Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-08-13
CHAPTER. [.
A Strange Proceeding.

perfect morning III OcCOpeI' hoC
hundred years ago.
The gayly and richly dressed croWed
had been pouring through the wide
open doors for more than an hour,
filing it's pews, aisles, and galleries
All the elite and aristOcracy OF the
country for miles around had come to
do honor to the bridal of the &C
knowledge beauty and favorite OF the
country.
Miss Margaret Radcliffe-or, more
Familiarity speaking, bright, beautiful
Pearle Radcliffe-was going to be mar
ried. and this golden-croWned, crimson,
and AMBER tinted October morning was
her wedding-day.
Every face within that great church
was eager and bright with expectation;
every heart beat high with anticipation
and pleasure; for it was accounted no
small honor to be deemed worthy to
attend the bridal ceremony of mem
Der of the nobel house of Derment-
water; and doubly honored were those
VINO had been so happy as to receive
cards to the magnificent wedding
Dr6dhIdSG LIIdL Was W LO1lOW.
The Radcliffes were one Of the oldest
and most respected families in all the
country. Allstone Radcliffe, the bride
elects brother, was the fifth Earl OF
Derwentwater. They were very
wealthy, cultivated, and refined; and
the beautiful Margaret herself was
heiress to a large property that had
- l. hot hnr Of OV
and grandmother.
"She will look lovely" Sara Fair
haven, the rector's daughter, whispered
confidently to her friend, Miss Emily
Dolbarre, who, being a visitor at the
parsonage, had been permitted to come
and view the ceremony. "Her dress is
perfectly elegant, her veil three yards
wreath is superb.
''And is the groom as attractive as
the bride?" asked Miss Emily.
ooh, every bit. Every one admires
Captain Byrnholm. They make very
handsome couple"
Captain Byrnholm! Is he in the
army?"
4GS-OI A0 Ids USCus 11O Acl0 Ac1COAJ
resigned his commission, and intends
to settle down as country gentleman
upon their return from their tour
cit was a love-match, you say?"
pursued Miss Emily, who was deeply
interested in the characters connected
with this grand wedding.
"Oh, purely; and they have known
1+Lo,, fvoro oh;1dh0nd oil oh
Captain Byrnholm was away attending
to his education for several years, and
thu engagement is not of such very
long standing; but they seem perfectly
devoted to each other,' explained the
rector's vivacious daughter.
what makes you look so dreadfully
sober Emily?" she asked after quite a
protracted silence on that young lady's
part, and noticing that her face was
troubled and overcast.
81 do not know. I have experienced
a very strange feeling ever since COM
ing into the church, sort Of dread as
of some impending evil Is the build
ing safe? See how crowded it isl and
the young lady glanced uneasily around
upon the multitude.
''Safe? you little goose!" laughed her
friend, under her breath. "Of course it
is perfectly safe. Why, it could not be
moved or stirred from it's foundation
than one of the eternal hills, though
I must confess that I never saw so
many people in it at once before"
81 suppose it was a foolish notion;
T do ~ -
terrific thunderstorm-as if some bout
was about to fall and crush us all.
The shivers have been running up and
down by back for the last half-hour;"
and Miss Emily emphasized her words
with visible shudder.
cit is the excitement of the oc-
casion," said Miss Sara, lightly. eve
do not often have the pleasure of at
tending such a grand wedding
Did you not hear some confusion in the
vestibule?"
Eyes; think the bridal party must
have arrived"
The minute-hand of the great clock
pointed to the hour appointed for the
ceremony to occur. There was a sus-
k1C1OuS 1uSLlO OuCS1u0 III CII0 NOSI1UulC1
then few low-muttered sentences,
with something Of onise and confusion.
Eager, expectant faces, bright restless
eyes, and listening attitudes, all be-
spoke the unusual interest which every
one experienced in the approaching
event.
The rich tone of the great organ
thrilled the vaulted space, seeming to
speak, beneath the skillful fingers of
the organist, of maiden's love, tender
and true-ot good mans devotion,
and of two pure lives about to blend
into one.
A door at the rear of the church was
swung open, and every eye was eager
for the first look of the distinguished
bridal party.
Slowly, and with an ominous tread,
it swept up the aisle. Immediately
there was a strange f1utter among the
assembled multitude. Low eXclamina-
tons of surprise and dismay could be