Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-05-01

Allie uOE DIT any O1c SlSO. OOlu6IulIlS
Of scorn was in Caroline's heart as she
turned her gaze for a moment on him,
standing in front of the minister.
The bridal party were to leave for
q northern city an hour after the cere-
nOny, and an informal supper was
served in the meantime. The guests
saw Allie depart to don her travelling
dress; then soon became conscious Of
some unusual excitement among mem
bers Of the family. First the parents
left the room, then her sister, and at
last even her cousins Questions and
suppositiOns went the rounds as the
minutes increased in number and the
guests were still left to themselves.
Some thought that something had gone
wrong with Dave Ethbert. He had been
seen standing alone on the front side
walk before the marriage, but no one
had seen him since. Train-time came
and passed, and the guests could
scarcely control themselves None Of
the family were yet visible, though
there was a constant passing and re-
passing going on upstairs. Just when
the tension was almost unbearable, a
portly man, who had not been seen in
the rooms until then, appeared, and
raped for silence. 1t enveloped him
in moment, so quickly that he smiled.
"At the reqpest Of the family" he
commenced, II have the duty, unpleas-
ant and pleasant, Of making a few
necessary explanations. It has been
decided that, lest the truth be warped,
an exact statement of affairs shall be
given out at once, preventing injustice
all around.
"When Mr.. Charming stepped from
his carriage tonight, he learned that
the gentleman who was to have pro-
cured the license had not done so, he
not being exactly himself. Consulting
with the minister before entering the
house, 1t seemed best, for the sake Of
avoiding delay, and possible annoy
ance to the bride-eXpectant, to go
through with the ceremony at once,
though it would mean nothing. Then
to send for the license, explain things
to Miss Allie, and, as soon as the IL
cense should come, perform another
ceremony upstairs, very quietly and
with but few witnesses.
1.-TWO things happened to prevent
some Of these arrangements. Miss Allie
became indignant at what she thought
objectionable neglect in Mr.. Charming.
She made trouble over 1t, and while
the matter was still unsettled, Mr..
Dave Ethbert found his way to her,
did his talking satisfactorily, and they
were married before the family knew
that she had left the house."
An uncomfortable ripple OF applause
at this point astonished and Mortified
the speaker. Simply his expression
quelled the noise, and some one at the
door asked how Mr.. Ethhbert got his II
cense so promptly. There stole twin
kle into the speakers eye.
"Dave heard at the same moment
that Mr.. Charming did," was explained,
"that no license had been procured.
Knowing the little lady pretty well, he
beat Mr.. Channing's messenger to the
ordinary's house, and procured the IL
cense for himself with the result
known"
This time he had to raise his hand to
hush the irrepressible laughter, and,
himself smiling, said: "Mr. and Mrs.
Ethbert left on the train which she had
expected, before the first ceremony, to
+,I-o T u,,DroSo If &c now In ordor For
us to go to our homes"
Probably every mortal In Greenville
knew of Dave Ethbert's love for Allie,
and when it became known how he had
sailed into his desired haven, an exul-
tation in his daring made them forget
the pain Of the other man in the affair.
Only Caroline cast plying look at
the solitary light high up in the Chan
ming home as her carriage passed it that
night. On all sides she heard loud
cheers for Dave, and smiled at the evil
dent youth of some of the cheerers. AS
she stepped from the carriage, a boy
rose stlff1y from the curbing, put a note
in her hand, and went off. whistling.
Pausing under the hall light, she tore
open the missive, and read these words:
Caroline, 1 swear to you that began
the affair with Allie only to try to quit
thinking Of you, and that then l became
compromised through blunder not of
my making. After that, any honorable
man would have acted as did. 1 am
only relieved UNNECESSARILY over the
turn affairs have taken tonight.
H. c."
Did she believe him? Probably she
did. A very pleasant light was in her
eyes, and since her love was Of the
kind that endureth all things, and en-
dureth forever, we may feel sure that
she read much between his lines. At
any rate, there Is a royal-hearted lady
in the Claiming home to-day, and her
husband Is no selfish lover, though
lover he surely is.-Waverley Maya