Year: 1873




''Just one moment" Rose Denham
said, as she stepped into her cham
ber and closed the door.


She was dressed for her bridal, in
delicately shaded dress, looking
even more beautiful and lovable than
ever in her life before and why
should she not? She had perfect
confidence. in her betrothed, and her
future looked fair and bright.


The moments passed away until
the appointed hour arrived. The
few guests that were hidden were in
the large, airy parlors, and the min
lister had come the bridesmaid had
given the finishing touch to her own
toilet, and the bridegroom-elect stood
outside, impatiently drumming on a
window, yet the bride came not
forth.


Her mother raped on the door,
gently calling, Rose! Rose p but
obtained no response. ''Rose, I am
ashamed of you to be behind time
now" she continued.


But even that brought no answer.
Partly terrified by her daughter S
unnatural silence, she tried to open
the door, but it was fastened within.


Rose y she cried. in an excited
tone, and then, realizing that some
thing must have occurred, she called
to her husband to come and force the
door.


A moment later, and they entered
Roses room, but she was not there.


Rose Rose r her mother called
wildly; but there was no answer re-
turned.


Her boquet and gloves laid on her
table. That was all that was left.
They looked from her window. She
could not have got out herself-it
was too high-and there did not
seem any possible way for her to
to have left her room.


The bridesmaid screamed; the
mother tainted, and George Tracy
looked like one stupefed. Only the
father had presence of mind left.


''She must have gone out of the
window" he said; ''for she's not q
spirit that could vanish--and the
gardener must have seen her"


lie rushed down to the gardener.
He had not seen Miss Rose, but he
had seen a stranger lurking around
all the forenoon.


"a tall, dark man. with a slouched
hat" was all the information he
could give. ''He pretended to be
admiring the flowers"


Mr.. Denham's lips whitened.


''She has eloped p he cried, angri-
ly. THAT is the description of that
foreigner that hung around her on
the passage from New York


''Do not be too rash in your judg-
ment," her lover returned. I be-
lieve some harm has befaIlen her.
Rose Denham is not girl that
would betray a mans trust in such a
manner as this"


Il do not believe it, Mr.. Denham
returned. .'rhe days of bandits are
over, and she is no daughter of
mine.'


He was a proud man, and his
daughters apparent baseness cut
him to the heart. He strobe into
the parlor and spoke to the minister,
who moment later informed the
company that there would be no
wedding-the bride was missing.


There was much confusion, and
many opinions, but. as is usually the
case. most every one believed the
worst construction that could be put
upon it--that she had repented of
her intended marriage and eloped
with another lover. Some even went
so far as to speak their minds to
George Tracy, but he repelled them
haughtily.


..Some one has stolen her. he
said coldly. II will offer a reward
for her return p


He put the matter in detectives
hand, and had posters printed and
posted up everywhere, offering five
dollars for any information
concerning her.