An Awkward Incident.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 12, 26 January 1870, Page 3

An Awkward Incident.

There was a fashionable wed ling recently celebrated in New Orleans. Tlia bride was pretty, as ail newly-married ladies are, and the groom was the glass of fashion and the mould of form. A number of invited gin'sta lent grace and beauty to the scene, and hearty congratulations testified the good wishes of many frien Is for the happiness of the newly-married |>air. But the hours waned rapidly, and the time for retiring came at last. ('ho bride was led by laughing bridesmaids up to her chamber door. But imagine their surprise when it was opened by a lady richly and elegantly clad in a travelling suit, and evidently waiting tor an interview. " I beg pardon, madam ; but you appear astonished," said the strange lady. " I must confess I did not expect to see anyone here," replied the bride. " No, madam ; [ came in very privately, and wished an interview, subject to no interruption. lb did not occur to the bride to inquire by whom she had been introduced, or by what means she had gained access to her apart neut *• It is very strange ma'am, and I can't imagine why you wish to speak to me V " The reason is simple. The man you have just married has imposed upon you. E am his wife." " Oh ! impossible—you rave !" anil the lady sank into a chair almost fainting. Of course the bridemaids screamed. Such a succession of shrieks one has rarely heard. It speedily brought the family to the door with terror-striken faces, and with them the bridegroom, all asking with trembling lips, " What in the world is the mattor?" "Oh, Edward I" cried the bride; "this person says she is your wife !" *' My wife !" cried the astonished husband ; " why she is insane." The strange lady stood up, calm, and unruffled. "Is it possible, sir, that, having perpetrated this great wickedness, you will have the hardih >od to deny that I am your lawfully wedded wife ?" she asked, look'ng the sorely troubled Edward full in the face. " Why, confound you, woman, I never saw you before in my life !" exclaimed the astonished man. The lady regarded him very much as a minister would a person given over to total depravity. "Oh Edward, I'm afraid it's true ; and I loved you so!" sobbed the young wife; " how could you have treated me so." " I tell you [ haven't got any wife but you ; this woman is an impostor." The stransre lady uttered a low, mocking laugh. The scene was getting interesting to the last degree. The la lies were all crying, and the father of the bride looking stern an indignant. He had been for some time intently regarding the strango lady, when suddenly his eyes lighted up, and an amused smile played on his lips. He took a step forward, and, laying his hand on the shoulder of the stranger, said, "Gome, John, this is very cleverly played, but it's time it was over," and following; the impulse of his arm, the siranger was pushei into the hall. "John—who—what?" all exclaimed at once. It was the bride'* younger brother, a wicked hoy who had played a naughty prank, with the aid of his sister's travelling suit, and her cast chignon and curb. It is scarcely necessary to reimrk that barmwy was restored.