Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-03-21
THE GHOSTLY
BRIDEGROOM
By JAMES ALLEN.

nave Deen Unexpectedly ue-
tanned" he had telegraphed from Mil
waukee at noon. But life or death,
will be there in time"
If the 1925 was on time, and he
came on that train, we would barely
have time to reach the church at the
stroke of four. He would be COM
PEELED to appear, dusty and travel
stained, before his bride and her
friends. Perhaps he would come in
special. / could only wait and hope.
Life or death, | will be there in
time" he had said, and Wantman
never lied.
l went into the telephone booth and
called up the house. "Wantman has
been detained, but he says he will be
at the church on time. | am waiting
for the last train
What shall we do?" demanded
Helen's father
Il think you are safe in waiting at
the church." | said. Il don't know
what else can be done. He said he
would be here in time, and unless he
sends word to the contrary we must
depend upon him. If he is alive he
either will be here or send word
After that had no further message.
/ waited, waited, waited.
The train was late, of course. When
was it ever on time when you were
waiting for it?
1t was 1856 when it came, and
Wantman was not on board.
leaped into the carriage and drove
madly to the church, where l knew
the bridal party would be waiting.
Poor Helen.
met Beaumont at the door.
"He did not come" / cried.
20, yes, he came at the stroke OF
four" said Beaumont. You have
missed him somehow. The ceremony
must be over by this time. And say
he drew me to one side and spoke
in something awful must
have happened to Wantman. He was
white as a ghost and he did not speak
nor look to right or left. 1t made me
SILVER just to see him. Look, there
they come now!"
AS the bridal party left the church
l saw that Wantman indeed was as
white as a ghost. His eyes turned
toward me for one feeting moment,
but there was no speculation in them.
They were like the wide, staring eyes
of man who just has died.
Helen chung to his arm. She seemed
terrified, but she was not weeping!
AS they disappeared in the carriage,
by some fiendish mischance or else
as the result of some hideous joke,
the organ pealed forth funeral
march.
A shudder passed over the throng
of guests. l could hear some of the
women weeping Historically
With a curse that | could not
restrain l leaped into carriage by
Beaumonts side and we were driven
rapidly to the house. We reached
the door ahead of the brides carriage
and as the door was thrown open the
vehicle in which the couple had rid
den seemed to be empty.
Wantman was not there.
Helen was huddled on the floor, un
conscious, pitiful thing.
Her father took her in his arm!
and carried her into the house.
AS we gathered at the door, silent
aghast, the driver was swearing tina
his vehicle had not been stopped, ant
that the carriage door had not beer
opened between the church and thu
house.
What hideous mystery was before
us? We were soon to know, for {
messenger came with telegram, ant
I opened it and read.
"Wantman was killed in runawa.
at IL o'clock as he drove to the sta
ton at Milwaukee"
Subsequent Investigations proved
that the message was correct.
There could be no possible doub
or dispute of the fact. He had beer
driving madly to the station in a cal
there had been a collision, and tn
lifeless Wantman had been takel
from the wrecked vehicle. His bod.
had been taken in charge by the pc
lice, and in the delay that was cause
by Identification and addresses, wore
was not sent to us until half past fou
o'clock.
At the time of the ceremony, whel
Wantman appeared in the church be
side. his waiting bride, before score
of people who knew him and won
dered at his spectral appearance an,
inanimate responses-at this tim
Wantman was lying dead in Milwau
kee.
1t is unbelievable myself canno
believe it.
But these are the facts.
Wantman was killed in Milwaukee
at noon,
He was married in Chicago at fou
o'clock in the afternoon
ALIVE or dead l will be there il
time" he had wired me just before h
left his hotel for the station.
l have no explanation to offer.