Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-03-10

usual had happened. Tenderly and care
fully shs folded up the elaborate gown
of cream-colored satin, with its draperies
of thick costly lace, and its superb bou-
quets of deep crimson blossoms, in which
Miss Mailing delighted the eyes of her
admirers at the ball. Very circumspect-
ly she placed the magnificent diamonds
and rubies, with which her mistress had
adorned her shapely throat and arms, in
their cases, and then packed them in q
small oaken box with steel clamps. Then
she went round the room with her keys
and locked and strapped the travelling
trunks one after another. That DONE
she sat down to wait, she knew not for
what.
Captain Polling received a telegram at
quarter to II that morning which
filed him with surprise and curiosity.
1t ran:
AT all risks get to Bishopsgate
church in time to see a wedding fixed
for this morning, and obtain a good view
of the brides face"
The telegram had been dispatched
from Bassillia, and he remembered the
name as that Of the nearest railway sta
ton to the convent where he had found
his wife's grave. Without knowing why,
he felt that he must obey the telegram,
and he was just In time to catch the II
o'clock express for Waterloo. On arriv-
ing at his destination, Captain Polling
ran his eyes rapidly down the cab rank
within the station, picked out tho smart
est looking horse, sprang into the cab,
and called through the trap to the driver:
"A sovereign If you reach Bishopsgate
church by twenty minutes to i2T'
The horse justified his good opinion,
and the drive was accomplished in good
time. The church doors were open, and
a four wheeled cab was waiting outside.
He crept In very quietly, and walked up
the aisle, not wishing to disturb the SER
vice, for he did not know what he was
there for save to see the brides face. He
judged rightly that his future conduct
was to be guided by that inspection.
The church was cold and gloomy this
miserable morning. and a few persons
were scattered here and there among the
seats, attracted possibly more by curl
osity than interest
As Polling advanced, he was struck
by the subdued richness of the brides
costume, and he was not a little surpris-
ed at the absence of the usual attend
ants-for the old lady standing behind
the bride evidently filed the office of
pew opener. The bride and bridegroom
were a fine couple, the man being quite
six feet high. while the lady was also
well proportional
Polling went quietly along the chancel
until he reached the end nearest to the
altar. and then he waited for the bride
n 70 to,r II II
gyman's voice went on with the service:
Wilt thou obey him and serve him,
love, honor and keep him In sickness
and in health. and, forsaking all other.
keep thee only unto him, so long as We
both shall live?"
Then, for the first time, she turned
toward Polling. Her expression was one
Of unmixed rapture as she raised her eyes
to the bridegroom's, and her lips were
to speak the words "I will"
when she became aware of Pelling's fixed |
stare of horror. His gaze attracted her
nvoluntarily. and she looked instinctiyely |
over Jacks shoulder in his direction.
Jack, wondering what was the matter
and fearing she was going to faint.
prompted her with the short answer
She did not speak. but continued to
had so unaccountably riveted her atten-
lion. Her under jaw dropped spasmod-
cally, her eyes became as fixed as those
'he was gazing into. and every vestige of
life and color left her face.
The next thing Jack seemed to realize
was that gentleman wearing a lgiht
'vercoat was speaking quietly to the as
'onished clergyman and suggesting that
ho lo6 " oh l.
is she was evidently very ILL.,
The scattered congrega ton looked at
Zach other in wondering curiosity as the
bridal party disappeared. They fingered
while until the old pew opener returned
nd begged them to depart. as she desired
o close the church
Pauline. with dull, dazed despair in
Ter eyes, sat in the vestry, listening to,
without understanding the conversation
If the three men grouped around her
Il am extremely sorry" Polling said.
n answer to the clergyman's request for
IN explanation: "but it would have been
riminal to allow the matter to go fur
her, for the lady is my wife,
Your wife?' echoed Jack, incredu-
ously.
Yes. sir, my wife, Polling replied.
With the least touch of hauteur. II
lave believed her to be dead for the last
TX years-in fact, l believed it so thor
'ughly that l should not have believed
ny eyes this morning If her own conduct
lad not betrayed her. 1t is possible that
he thought l WAS dead, as l have been
n Central Africa for several years; and
understand the expedition of which l was
! member has been three or four times
eported in the newspapers as complete
v exterminated