The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-26
TIVE HIDDEN HAND.

and son. VIII say when they nd that the heiress has
me- will be here Ia her place? Whe--ew-eW-ewl
There VIII be u tornadol Cap. child they'll murder
youl that's just whist they'll dol They'll XII and eat
you Cap, without any salt, or they may lock you up
in the haunted room 70 live with the ghost, Cap,
and that would be worse
" Hush here comes Dorcas Knight Row must
MAKE believe I'm Clara, and do the sentimental up
brown y concluded Capi,ola, az Ale seated herself
near the door Where sue could be heard, anu began
to sob softly.
Dorcas raped.
Cap. sobbed in response.
Are you coming TO luncheon, Miss DayY" IN
"E-he Ee-hee Ee-hee do not want to
eat,n sobbed Capt. in low and smothered voice.
ANY one would have thought she was drowned III
tears.
"very well-just as you like,n said the woman
harshly as she went away.
well az an actress could. But now what am | to dor
How long can Keep this upY Heighho !, let the
to il, for when do-Cap.. child, yon'l get chawed
right upr'
little later in the day Dorcas knight came again
..Ee-hee Ee-hee Ee--hee p sobbed Cap.
''Mss Day. your cousin, craven LIE Noir, wishes to
speak with you alone"
"Ee-heel Ee-hee Ee-hee ! cannon see him.
sohbed Cap, in low and sairocating voice.
The woman went away, and Cap. suffered no other
interruption until six O'Clock. when Dorcas Knight
once more raped, slyng-
miss Day. Your uncle Is at the the front door with
the carriage, aud he wishes TO know II you are ready
"Ee-heel Ee-hee Ee-hee e-te-te-tell him
yes ~ sobbcd Cap, az II her heart would break.
The woman went or with this answer ana Capt.
tola hastily envcloped her form in Clara's large
black shawl put on Caras black bonnet and tied
s pretv Srda dre s tSs but however sun
pose these men are no more particular about my
costume than they ore about their own conduct"
She had just drawn on her gloves when she heard
the footsteps OF twomen approaching. they raped
Come in,r she sobbed In q low. broken voice,
that might have belonged to any girl in deep dis
tress, and she put white cambria handkerchief up
TO her eyes and drew her thick ven closely over her
The two lie Noirs Immediately entered the room.
Craven approached her, and whispered soity:-
''iou Will forgive me this my share In these pro-
ceedngs after awhile, sweet Clara The Sabine
women did not love the Roman youths the less That
they were f0rcibly made wives by Ihem.'
..Ee-hee Ee-hee Ee-hee p' soDbed Cap, en-
tirey concealing face in her white cambria hand
kerchief under her impenetraDlc ven.
'sCOme, come | we lose time" said the elder lie
Noir. "Draw her arm within yours, Craven, and
lead her out"
Cap from the room. 1t was now quite dark-the
long dreary passage was only dimly lighted by q
hanging lamp, so that with the care she took there
was scarcely possibility OF Capitola's being dscov-
cred. They went on, Craven lie NOR whispering
hypocritcal apologies and Cap. replying only by
sobs.
When they reached the outer door they found
close carriage drawn up before the house.
To this Craven Le Noir led Capitola, placed her
Noir placed himself the front seat opposite tlem
and the carriage was driven rapidly of.
N sn de u ef at " an
recognized, by the cross on its top, to be Roman
Catholic chapel.
Here the carriage drew up and the two Le Nors
got out and assisted Capitola to alight.
They then led her into the church, which was
dimly iumined by pair OF wax candles burning
before the altar. priest In his sacerdotal robes
was in attendance. few country people were scat
tered thiny about among the pews at their private
Guarded by Craven lie Noir on the right and
Colonel lie Noir on the left, Capitola was marched
up the aisle and placed before the altar.
Colonel lie Nor then went and spoke apart TO the
officiating priest saying, In tone OF olssatlsiac
tom
recently bereaved and still in deep mourning, we
wished the marriage ceremony be strictly private
and you gave me to understand, Sir, that at this
here find half score OF people. How Is thisf"
''Sir,n replied the priest lit Is true that NJ TINS
nour o. sns & 'nG here% ceran 70 e 20 ~ nor
did promise much. Our chapel Is, as you know,
open at all hours or the day and night that all who
please may come and pray. THESE people that you
SEQ are hard working farm laborers who have no
time TO come in the day. and who are now here &c
offer up their evening prayers, and, also, some Of
them to examine their consclences preparatory tC
confession. They can certainly De no interruption
to the ceremony"
"Egad, don't know that" muttered Colonel lie
AS for Cap, the sight OF other persons present In
inasmuch as It insured her dnal safety. And SO she
Just abandoned herself to the spirit OF frolic that
possessed her. and ANTICIPATED with the keenest
relish the denoucment OF her strange adventure.
ssWcll, what are we waiting forf Proceed, sir
proceed,n said Colonel lie Nolr as he took Cap. by
the shoulders and placed her on the left side OF his
son. while he himself stood behind ready to 'giye
the bride away
The ceremony Immediately commenced.
The prologue beginning ''Dearly beloved, we are
gathered together here" &c, &c, &C., was read.
The solemn exhortation to the contracting parties
in the ana ~
the secrets OF all hearts shall be disclosed, that II
either or you know any Just cause or impeachment
why ye may not lawfully DO joined together" &c.
CapitoIa listened to all this with the deepest atten-
ton. SAYING TO herselL We'll declare; this getting
for Herbert Greyson I'd Just let IL go right straight
ON to the end and see what would happen next
While Cap. was making these mental comments
the priest was asking the bridegroom
wit thou have this woman to be thy welded
wife," &C, &c, 80 long a. ye ooth snail iiver
sponded:-
81 wilIr
Indeed You wills Wen see that presently"
The priest then turning toward the bride, in
quired:-
"wut thou have this man to be thy welded hus-
band,' &c, &C.. $50 long as We both shall iye~
To which the bride, throwing aside her vail, an
"No not Il he were the last man and the last
were about to become extinct and the angel Gabriel
came down from above TO ask II OF me as personal
favor"
The eject or this outburst this revelation, this ex
plosion may be imagined, but can never be ade-
Quately described.
The priest dropped his book and stood with lifted
hands and open mouth and staring eye, as though
he had raised ghost.
Tne two lie Noirs simultaneously sprang forward
astonishment, disappointment and rage contending
In their blancned faces
"who arc you, grlsn exclaimed Colonel lie Nolr
oCapItola black, your honor's glory ~ she replied,
making u deep courtesy.
''what In the foul eDd Is the meaning OF all thlsr'
In the same breath inquired the father and son.
Cap. In her Free rockiny way, replied
ut means that you have been Outwitted by GIRL;
It means that your purposed victim has fed and Is
by this time In safety. IL means that you two. pre-
cious father and son, would be a pair OF knayes u
you had sense enough; but falling IN that you are
only pair OF foos.n -
nv this time the attention Of the few persons in
the church aroused They oil arose TO ;heir ieet
to look aud listen and some Of them left their places
and approached the altar. And TO these latter capt
tola now suddenly turned and said aloud
s'Go0d people. am Capitola Black. the niece anu
ward Of Major Ira warfied. Of Hurricane laii,