The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-06-17
Miss Maud Cranston, When She Saw the
Corpse, Became Unconscious.
MARRIAGE CEREMONY DISCONTINUED.
Miss Crans,on Had Heard Of Carriers Statement
That She Should Never Marry Carson, and
She nec,ms Greatly 0rsrWought

Vancouver, b. c., June H.-This story
of how a dead lover forbade the bans.
worthy as 1t is of the imagination OF
a Poe. comes from the Wild region OF
mountain and lake which forms the
interior OF British Columbia.
Maud Cranston, whose home was at
Kootenay Lake, had to choose between
two wooers. OF these X. A. Carson
was rich and unromantic. while James
Carter was poor. but in all respects
q stripping to engage a maiden's fancy.
There were other considerations. how
ever. and Maud Cranston chose the
rich suitor.
You shall not marry him." said Car
ter TO her. when he heard that the date
was fixed.
Floods came. The river broke from
its banks. The clergyman was exiled
on his ranch Such os the wedding
guests as had been able to reach the
brides home lamented with her over
the disappointment. And James Carter
who was just starting on lonely trip
down the river, greatly changed in
few weeks. said:
1T is an i'll omen. They Will never
marry"
Perhaps IL was because she heard OF
this gloomy prognostication that Miss
Cranston decided that she and he-
affianced would reach the clergyman.
since he could not reach them.
A day or two later they embarked,
accordingly, on the steamer Kokanee.
which would pass the minister's place
on its way TO Bonners Ferry. He was
sighted clngng TO the roof OF his
house, which was submerged to the
caves. A boat from the steamer was
rowed throuvl the swirling water that
covered his crops and he was rescued.
Carson and Mis- Cranston appealed
TO him to many them at once, End he
went TO the cabin 10 put on change
of clothing proffered him by Captain
Newman. While he was thus engaged
the boat stopped at Rios Landing
Here cofiin-a plain pine box-was
carried on board.
In it. said the gossips. was the body
OF young man who had been drowned,
now sent wandering in search of Chris
tian burial.
Maud Cranston was already In an
overwrought state from her many ad-
ventures and brooding over the strange
NOIuS Oh Htl TtJttNcu SNtSNhNai's p" hNii
the coffin was proped on deck-for there
was no other place for it-she became
more agitated than ever and more anx-
ious TO have the ceremony performed
at once. But when the minister reap
peared and saw the coffin he thought
that n wedding would be out of place
in such close quarters with death. On
ly because there We're fears for the
girls self-command did he prepare 10
fulfill his word
look of relief crept into Maud Gram
stans face as the ceremony went on.
But before IL had reached the decisive
stage two dogs chained near the coffin
fell to fighting and overturned the two
kegs on which It rested. AS ii tumbled
10 the deck the lid flew off and out
rolled the body. almost at the feet OF
the half-married pair
III was James Carter. his eyes wide
open and his hair still damp upon his
forehead.
Only for an instant did the girl ne
had loved endure the agony of looking
at his white face, for consciousness
mercifully left her and she fell in a
ewoon by his side