsmouth two days after the sudden
and terrible attack, but heard nothing
of his supposed victim, alive or dead.
How should he, when the young
squire was on board his majeStyS
ship Osprey, bowling rapidly down the
channel before a fair wind?
No wonder that John Gridley felt
some degree of trepldation when he
saw a letter from the man he had be-
lieyed dead in the hands of his aft
anced wife; for he guessed that that
letter would tell n strange, wild story,
which would turn all who heard II
against him. and which would etfectu-
ally prevent May from becoming his
wife.
More than once he was tempted 10
snatch ii from the girls hand, and tear
it 10 fragments in presence of the
crowd: hut then. he thought, that act
alone would arouse suspicion, and, per-
haps, after all, the letter contained
nothing of the nature which he so
dreaded.
But suppose it does-suppose it
does?' an imaginary voice kept wills
pering in his ear.
Suppose it does? There is no one
here to accuse me. l cannot be con-
fronted with Ernest Hartrey and |
n deny everything. | can denounce
the letter as a fabrication-its contents
as a plot to mar my fortunes-I can
and will do this
Yet, for all this resolution. John
Gridley was not at that time the calm,
self-posSeSsed. handsome mar who, a
few minutes before, radiant with joy,
had led a bride from the creeper-coy-
cred porch. and who now led her back
III a fainting state, holding in her hand
an epistle from the man she really
loved.
Mrs. Rivers saw In her daughters
agitation nothing more than the effects
OF excitement; but TO her husband the
faintlng fit of the bride and the evil
dent trepidation of the bridegroom, ex-
cited strange suspicious in his mind.
There was evidently some secret. Of
which he knew nothing, but which. in
a mysterious way. had been revealed
to John Gridley.
May was hardly insensible for more
than 4 few moments: and when her
father tried TO draw the letter from her
hand. she clasped of the tighter, press
ing 1t close TO her heart.
1t was so evident that she would
suffer no me 10 read it before herself.
that Matthew desisted from attempt
ing to obtain possession OF it; and he
waited. together, with the rest of the
small bridal party. till May was suffi-
ciently recovered to give some explana-
ton of her conduct.
When the poor girl was sufficiently
restored she unfastened the envelope
Of the etter.
Ion board his majesty's shin
Osprey" she said in amazement.
John Gridley felt at a loss how
to act. He knew an exposure must
come in a few moments; and though he
did not believe that anything could be
proved against him, still he knew that
the circumstantial evidence would be
so strong as to prevent any feeling of
sympathy for him i'm the minds of the
witnesses to his disgrace.
John Gridley was proud and resoIute
he did not attempt to shirk the com
ing evil.
He stood his ground manfully, pre-
pared TO combat 1t inch by inch, and
boldly to deny every accusation.
To May, the commencement of her
lovers letter was too sacred q thing
to make public; but as she proceeded
with it, she turned a gaze of terror
and amazement ut him, who now stood
ready to lead her to the altar to be
made his wife.
The more she read, the more the ex-
preston increased on her s-e; and She
shrank farther and farther away from
the maltster's partner
At last-as IL unable to continue
she dropped the hand which held the
letter, and turned with a look of
speeches. anger and dread to John
Gridley.
you know what this letter con.
tains?' she asked, in q low voice full
of maautpu