of the bridegroom.  Everything was in readiness, the clergy and the choir, already vested, stood in the robing room, crimson carpets were laid down from the door to the carriages; some of the guests were at the church and others at the bride’s house, when an alarm was raised by the best man that the bridegroom could nowhere be found.  The bride-expectant burst into a flood of tears at this cruel disappointment, especially when the ominous news reached the church that the bridegroom’s wedding suit had been found in the room, laid out ready to wear, but that there was not the slightest clue as to his whereabouts.  It only remained for the bridal party to return home, and for the dejected and disconsolate bride to lay aside her veil and orange-blossoms.

Sometimes, on the other hand, it is the bride who disappears at this crisis.  Not many years back, an ex-lieutenant in the Royal Navy applied to a London magistrate, as he wanted to find his newly married wife.  The applicant affirmed that the lady he had wedded was an actress, and that they were married at the registry office at Croydon.  The magistrate asked if there had been any wedding breakfast.  The applicant said “No”; they had partaken of a little luncheon and that was all.  Mysterious and inexplicable as was this disappearance of a wife so shortly after marriage, it was suggested by the magistrate whether there were any rivals, but the applicant promptly replied, “No, certainly not, and that made the matter all the more incomprehensible.”  Of course, the magistrate could not recover the missing bride; but, remarking that the application was a very singular one, he recommended the applicant to consult the police on the matter, who replied that “he would do so, as he was really afraid that some mischief had happened to her,” utterly disregarding the proposition of the magistrate as to whether the lady could not possibly have changed her mind, remarking that such a thing had occasionally happened.

In the life of Dr. Raffles, an amusing story is quoted, which is somewhat to the point:  “On our way from Wem to Hawkstone, we passed a house, of which the following occurrence was told:  ’A young lady, the daughter of the owner of the house, was addressed by a man who, though agreeable to her, was disliked by her father.  Of course, he would not consent to their union, and she determined to disappear and elope.  The night was fixed, the hour came, he placed the ladder to the window, and in a few minutes she was in his arms.  They mounted a double horse, and were soon at some distance from the house.  After awhile the lady broke silence by saying, ’Well, you see what a proof I have given you of my affection; I hope you will make me a good husband!’

“He was a surly fellow, and gruffly answered, ’Perhaps I may, and perhaps not.’

“She made him no reply, but, after a few minutes’ silence, she suddenly exclaimed, ’O, what shall we do?  I have left my money behind me in my room!’