[Mitwaterstraand]
THE STORY OF A SHOCK
Chapter I
[THE DISEASE]
On the night before their daughter's Wedding Mr. and Mrs. Staunton gave a ball. As the festivities were drawing to a close, Mr. Staunton button-holed the bridegroom of the morrow.
"By the way, Burgoyne, there's one thing with reference to Minnie I wish to speak to you about. I--I'm not sure I oughtn't to have spoken to you before."
In the ball-room they were playing a waltz. Mr. Burgoyne's heart was with the dancers.
"About Minnie? What about Minnie? Don't you think that the little I don't know about her already, I shall find out soon enough upon my own account?"
"This is something--this is something that you ought to be told."
Mr. Staunton hesitated, and the opportunity was lost. The next morning Mr. Burgoyne was married.