The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-01-22
TO the chapel,,, he replied. "eome,

|, lo Vhe cndpeAS ue 'roplIou' SVmcS
| hurry on"
/ sptashed along over rocks iand
! through puddles of'water, and at length
saw a dim light shiningin the distance,
where knew the church was situated.
| But / was almost used up with the
! rapidity OF our walk, and had to make a
momentary halt to get my breath.
McGfaiu- seized my hand, and drawing
| it through his arm, hurried me on. At
length we stood III the chapel door. "a
cold stream of light shot along the floor,
and revealed three figures standing be-
tside the altar. Two OF them We're
females, and the other was the priest; TO
him Twas alone introduced; he was the
| Rev. Father Ohroole. q
81 ouly got the diSpensation this after
novn," me said, addressing aMcCtain.
| ''And ips pretty trip you have givea
me. VIII l ever get dry again, fdoayo GU
| thmkW ."
"Can't be helped, Father" exclaimed
| Andy. ''The thing has to be done to-
night or never. Come, 60 on. Stand UP
here, Garner" ,.....,........
| l moved nearer to Andy, while he
I drew enc OF the females coward him.
| She had Oh aheavy cloak and was veiled,
| and could not see her lace; but her
| delicate white hand, which was visible,
| assured me that she was no common
| woman. ......- ....... ....... Nv
S''You have come, sir, to. act as wit
| ness TO tnis marriage" said The priest.
| / inclined my head. ... .,.y d..
Then lie at once opened small Vo,-
ume, and began to read rapia1y the
1 formula cons Gltuting the marriage con-
tract. ...... .s..,. .... .......
The lady whom McClain supported
seemed rather to crouch upon the -hoor
than kneel, and she frequently looked
4 toward the do6r, as il she tred an in
terruption. AT length the priest asked
Andy for the ring. ........ ..aH 2
| .rfhuuder and blazes," cried the IT.
reverent scamp, "Dut PYe forgotten it,"
Then he stopped toward tile BRIDE aud
asked her if she had ring on her finger.
Alias! she had none, neither had tue
woman who attended her. Here was u
Iix.
'Have you no ringW asked the priest
-"any kind OF ring. We shall have TO
use the iduor-4ey it.we.get nothing else."
Suddenly lremembered had It small
steel ring with my keys on IL. L asked
the priest ifit would answer
'tAs well as fit were gold," he ire-
Piled.
A moment more the ceremony was. 60
ing on, and the steel ring was upon, the
brides huger.
And now came the certificate. Just
AS tae Father was about to writeit Nc
lUlain accIdentaliy upset the lamp, ana
LIT went out and lett us in utter darE-
4 ness. Tue woman present hurried to u
house near by and borrowed or begged
suIna matches, then we went ahead
again, When was ready 10 sign l be-
yau to think that | ought to hear the
! BRIDES name ere putlny signature to
the document. The priest had evidently
pronounced it, but my thoughts were,
suppose, ''wOJl gathering" at The tinle,
ana l did not tnear 1T. .s
"SAow Mr.. Garner your .tace, my
dear,n said Andy. 4.
Very reluctantly the vail was removed,
and with dumb surprise 1 gaZed on the
features OF Mercy Morgan.
"Weil, well," | cried, as affixed my
name to the paper. ANDY McClain,
lhere'll be trouble. grow out Of this
nigurs work, tear."
Sand you're right" shouted a voice
from the door, wniTe at the same mo-
ment the pale face and trembling figure
OF Mr.. Morgan, ST., stalked up tue aisle,
followed by several friends.
n Mercy screamed as she caught sight
of her IathePs face, and Amuy kicked
over the lamp, and the same instant
grasped his bride, and with Father
UIoole on the other side they lodged
the 'pursuers, and, unoDserved, passed
from the church in darkness. "' D.
Twas not quite SO fortunate. A heavy
hand grasped me by the throat, and at
he same lime received "a blow in the
face. L struck back, and felt my fist
land on som ebody's nose, at the same
time rolled on Tue floor with my an
tagonist on top OF me. The fight was
progressing Lively; notwithstanding the
darkness each man was ,pummelIng his
neignbor, while there was Il loud cry ioI
; u light. r...
For heavens sake, STOP I cried, as
II two or three forms on me were smotuer
|. Ing me. ''Tnefe's some great mistake
! ABOUT this. Let us know whom we are
tightng, and WHAT'S tie object of the
row."
/ My appeal had some effect One o.
J the parry nnally produced some matenes,
: and light was struck. 1t revealed the
lamp broken, but we were enabled by
= lignGing more matches to see that the
, BRIDE and bridegroom were gone.
1t was midnight when we reached j.;
| H,,ll II. N no nf