Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-17

An Unexampled Scene i'm an English
Church.

The following story, which is vouched for.
differs from the ordinary to such an extent that
we print it, under the impression that it has
never been published before. The story goes
that certain Dean of Chester, England, was
called upon to perform the wedding ceremo-
NAL for pair Of happy lovers. The position
of both parties was of the highest rank, and
the guests who were hidden to the church
were Of the most fashionable and exalted. The
day arrived, and with it the hour. The ediflce
was packed and all was in readiness. The Dean,
expectant, awaited, the coming Of the bride.
and the groom with his best man was
in the vestry. The hours passed on and
still the bride did not arrive. After
long delay she drove up to the church
door, and with her bridesmaids swept up the
large middle aisle towards the altar In the
receiving her half way escorted her to the Dean
After the opening words of eXhOrtatiOn, the
Dean turned to the man and asked him the
usual set question whether he would have the
woman fol his welded wife, &c. &c, to which
he answered., 81 will" The question being in
turn asked of the woman. to the establishment
and amazement of all she distinctly said. look
ing the groom in the face, Il will not !" The
next instant she said in low voice. "Mr
Dean no one can more regret the words l
have just uttered than myself, and if you
will dismiss the congregation and take me
into your yestry room. l will apologize and
at the same time fully and salts factOrily explain
what may seem to all my strange conduct - The
Dean, seeing that she was in truth earnest, In a
few words dismissed the bewildered cOngrega-
ton and directed the bridegroom to await him.
The congregation having departed, and the
lady and Dean being together, she said, 81 can
not tell you how badly feel had loved my
fiance truly and devotedly and had looked
forward to a life of perfect happiness and Joy.
This morning, as you know, was late at my
marriage ceremony: but it was not through any
fault of mine. / arrived as soon as could. In
full happiness from my future husband. he par
alyzed my beating heart by saying, when he met
me half way up the aisle: 3D. you! if
you expect to begin life this way by keeping me
waiting for you, you will find out after you are
my wife, My decision was instantly made. /
have been told that sooner than suffer unhap-
piness through my own actions, it were better
to renounce even at the altar union that would
bring misery and grief thereafter. Had turned
back he would have followed me; there would
have been a scene. and he might have persuaded
me to return and marry him. 1t also might
have looked like temper. and had fully time
during your few words of prayer to make up my
mind. know that have disappointed friends,
my family, but no one more than myself Do
not ask me to reconsider my late action. In
form my wOuld-have-been husband Of my deter
mination, and let me CO." The Dean, seeing
she was resolved could not but approve and
gently led her through the church back to her
anxious parents, not a smiling wife but as a
woman whose present is shattered and whose
future is blighted.