Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-01
Who Stole the Bride? And Why?
The Night of the Wedding
=. By c. N and A. NJ WILLIAMSON
Authors of "The Lightning Conductor" and other fascs
mating romances of mystery and love s. =
Copyright. 1894 Public Ledger Company .s Il
By C. N. and A. NJ. WILLIAMSON

copyright 1874. by Pt
Kennedy Haste. married to Eve Car
roll. charming and rich girl, is
starting the honeymoon at Hidden
Hall Court. 1t is gloomy and leg
ended castle lent to the bridal pair by
sutton for Ewes hand.
The Furnace
Though the month was July and
the weather warm, there was a
furious fire in the furnace. evidently
not long kindled, for it was here ap-
parently. that the very peculiar
smoke and oGor of burning had
originated. A frightful thought shot
through Haste's brain, which turned
him sick; and as Wells led the way
to the furthest staircase, he turned
and rushed back TO fling open the
furnace door. Hts hand was
sccrched by the hot iron Of the
handle. and involuntarily he flinched
from the fiery blast which almost
scared his eyeballs.
The heat was intolerable, and
seemed to be generated by masses of
indescribable stuff, which had been
heaped within, on a bed of Goals and
| wood.
"What have you been burning
here?" Haste raped out.
Wells turned at the foot OF the
| stairs.
"Oh, odds and ends" he said.
odds and ends" echoed Ken. II
can see some great bundle on the
| fire, like a shadow in the red.
! There's a smell like burning leather"
! That's just what it is" Wells an
: swered quickly. Il showed in a
; leather bag full of letters and all
; sorts of things"
j Kennedy Haste made no answer,
! but his heart was sick, and his
/ throat ached with the dumbness of
his horror, his fear that could find
! no words. He closed the door of the
! furnace, for nothing could be touch
ed or clearly seen within the sea OF
flame. But on the floor close by
something attracted his attention
almost as if a ghostly finger had
| tapped him on the shoulder and
then pointed down.
Some small pink object, rather
lire faded rose. lay on the gray
Tagging. He stopped quickly and
picked it up; a bit OF coral satin
ribbon 1t was. with few loops OF
4 ~ Shoi hSio lIiSc 10 one
end. The other end was jaggedly
charred.
Evidently some garment to which
1t was attached had been stuffed in
TO the furnace, and this little piece
OF ribbon had hung outside the
shut door. When the rest had burnt
up 1t had dropped or else it had
fallen when Ken opened the furnace
to look in.
Deathly cold despite the heat
Haste recalled Eve in the dress sh,
had worn for dinner. He was not
a man who noticed or could de.
scribe woman's clothes at all &C.
curately; yet he knew that Eve haC
been in white, with tulle sleeves thai
had hoated out like an angels wings
as she moved. But hadn't there
been something pink about III,
dress? Pink was Ewes favorit,
color. Nearly always she contriyec
TO nave touch of rose about he,
things, and that intoxicating per,
hume OF hers was like roses, on ;
not summer night under tie moor
roses with an Eastern spice ant
lusciousness.
What had been the rose touch to-
night oh, sash.
Yes, she had had a soft pink spsl
swathed round her waist, with :
rose stuck into it that came to tn,
top of her low bodice, and brushed
her beautiful white neck.
Inc mans head rceled giddily a,
ne thouGht of her lovelincss-an,
,hat she was lost to him. He be
HeVcd that to be so now; that sh,
was lost. Only an hour aro-los
she had smiled at him as sin
silpped through the door OH her wa,
10 the music room. His heart ha,
almost burst with JOY at the though
that she was his. And she Ia,
gone, never to come back-gon
Where he could not follow this sid
OF the grave. He would never Sc
her In this world again.
The thought that Rawdon Well
had robbed him of her-killed he
cruelty and deliberately in thi
wicked house-was so strong tina
Haste could hardly restrain himself
lie mad loved Rawdon once, admire,
nIn, beyond all other men, and the
iau gone INTO the war togethe,
though Rawdon's smashup had com
soon after.
But now he hated his friend O
other days so holly that il was al
ne could do not to spring on hin
sleze him from behind, and beat hi
pralns out on the stone floor.
something, however, restraine
nm. Possibly it was Rawdon,
imp which once, in so splendid
specimen Of manhood. had seomo
horribly pathetic to Ken. Or pos
slbly 1t was the recollection of WeII,
wofdsr Give me the benefit of tn
lie had promised TO give tina
penent. and he would keep his wor
or niue whlle yet. Indeed, as mi
au cleared Ken realized that moth
ing would be gained at this stso
by killing Rawdon Wells. II vasn,
certa1n-not quite certain yet,-tha
ne mad caused Eve to disannaa,
.nough circumstantial evidence q
many Kinds gathered thickIy roun
Din IL Haste killed Rawdon We'll
ne would be put in prison, and couI
n nul work at unraveling the myster,
Inat was the most important thin
vi an at present. to be free,
Wlthout a word he slipped int
MS pocket the charred bit OF min
sauh RIBBON, with it's tag Of ga,
gnttering fringe, and followed Pa
don upstairs. IVA
There was Just one ,consoIatior
ne tod himself. Wells could no
me stairs led into a long. STONE
paved corridor which brancbed ~
from the main hall. But II couId h
ieit or entered by a door that opene,
INTO an exterior court, known "a m
Dutch Tree Court" Rawdon NJ
ooubt. had a key to this door. Has
,enected. and could easily have 10
nlmseif in. to go down to his Ia bora
tory, unseen by the servants. TT
could then have come I'D bv IN
secret way, and reached the music
room while Eve was playing. After
Ward-but Ken tried not TO thin