Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-12-31
the room. Craven approached her and

Ee-hee! Ee--Aee! Ec-hee" sobbe
Cap, entirely cohcealing her face in h,
white cambiic handkerchief under her in
penelrable vail.
Come, come! we lose time !" said III
elder lie 'Noir.' "Draw her arm with
yours, Craven, and lead her out"
The young man did as he was directed
and led Cap. from the room. 1t was no,
puile dark-the long dreary passage wa
only dimly lighted by hanging lamp, s
that, with the care she took, there wa
scarcely possibility of Capitola's being dis
covered. They went on, Craven LIE MOI
whispering hypocritical apologies, and CAP
replying only by sobs.
When they reached The outer door the
found close carriage drawn up before til
house.
To this Craxeu., LIE .Noir led Capifola
placed her within and took the seat by he
side. Colonel lie Noir placed himself Oh
the front seal opposite them, and the car
riagc was driven rapidly off.
An hours ride brought the party TO al
obscure church in the depths of the forest
which Capitola recognized, by the cross OF
the top, to be Roman Catholic Chapel.
Here the carriage drew up and the two
l.e Noirs got out and assisted Capitola tt
alght.
Tfey then led her into the chuch, which
was dimly illumined by pair of wax can
dies burning before the altar. A priest in
bis sacerdotal robes was in attendance. A
few country people were scattered thinly
about among the pews, at their private de-
votions.
Guarded by Craven Lie Noir on the right
and Colonel lie Noir on the left. Capilola
was marched up the aisle and placed before
the altar.
Colonel lie Nor then went and spoke
apart to the officiating priest, saying, in o
tone of dissatisfaction
81 told you, Sir, that as our bride was
an orphan, recently bereaved, and still in
deep mourning, we wished the marriage
ceremony to be strictly private, and you
gave me to understand, Sir, that at this hour
The chapel was most likely 10 be vacant.
Yet here find half score Of people. How
is this 7"
Sir, replied the priest, sit is true, that
at this hour of the evening the chapel Is
most likely to he vacant, but il is not there
fore certain to he so, nor did i promise es
muc' Nnr chapel is, as you know, open
at all honts of the day and night, that all
who please may come and pray. These
pc pie that yuu sec are hard working farm
larircrs, who have no time To come in the
tiay. and VIII, are now here 10 offer up their
ev' nins pra, crs, and, also, some of them TO
examine their consciences preparatory 10
Confession. They can certainly he no in
ic1upiqn 10 The ceremony"
Esad. don't know that, mul,cred Col
o 'l lie Noir between his teeth
As for Cap, the sight of other persons
present IN The chapel filled her heart with
joy aud cxultatiop, inasmueh as it insured
hftp IL rt, .x.xI
herself to the spirit of frolc that possessed
the denoument of her strange adventure.
swell, what arc we waiting for? Pro-
ceed, Sir, proceed" said Colonel LIE Noir,
as he took Cap. by the shoulders and placed
her on the left side Of his son, while he him
self stood behind ready TO ''give tho bride
away"
The ceremony Immediately commeDceu.
,zHs nh r.~I.suc beginning, {" Dearly Be-
loved. we are gatnefeu together here, &c,
&c, &C., was read. t
The solemn exhortation to the contracting
parties commencing g / require and charge
ye both, as ye shall answer in the dreadful
day of judgment, when the secrets of all
hearts shall be disclosed. that il either of
you know any just cause or impediment
why ye may not lawfully be joined togeth-
ci, NC., Uc., &C., lOliOWeu.
Capitola listened to all this with the deep
est attention, saying 20 herself: '' Well, |
declare, this getting married is awfully in
teresting. II it were not for Herbert Grey
son I'd just let it 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 BRIDE
groom:
Wilt thou have this woman to be thy
welded wife," &c., &C., $50 long as We
both shall liver"
To which Craven LIE Noir, in sonorous
voice, responded:
"Iwill.'
Indeed, you will? Well see that pres
emily" said Cap. to herself
TIC priest then turning toward the bride,
Inquired:
dcd husband" &C., &C., $50 long as ye
both shall lives'
To which the bride, throwing aside her
vail, answered firmly:
No not If he were the last man and
the last woman on the face of the earth, and
the human race was about to become ex-
tinct, and the angel Gabriel came down from
above TO ask 1t of me as personal favor"
The effect of this outburst, this revea-
can never be adequately described,
The priest dropped his book, and stood
with lifted hands and open mouth and star
ing eyes, as though he had raised a ghost
The two lie Noirs simultaneously sprang
astonishment, disappointment and
rage contending in their blanched faces!
Who are you, girl ~ exclaimed Colonel
lie Noir
"Capitola Black, your honor's glory !"
she replied, making deep courtesy.
"What the foul ficnd is the meaning of
all this ?" in the same breath inquired the
father and son.
Cap, In her free, rolicking way, replied'
1t means that you have been outwitted
by girl; ii means that your purposed vic
tim has fled, and is by this time in safety
1t means that you two, precious father and
son, would be pair of knavcs, il you had
sense enough but, failing in that, you are
only a pair of fools
BY this time the attention of the few per-
sons in the church were aroused. They all
arose to their feet to look and listen, and
some of them left their places, and ap-
preached the altar. And to these latter
Capitola now suddenly turned, and said,
aloud:
"Good people, am Capitola Black, the
htS>S eiiN NotN Va hhuJOi iia w dihCiti3 VI
Hurricane Hall, whom you all know and
now claim your protection while I shall
tell you the meaning of my presence here"
'Dont listen to her she is a maniac!"
cried Colonel lie Noir
'Stop her mouth !" cried Craven, SPRING
ing upon Capitola, and holding her tightly
in the grasp of his right arm, while he Gov
cred her lips and Iostrils with his large left
hand. 49,.
Capitola struggled so fiercely to free her
self that Craven had enough to do to hold
her, and SO was not aware of ringing foot
step coming up the aisle, until stunning
blow, dealt from strong arm, covered his
face with blood, and stretched him out at
Capitola's feet.
Capitola flushed, breathless and confused,
looked up and was caught to the bosom of
Herbert Greyson, who, pale with concen-
trated rage, held her closely and inquired:
"Capitola, what violence is this which
has been done ycu9 Explain, who is the
aggressor ?"
Wai-wai-wait until get my breath
there that was good. That villain has
all but strangled me to death. o, Herbert,
I'm so delighted you've come How is it
that you always drop right down at the right
time and on the ripht sDOt ?" said Canito1a