Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1900-01-23
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read the invitation over and over.
! yet the certain words seemed to stamp
themselves Ike letters Of fire upon my
Dram. Request your presence at the
marriage OF their daughter Dorothea,
10 James Stanhope Pgessly" Absurd
no wonder / could not comprehend,
Tor scarce two weeks before / had held
ny darling Dorethea in my arms and
uld from her own lips an assurance
nat she would be true TO me, no mat
TOR what happened ] felt her kisses
VET upon my lips. the pressure of her
arms about my neck How then could
/ believe that she was soon to become
The wife of another? At last, bewild
cred. doubling and angry / threw the
invitation upon the table, telling my
ser that it was some mistake some
foolish jest Of one who had discovered
my secret; but as it fell It dislodged a
letter which had escaped my notice.
ana. picking II up, | found it directed
in her well-lSnown handwriting
Dorothca had been Informed by her
father that she was promised to Press
}, IN enormously wealthy man, forty
years her senior. and when she protest
ei ana told of her promise to me, she
Nas laughed at and told that she must
Obey.
Desperate and at bay my little love
give in. ana preparations were made
Tor a speedy marriage
The day before the appointed date /
took the train for the distant city in
which she lived, hoping against hope
that something might prevent the mar
rage, which meant a lifetime of mis-
cry to her as well as to me. The great
concourse Of guests hid arrived before
me, aud the handsome rooms, decorat-
cd with flowers and gay with gowns
and flashing gems, were already echo
ing to the soft strains of a hidden or
chestra.
Suddenly the notes of the wedding
march were struck and the wedding
party came slowly down the great
broad stairs the lights from a myriad
Of candelabra fastened to the side wall
Of the stairway adding beauty to the
scene.
Six maids in white came first, then
the bride, my beautiful Dorothea,
deathly pale beneath the veil which
hung around her like a mist. Her hand
rested lightly upon the arm of the aged
bridegroom, who had such an air Of
proprietorship toward the poor girl his
wealth was about to purchase that l
longed to strike him across the face
with my cllnched fists.
They were midway Of the stairs
when the heavy hall door was thrown
open to admit n late conner AS It
opened the wind. which had been Tis-
ing. rushed in with a furious swirl
and catching the veil which enveloped
Dorothea. tossed it above her head In
an instant she had caught fire from
ne of the candles. 1t lowered over her
lead like blazing halo; then in a
Wrinkle she seemed enwrapped in a
lazing flame Those behind her fell
ack shrieSing. 1he man who was
shout to promise 10 cherish and protect
or for life pushed her from eim In a
rantic haste, and, dashing down rho
tairs, flung himself panic-strckcn
mong the terrified guests.
But rs he dashed down be- passed
figure fastening up. tearing OIL his cc~t
as ne ran. Thank Godw l cried, as
! threw my coat over her head and
rev her to my breast, crushing our
the cruel flames with gentle force
Then l bore her unconscious form TO
her room. still Uttered with bridal fin
ury. and laid her on her couch.
You are saved, my little love-
murmured passionately. land neither
life nor death shall part us again The
sound Of my voice seemed 70 bring her
back to life for she opened her eyes
ana smiled at me. as if comprehcnding
that her lae now belonged TO me who
ind saved it.
But for weeks a fierce battle was
waged for that precious life, until final
ly the crisis WAS safely passed and we
knew that our darling Dorothea was
spared to us.
"She is yours-this little brand you
snatchod from the burning said her
father" placing her hand in mine. My
heart was SO full of happiness that
forgaye him his former cruelty.