Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1905-03-17
CHAPTER VIII

not destroy, or even weaken, the fasci-
nation she exercised over me. Our mar
riage day was fixed. How distinctly /
remember every aspect and event of that
day. The ceremony was, of course, to
be celebrated at Little Bethlehem by
the brides father All the principal
members of the congregation were to be
Of the party, and the Rev. Obadiah Por-
ter provided the entertainment with no
niggardly hand.
When entered the parlor found it
full of people. OF these two solemn
looking young men, whom | had often
seen at chapel, represented the grooms-
men; and two remarkably sour-lool1ina
girls. Daughters Of Mrs. HUMPHREYS. the
bridesmaids.
Two or three dark-looking cabs were
at the gate, and when all was ready we
sailed forth. Martha was standing in
the hall. holding the house door in her
hand. l had never exchanged a word
with her since that night when she way
laid me upon the landing; indeed, had
never seen her, except when she waited
at meal times. How sorrowfully she
looked at me that morning AS passed
out into the garden with Miss Hum
phries upon my arm. she threw an old
shoe after me- The young lady was
Rstounded, and heard her master pause
for a moment to rebuke her for such
''heathenish" act, as he was pleased to
style it.
Although in the height of summer, it
was a most miserable morning. From
edge to edge Of the horizon, the sky was
one Of uniform leaden hue; there was a
fine soaking rain that blurred and blot
ted to the eye every more distant OBJ
ject; the saturated trees kept up a con
slant drip drip; the calyx of every flow
er was a miniature lake. and on the
point Of every leaf and blade Of grass
quivered globules Of water. Large pools
lay in the graveled path, and the earth
was soddened.
The little chapel was chill and gloomy
as a vault, and the damp atmosphere
chung upon every object, dimming the
windows, and half-veiling the cold, gray
light that struggled through them.
''Not a pleasant day for a marriage"
remarked Miss HUMPHREYS, solemnly; it
was the first remark she had addressed
to me.
More fitting for a funeral | answer
ed drearily.
She looked at me rather strangely, and
1t certainly must have sounded some
what strange remark in the mouth Of
bridegroom.
The ceremony, according to the tenets
Of these people commenced; and as /
took her hand, looked at Judith for the
first time that morning. She seemed
unconscious Of my glance. Her face was
deathly pale, and very rigid. like one
who had nerved herself to a terrible and
repulsive task, as indeed she had. The
touch Of my hand awoke her FROM her
reverie. She shuddered: but l thought
there was less Of hardness and scorn
In her manner, as well / might, for
her tears we're falling fast,
Mr., Porter also was not quite him
self; he seemed agitated and nervous To
my morbid fancy his prayers sounded
like a service for the dead. At last,
it was all over The whole party was
gathered near the door preparatory to
leaving. Judith and her father had gone
into a little room that stood near the
entrance, where she had left her wrap
pigs. / was the last MoOdily l was
following the rest, when my eyes hap
pened to fall upon a small glittering
object. 1t was a golden loeket. In pick
ing 1t up my finger pressed the spring
and opened it. What a thrill ran through
me. 1t contained the portrait of a girl
OF about IA. 1t was the face of the
child ] had met in the Norman gateway!
Who had dropped it, or how had il
come here? Putting it into my pocket, |
resolved to carefully note any person
who should appear to or speak Of having
lost anything.
The cabs conveyed us home again, and
the dinner was waiting Towards e7en-
ing the company dispersed, but nc per-
son spoke Of a loss, and the mystery
OF the locket remained an inscruteble
mystery would not make any in
quiries for the owner, as | had resolved
not to part with it. / Rugged it os a
treasure; and, somehow, amidst the mis-
cry of that day it fell upon my heart
like a CLEAN OF hope.
While waiting at table Martha con-
triyed to slip a piece Of paper into my
hand. Ny fingers instinctively grasped
it, Our visitors had gone. Judith had
retired to her room to change her dress,
and Mr.. Porter was in his storeroom.
seized the opportunity to examine the
paper. 1t was a note, but written in a
scrawl almost illegible. 1t ran thus:
This is my last day here. l leave
tomorrow. Always to be heard OF at
No. Raekstraw's building, Camden
Town, Take care Of yourself God
bless you. MARTHA"
So / was deprived Of my only friend.
was now utterly alone In the lions
den. A new feeling OF fear and DESC
lation fell upon my heart.
CHAPTER TX.
could endure it no longer, and so /
hed. One month after my wedding night