The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-29

wbispered something in her ear which had ref
erence TO a future day when this they were do
For Just n moment they were alone. DIR. Mat
thcwson had managed to clcar tho little ROOM
and now he came to them and said:
Z" / feel shall be doing wrong to let this go
any further without telling you that havo
right to make the marriage lawful, II you say So
regular standing in the Methodist Episcopal
Church ut Clarence. in the western part Of this
now: the world. the ntsh. and the devil. cspe:
cially the latter. got the upper hand OF me. but
s s sav hS Sn @
fer tho fun Of it. we make this marriage rcalf
What do you sayr"
Josephine. feeling intuitivcly, that hers would
be tho more ,rendy assent OF the two. She was
round. bare arm, which shone so white and fair
against the black OF his cont. and at DIR. Mat
thewson's words she lifted her blue eyes coyly
to her lovers incc, and said.
Wouldn't that be capital, and shouldn't we
steal mnrch on everybody"
,Sho waited for him ~ speak, but his answer
did not come qt once 1t il true he had said
something OF this very nature to her only the
snmeth I'M, tnn,,ibla new somnbine whinh mirht be
If he chose. he started ~ II he had been stung.
and the color faded from his lips. which puiv-
through college, and should be expelled at
once Then father would never forgive me.
Hardly SO bad us that. ] think" spoke the
pprrInS, scouting voice oi ihr doctor, WIFE one
ards. which it pressed softly. while Josephine
We can keep 1t secret. YOU know. I'LL You
are through college. and II would be- such fun"
IN do it. by Georgc" Everard said. and the
hot blood came surglng back TO his face. &" IT
Will bc the richest scrap. ever got into. and
the best kind Of II lark. Tie us tight IN you
please. | am more than willing
There wis n cheer and deep hush when tho
curtain was withdrawn. disclosing the bridal
party upon the stage, fitted up 70 represent q
people standing together. and in their midst.
conspicuous above all, Everard and Josephine.
she radianty beautiful. with n look OF exut-
tion on her face but atumuit Of conflicting emo
tons in her heart IA she wondered II DIR. Mat
thcwson had told the truth md was authorized
70 marry her really, and II Everar, would stand
to it or rcpudiate the net he. with face white
now rs ashes, and voice which was husky in
woman Tor your welded wife 2 Do you promise
~ love her and cherish her both IN sickness
and in health. and. forsaking all others, keen
thee only unto hcrY he answered: do.
while n chill like the touch Of death ran through
every nerve and made him ley cold.
II was not the lark he thought II was going To
be. II WIS like som" dreadful nightmare. and he
could not ut all r"aliz" what he was doing or
sad Will sounded very far away rs did
| Mhtthcwson's concluding words: According
t. the authority y,c,st Il in me-. pron2unce You
II was over at last. The crowd dispersed, and
| the tired actors sleepy and cross gathered up
the paraphcrnalia scattered everywhere and
went to their several homes Eycrard and Jo-
scphine wer" the last tn leave. for she had So
| much to say and much to 81" To-. that IL was
| after twelve. and the summer moon WAS high in
ne heavens ere she was ready, and they started
| at last for home. accompanied by the young man
with whom Evcrard was staying in Ellicottvll"
| and WHO had como down 10 the play. H. was
/ full Of .un. and rallied Josephine upon her be-
/ ing a bride, and asked Eyerard II i wouldn't be
acaptal Joke If 1t should prove 10 be genuine
Yes Everard answered. 1T would. q" but his
yoise was So constrained and unnatural that
Josephine glanced up in1uirinsy at him. and
/ felt twingc OF pain when she saw. even in the
II had been 9rrnngcd th9t Young stafford, The
at Mr. F@mins AND Ihen n" The party rea"6 Sd
, the cottage they found a supper prepared for
them OF which hot coffee AMI sherry formed II
/ Everari- spirits began 60 rise, and when nj last
/ h. said good night To- Josephine and went with
/ his Trend To- his room. hr was mu'h ike HIM
/ self. and felt that i would not he "a very bad
state OF Affairs after all If II should prove That
, Jo-"phin" was really his wife. II would only
be- eNp"ditins matters title. and the secret
would b. 80 Romantic and unusual still he
WAS conscious 81 vague i"rlins "i unrest md
diSn lnntiOn 10 talk. and declared his lnt.n-
tion of plunging into bed at once.
Perhaps you'd better read this first - Stat
this morning AMI brought II With me-. Tut
thought better not 10 give II TO you tai after the
would disturb your atng."
Now young stafford knew perfectly well tho
nature of the telegram. for he had been in the
ofllre when il came. hut he decided not Ia de-
liver 1t until the play was over. 1t WAS from
Eycrrard : father AMI rrad A. ial"Ws
j. l.. FonRrsr"
give mo this before. There was u train lefi nj
five o'clock. | could have taken it, and saved
Ho did not finish the sentence. for he could
not put int. words tho great horror Of impnud-
ing evil which had fallen upon him with the re-
lntNft. ilIt
define @ himself the nature of his feelings.
He only knew that he wished hc had gone homo
IN answer t. lossie's summons. instead Of COM
ing thor" To- lIolucltun. where he had ros- hly
heon trapped into ho hardly dared think what.
Amt in this he meant nodisloyalty 10 Josephine.
nor attributed any hlallc 20 her. ana when ncXt
morning. att'r "a troubled night, IN which ~
break fast tlhl" looking a. bright and ir '-h and
pretty as If she too had not Kept sleepln--
vigil wondering how IT all would end. h. ~
p"ricnccd "A delicious io'ling ui ownership in
her, AMI for u few moments felt willing To- defy
ne whole world If hysp doing he could claim
her a- his then and there. He told her OF The
telegram, and said he must take the first train
west. which left IN about two hours. and Jose
phncs eyes instantly filled with tcars. which
shonc like 50 many pearls, ms she said
m mo sc viii rrGSSvc[ hGy" always wanted I.
OF me and giving my love 10 herr"
This was after breakfast, when they stood to-
gotllrr under tho Nnc-wrrnthrd porch. each
with a thought Of last nights ceremony in their
minds ana each l9th Ia speak Of II first stat
lorl hhi gone u the motel fo settle his bl of the
previous day and make some inquiries about
the connection Of the trains, and thus the fami )
were alone when DR.. Matthcwson appeared
wearing his hlandcst smile and addrcs-in.
Josephine as Mrs. Forrest. and asking her hon
she found herself after tho play.
Al the sound of that name given Ia Joseph ne
MS II she had right to Il. "A scarlet iiame spread
over Ev"rards furc and he felt the old horror
and dread of the night creeping over him
again. Now was the time 10 know the worst ~
the best-whchever way he chose Ia put ii-nnd
NJ calmly rs possible under the circumstances
he turned Ia DIR. Matthewson and asked:
Nrre You IN earnest IN what you said las
nlghtY Had you right 10 marry US, and is Jo
phine my pfc p
II was the first time no had put il into words
and ms II the very name Of wife made her dear
cr To- him. he put his arm around herAnd waitcD
the dotors answer which came promptly anl
decidedly.
Most assuredly she il your lawful wife
You took her with your full consent. knowing
could marry You. and have brought your Ger
tincale whi.l suppose the lady will hold"
II" handed neatly folded paper to Josephine
who, with ENerarl looking over her shoulder
read T. th" rif 4 that on III" evening Of July II
ID the Niag" Hall at lInlhurtun. tho Rev. John
MatthnWsun married !. Eyrrard Forrest. Jr. o
li'tAsay. ONO, 90 Miss Josephine Fleming o
" 1t is all right believe. and only needs IN,
names Of your mother AMI sister IA witt csse,
! y, AL IA .uIt ia, In. L.,