Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-04-20
CHAPTER XXI.

SdTdNd0 anu Lue owner.
And if facts were to be taken into con-
sideration in estimating the extent of her
memory, Matt, too. had forgotten. 1t
was common talk now, that she, the gram
hairless castaway, the neglected protege
of William Jones, was to be married to
the master of the great house, Nay, the
very day was fixed; and that very day
was only two sunrises distant; and Monk,
of Monkshurst, had in his pocket a spe-
cial license, which he had procured, at
an expenditure of FIVE pounds, from Lon
don.
Doubtless, in any more populous locality
the affair would have occasioned no lit
tie scandal and many ominous shakings
of the head, but the inhabitants were few
and far between, and had little or no time
for idle gossiping. The coast guardsmen
and their wives were the only individuals
who exhibited any interest, and even their
excitement was faint mad eyanescent. like
the movements of a fish in a shallow and
unwholesome pool
But the really extraordinary part of the
whole affair was the conduct of Matt her
self. Apparently quite cured of her for
mer repugnance to a union with Monk,
performance of the ceremony, and laugh
ed merrily when she was informed that
the d4y was fixed. Monk, in his grim,
taciturn way, was iubilant. He came to
and fro constantly, and assumed the man
ners of lover. Had he been less bent
on one particular object, two things might
have struck him as curious % That
Matt, though she had consented to marry
him, steadfastly refused TO wear his ring,
or accept any other presents; and (2)
thai she still shrank with persistent and
ill-disguised dislike, from his caresses.
Ic was now late in the month of Au-
gust. and the weather was broken by
troublous winds and fretful moon. For
several weeks William Jones, in his NOR
tai terror, had refrained from visiting the
cave; he had never set his foot therein
indeed, since the night of the assassina-
ton. At last he could bear the suspense
no longer Suppose some one else had
discovered his treasure, and robbed him2
Suppose some subterranean change had
obliterated the landmarks or submerged
the cavern! Suppose a thousand dreadful
things Tired of miserable supposition,
William determined, despite his terror, to
make sure.
So late one windy and rainy night he
stole forth with his unlit lantern, and
fought his way in the teeth of half a
gale to the familiar place, which he
found. however, with some little difficulty.
He was neither superstitious nor magma
tive. burt throughout the journey be was
a prey to nameless terrors. Every gust
of wind went through his heart like a
knife; every sound of wind or sea made
that same heart stop and listen. Only
supreme greed and miserly anxiety led
him on. But at last he gained the cave,
within which there WIS sound as of
clashing legions, clarons shrieking, drums
beating, all the storm aud stress of the
awful waters clashing on the cliffs with
out and boiling with unusual screams
through the black slit between the cave
and the Devils Caldron.
Trembling, with rerspiration standing
in great beads on bis face, he searched
the cave for the corpse of the murdered
man, expecting TO 6ri il well advanced in
decomposition. Strange to say, however,
It had disappeared.
William Jones vas at once relieved and
alarmed relieved because he was spared
a horrible experience; alarmed because he
could not account for the disappearance.
A little reflection however, suggested that
one of those tidal waves so common on
the coast might have risen well up into
the cavern, washed away the body from
its place on the shingle, and carried it
away in the direction of the Caldron. 'In
which case" he reflected, them coast
guard chaps would find it some day
among the rocks or on the shore, and
think it had been drownded in the way
OF natur'."
Satisfied that everything else was I'M
disturbed. lie retired as hastily as posi-
bic, sealed up the entrance to the cavern,
and ran hastily home.
The morning of the marriage cance-a
fine sunny morning. An open doc cart
belonging to Monk, and driven by one
of his servants, stood at William Jones'
door. and close to it light country cart
borrowed by William Jones himself from
a neighboring farmer. The population.
consisting of an aged coast guardsman,
two coast guardsmen's wives, and half a
dozen detected children. crowded in front
of the cottage.
The bridegroom, attired in decent black,
u
waiting impatiently in the garden. De-
spite the festive occasion, he had gloomy
and hapgdog appearance. Presently there
emerged from the door William Jones,
attired in drowned seaman's suit several
sizes toe large for him. and wearing
chimney-pot hat and a white rosette.
Leaning on his arm was Matt, dressed
In dress of blue silk, newly made for
her. out of damaged materials supplied
by Jones. by one of the coast guard WON
en-, light straw hat with blue ribbons
20 match. and light lace shawl Be
hind this pair hobbled William Jones
father, whose costume was nautical like
his Son's, but more damaged. and who
also sported chimney pot hat and a
white roSette.
The crowd gave a feeble cheer. Matt
looked round and smiled but mingled
with her smile there was kind of vague
anxiety and expectation.
Ii was arranged that Monk should drive
Matt IN the dog-cart, while William Jones
and his father followed in the commoner
vehicle. At Pencroes, where the cere-
nony wss TO be performed. they were to
meet with one Mr.. Pensryon, q country
squire and kindred spirit of Monks. who
had promised 10 be best man."
Monk took the reins, while Matt got in
and seated herself beside him. the groom
getting up behind: and away they went
aiong the sSnd-choSed road followed BY
Jones and his father.
The dag was bright and merry, but
Matt neYer thought of the old proverb.
Merry is the bride that the sun shines
on !" she was too busy examining the
prospect on every side Of her. All at
zee, as the bridal procession wound round
the edge Of the lonely lake, she uttered
CRY Of delight There, standing in its old
place By the lakeside. was the Caravan
Monk looked pale-there was siding
ghostly in the temperance even ( this
inaninate object He was a nan Of
strong nerve, however, and he speedily
smiled at his own fears.