Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-01-27

Il always felt, somehow. that YOU
would marry Fred. though not exactly
in this haruTn-Scarum fashion. You
can imagine my surprise when | open
ed this telegram at half-past eight this
morning, and read: Come at once,
Judith and are TO be married to-mOr-
row.! OF course, | had TO pack up a
few things: SO | lost two trains,
thereby incurring a lecture from Cred
when he met me at the station. How
ever. ! am here, so perhaps you viii
tell me all about IL. Judy
But she spoke to ~unlleetling ears. for
Judith had tainted.
81 nice sort OF wedding. I must say.
to bring anyone so many miles TO seer
was Margery HerbeTt's comment, rs
she. her brother and Judith left a
small church i'm I.insborough about ten
o'clock the next morning. The con-
vcntional marriage enc reads of so
0ften-the parson, the pew-opener, and
the happy pair"
with II feminine Paul Pry. in the
person Of yourself. looking ON from be-
hind a convenient pillar was her
brothers llgh-hearted rejoinder.
However, we don't mind, do we, Jul
dith? Happiness does not always fol-
low white satin. eight bridesmaids and
peallng bells, so we stand as fair a
chance as II W. had been married with
the usual adjuncts."
YES" assented Judith, who was
looking pale and worn and very un-
l,rideiike in her tumbled muslin gown:
but the captain does not seem 60 care,
as iicr dark eyes met his affectionate-
ly, and that was sufficient to content
him.
Judith had thought, half an hour be-
fore, when she had walked up the aisle
TO join him Mt the altar, that he was
looking very far from happy; but he
seemed to be all right now. and she
could not but feel quiet pleasure in
the reflection that il was due TO his
satisfaction in being safely united to
herself.
~ GU see, l did not fail YOU. Judith
he remarked. with boyish eagerness,
ON their return TO the hotel, when
Margery had left them In Mrs. Johns
sitting room while she repacked her
trayeIing-bag for her return to town.
"YoV promised me you would not"
Judith replied, hardly knowing how to
answer, but determined that he should
know what fortunes of suspense
she had endured.
Always trust me, DEAR he ex-
claimed. putting his arms about her
and drawing her to his side. II love
you so dearly that you can make me
what you Will" He kissed her. and
then whispered, Try to love nae, Ju-
dithr'
He looked so handsome. his eyes
were so full of affection, his tone was
so filed with wistful pleading, that
Judith must have been stone not to
nave been a little moved
IF I did not are for you | could not
have married YOU" she answered;
''ani-it II almost an impossibility. 1
should think, TO trust a husband and
not 10 love him.
Then you are going to try TO be
happy with me-"
Il am going to be happy with you"
she corrected him; and he expressed
himself content.
For a few minutes he sat silent by
her: and Judith, watching his partly
ayerted face, saw the look of anxiety
return to it that she had noticed i'll
church. While she was wondering at
the cause Of ii, he turned to her again
and said. seriously:
II don't know If you believe in
omens, Judith; but what has hap
pened preestied orr marriage for some
hours. When o know everything,
you will blame me, and, possibly. l de-
serve 1t. But l have suffered untold
renpors during the past twenty-four
hours. Poor Townshend shot himself
the night before last. He Is not dead
o dying, but he Is injured very Sc
verelyr'
.Iudith never spoke. She moved
away from his encircllng arm. and her
pale face whitened to the very lips:
but Captain Herbert had expected
more serious emotion, and so found
heart TO resume:
II had better tell you everything. nj
though there Ii no need to 60 into
details just now. Townshend returned
from the barracks earlier than be had
intended, thinking his wife would BE
ione1y while you and l We're tete-a-
tete, and there is no doubt that he
must have overheard an unfortunate
conversation between me and his wife,
ami shot himself In consequence be-
fore you and I were well ON our way
to I.isborough. The bullet, aimed at
his heart. narrowly missed II. and is
embedded In his BREAST. The doctor
says that he must have been hboring
under terrible excitement % the time,
for, Ii his hand had been steady, the
shot must have been fatal. I did not
hear of Ii until ten O'Clock this morn
ing. l went to the Park Immediately
to see Ii could be- OF IA assistance;
but. OF course. 1 did not see Towns
hend OF his wifer'
And Eisiey' family asked Judith.
"She Is prostrate-with grief and re-
morse. I should Imagine"
And what do they think Of meg'
II don't know, and you need not
care. The Park servants did not men
ton you. and 1t does not seem to be
known that You are absent. while PEG
pie do not appear 10 know whether To
attribute Townshend's shooting to an
accident or an attempt mt suicide. Az
soon "a | knew what had happened I
thought you ought To be told: but I
feared you would want 10 return to
the Park at once, and. for many rea-
SONS. II was best original inten-
ton should be carried out. You would
like 10 go over at cncey'
"Yes-I think | ought" she answered
ncIapf.Ii