The Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1927-1930, 1927-12-15
A Ghost at the
Wedding
Ely H. IRVING KING

Avn l4lZZle-Cne young peOple Cdhou
her-though she was only fifty -four,
sat moodily looking into the fire
which burned cracking upon the
hearth while outside the winds of
winter blew about the old house,
moaning at intervals as if for the
death of vanished summer time.
There came tap at her door and.
girlish voice asked: "Auntie. may |
come in:'
"Come in" said the old lady in Il
strained voice Fresh and glowing,
her eyes sparkling, her whole face
and form the embodiment of youth
and health. Lucy Camden came in.
"What do you think of him,
confidence that no one could help
but think well of 'hm.' The strange,
haggard look which Miss Lizzie
turned upon her niece startled the
girl. "Why, Aunt LIZZIE" she cried,
what is the matter? Are you ill.,
mo, child am not ill; | was only
thinking" was the reply.
Lucy had recently returned from
stay at one of the beaches where she
had been the guest of friends, and
where she had met Albert Longley.
When Lucy had conlided in her
aunt that she had met a young man
at the beach in whom she had be-
come deeply interested" Miss Lizzie
saw how things were at once. AT
the mention of the name of the for
tunate youth the old lady gave a
little start. "Longlcy? Longley?
Where is he from, Lucy?'.' Lucy
named distant city and Miss LIZZIE
unused awhile and sighed. The Long
ley she was thinking of was long
since beneath the sod of grave in
the Philippines. ~ am an old fool,
Lucy,' said Miss Lizzie at length.
"Do you really love this young man?'
"Oh. yes-that is, | think So re-
piled Lucy looking down bashfully.
And then looking up quickly and
smiling brightly, "Oh yes, auntie, |
am sure do" Her aunt embraced
her. and kissed her, and blessed her;
and prayed that her love would have
happier ending than her own.
But when Albert had called, when
she had been brought face to face
with him, she received a shock; he
was so like that Herbert Longley of
long ago who lay dead in the far
Pacific isles. She had gone to her
70 s,it h,afp fro uIpnn with
Ser bitter recollections. Now, when
Lucy came in brimming over with
her enthusiasm and love, Miss Lizzie
looked at her out of past which
was filed with the tragedy of her
lonely life She had brought up the
orphaned daughter of her only broth
er. had chung to her and loved her
as those alone can cling and love who
have only one person to love and
cling to in all the world. Lucy
she said at length, "what was the
name of this young mans father-do
you know
"Why no, auntie,' replied Lucy.
"Albert has told me but don't re-
member now. Why do you asl?">
Nothing. nothing" said Miss Liz
zie. run along to bed now-I want
to be alone"
Lucy. wondering at her aunt's
strange mood. went to her bed to
dream of youth and love; and the
older woman turning, her gaze once
more upon the fire, looked back into
the past. She saw youth, of whom
Albert was lie vc:y image, a youth
bearing the same family name, wor
SHIPPED by her as Albert was now
worshiped by Lucy. She recalled the
progress of their iove-making and the
night of their engagement; and how
happy they were. Then came the re
morseful recollection of their quarrel
and their parting in anger, and Her.
bert's departure with the flags flying
and the drums beating for the cam
paign in Cuba.
She had never seen him since; hid
den behind the curtain, she had seen
lis regiment march by as they de-
parted for the war with Spain. Aft
or Santiago he had gone to the Phil
ippines: he had taken his discharge
there after the war, married and set
tied Gown as a planter, she had
learned. And there he had died
After his cmbarkation for Cuba she
had written him letter full of con-
triton. asking him to come back to
her; and he had sent it back with
the words 200 late written across
it. And here was his son in love
with Lucy and Lucy with him. All
night Miss Lizzie lay awake, think
ing the situation over.
Next morning she said to her niece:
Lucy, | suppose you and Albert will
be getting married soon?"
YES. auntie," replied Lucy, with
your consent"
The next time Albert called, Miss
Lizzie was more composed when she
met him. did your father die in the
Philippines?' she surprised the young
man by asking suddenly in the midst
of a conversation.