The Spectre of Nevada [pp. 437-445]

THE SPECTRE OF NEVADA.
taken by surprise. The gossips were
outwitted. A good many were still in credulous. The village matrons thought
an unostentatious marriage quite pos sible, but protested against such an out rage on feminine curiosity. The fact of
a marriage taking place in the village
without its being first duly canvassed
and discussed, was something not to be
tolerated. The young girls of the village said all manner of things of Emily:
called her "sly-boots," and harrowing
epithets of that sort. In short, the village was startled from its propriety.
Rumor was busy- some believed it,
some did not; and not until the following Sunday was the atmosphere of speculation and incertitude cleared away.
Then, at a few minutes to eleven o'clock
in the morning, a young couple was seen
walking arm-and-arm toward the village
church. This was conclusive: every
body looked out at window, and the
women tittered and whispered most energetically.
Coming home from church, among the
many acquaintances from whom we received congratulations, there was none
more demonstrative than Mr. Buckley,
who met us outside the church-door,
shook each of us warmly by the hand,
wished us many happy years, and said
many handsome compliments.
Having purchased this very lot on
which we are now seated, I employed
workmen to erect a store and a suitable
dwelling; Emily and myself continuing
to reside, meantime, with our relative,
Mr. Neilson. Here Buckley still continued his visits. He saw no indelicacy
in obtruding himself on our private circle, evening after evening, and sometimes for hours together; and, although
Mr. Neilson disliked him, and Emily absolutely loathed his presence, still he
was tolerated. On these occasions, in
season and out of season, he was profuse in the expression of his good wishes for all of us.
The store and dwelling completed, I
prepared for my long-deferred journey
to the city. As the time for my departure approached, poor Emily grew sad.
Ever since our marriage, her life had
seemed a happy dream. But now, when
those halcyon days were about to be
clouded, though with only a transient
shadow-when the husband, to whom
she clung with the impassioned ardor
of young love, was about to absent himself-her eloquent eyes and voiceless
emotion told but too plainly the extent
of her bereavement and the depth of her
sorrow.
"Emily," I said, "do not grieve so.
I shall not be more than a month away,
at most; and these little absences are
sometimes unavoidable, and may be always expected."
I feel," she said, "as though we
were never more to meet."
"Such is the result," I said, "of dejected spirits: therefore, for my sake,
cheer up, and hope for pleasanter days."
She wiped away her tears, and tried
to look resigned.
"Meantime," I continued, "you can
be lookink to our new house and putting
it in order, till my return. It will help
to pass away the time pleasantly."
"It is such a distance away," she
cried. "I wish it had been nearer."
"It is an eligible site, nevertheless,"
I said, "and in two years it will be the
centre of the town. It is, besides, pleasantly situated by the side of a fine lagoon." ["There"-added Mr. Reynolds, pointing with his finger - "there
is the lagoon, at the foot of the garden."]
Thus Emily and myself spent a good
part of that memorable evening, and
next morning I started for the city. I
had been particularly successful during
the whole trip. The roads happened to
be in good condition, and, having made
satisfactory purchases in goods, and
some handsome preients for Emily, I
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