Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-05-12
CHAPTER XIV.

She has been up with the first dawn of
the wild, rainy November morning. poor
little Muriel-a white-faced, sad-eyed
bride, in the dark, simple dress which Is
to be her wedding dress-tremulously
busy and anxious in attending to Miles
every requirement-preparing little cup
Of chocolate, as usual, and even coming
back when her bonnet is on to give him
the tablespoonful of brandy and beef-es-
sence which he takes every half hour.
Standing In the hall, looking fair as a
white lily in her warm, rich-hued dress
of dark crimson plush and cashmere, with
q bonnet and muff to match, she notices.
A. Eric comes down the stairs, that his
face il grave and very pale, and there IL
q shocked look in his eyes.
"Are you ready, my darling" he asks,
and his voice is even little hoarse with
emotion. ''Then We had better go at
once" he says with an involuntary haste
and excitement in his tone. 'Mr.
O'Donoghue will be waiting" he adds
explaining, as this gentleman, an old
friend of her fathers, and distinct rela
tive as well. is to represent Miles at the
church, and be the solitary guest at the
quiet wedding.
Not twenty minutes after the bride ana
bridegroom have left Curraghdene, Miles,
who has been lying in a doze apparently,
suddenly awakes, and starts up in sit
Sins posture, looking wildly about him.
.sMuriel! Muriel! where is my sister,
he asks hurriedly, in u strange, choking
voice. and Hannah, the old nurse. filings
un her hands In a sudden terror as she
hears il. Fetch her-bring her back
hurryi hurry he gasps in that awful rat
ting voice; and the next moment, the
Nnen about his face il deluged with blood
And then there is the hurry, and terror
and beWilderment that the sudden coming
of the awf full angel brings in the household
when his dread presence enters; and while
one messenger rushes at headlong speed
for the doctor, another gailops away to
Derrylossary Church to meet the poor lit
de bride and her newly welded husband.
and ere they have taken one step on the
tourney of life together, bring the shadow
Of death over their path.
1t il a dreary morning for a bridal, of a
surety; q gusty, wild, wet day. 1t does
not take quite twenty minutes to reach
Derrylossary. and there are smiles on the
lips Of the girlish bride, and the sunlight
of happiness In her eyes. The friend who
IN to stand in poor Miles place is waiting.
shiyerins and impatient it must be owned.
and the clergyman is waiting, rs the early
hour had been particularly named; and
10 there is no delay, and the marriage
service begins at once
The first face Muriel sees as she comes
out of the church, leaning on her hus-
bands arm. Is the Curraghdene groom.
poor Mick kirwan, white and breathiess
with anxiety after the two-mile gallop
he has come, and the tidings he has come
to tell visible in every feature Muriei
pauses suddenly and totters as If blow
has been dealt her, and her face Is as
white as the orange blossoms In the lit
tie bouquet on her breast, as abe gasps ou'
the words: MY brotherT'
'Yis, miss, he's very bad. Hurry home
- fast a. yeh can, sirr' he says hoarse
" to Najer HsMsllyn- And under bis