The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-10-24

end. Piper and Ilpson say on thelr
oath that it is q frst-rate one and you
needn't fear exchanging with any >ue
by mistake, for they had only II Of
the kind. This decided me to take 1t,
for being rather an absent minded gen
tleman, you might easily pick up the
wrong bag"
Thank you, Mrs. Minis, thank you;
each time that you do anything for me
you give me fresh cause to admire your
clever management and forethought'
In the wedding to take place on the
following day, Mr.. Byron felt no par
ticuiar interest. The contracting par
ties were almost strangers to him, as
were also the guests, with the exception
of Willis Howard, a school-chum OF
days gone by, and a friend ever since OF
the young clergyman.
Owing to the illness of the brides
mother, the ceremony was performed
at home. 1t was a pretty wedding, the
bride graceful, sweet and pale as a
lily in her sheeny Aeecy drapery; and
among the guests was the subdued mer-
riment which prevails when the enter
tainers exhibit unreservedly the signs
Of Joy and sOrrOw-the smile and tear
both coming from the heart.
After the ceremony, Mr.. Byron be-
took himself to a dressing-room to fold
his surplice and replace it in the satchel
chosen by Mrs. Minis. While so en-
gagged a letter was handed to him with
the word Immediate" written con-
~spicuously on the envelope. The con
tents were as follows;
MARROW HALL, Thursday, 18th.
off the Reverend Julius Byron could
find it convenient to o~ficiate at a pri-
vate baptism this afternoon at NARROW
Hall, he would confer a great favor on
the undersigned. Mr.. Byron is re-
quested to pardon the apparent brus-
querie of this notice, as the case is
urgent. The two p. m train stops at
Portland station, where a carriage will
be in waiting.
STANFIELD MARROW"
"You will go, I SUPPOSED" said Willis
Howard, to whom Mr.. Byron presently
showed his note.
"Of course; one cannot refuse such a
summons. 1t is probably a question of
life or death.
81 am due al Uxmore to-night-rath-
er a different errand from yours-a mas
querade party. I'm sorry we are not
travelling in the same direction"
81 am sorry also. Do you know any
thing of the people at NARROW Hall,
Howard?"
Never heard of them before. Are
they strangers to you?"
Entirely So"
Now goodbye, old fellow my traps
are all slowed away on the train, and J
had better follow them. Take care of
yourself among those mysterious stran-
| gers"
In the hustle and confusion at the
station Mr.. Byron's satchel was mislaid;
but he presently caught sight of the
familiar object on a distant table, and
felt inwardIy thankful for its ungainly
proportions and the huge brass dia-
mond which made it easily recognized.
At Portland a respectably-dressed
man In charge of a wagonette came for
ward to meet Mr.. Byron; and during
the drive to the Hall the former dis
coursed freely upon the existing state
of affairs there. A son and heir to the
fine estate had arrived, and there had
been great rejoicing; but within the
tw~enty-four hours their Joy had been
turned to mourning by a dispatch sum
moning the newly-made father to the
death-b bed of his only sister In Ger
many. The young mother seemed to
feel a presentiment of misfortune, and
she had insisted upon baby's being bap-
tized before the departure of its father.
The clergyman of the parish was tenn
porarily absent; hence Mr.. Byron's
hasty summons. The ceremony would
be performed In the chapel connected
with the Hall, and would be. very quiet,
being witnessed only by the father and
grandfather Of the Child, with possibly
or tw guests.
After lunching in a soinber richly
decorated dining hall Mr. Byron was
| shown tot bedroom, with the intimation
that his services In the chapel would be
required In an hour If convenient to
him.
There was something strange and Id
teresting abour the fine old mansion. SO
lately q scene Of rejoicing, and now ST.
lent as on empty church. No members
Of the family were visible, and the great
house seemed deserted, save for a few
silent-footed servants.
As the time for the baptism drew near
Mr.. Byron asked to be conducted to the
vestry-room. TO make sure that every
thing was in readiness he opened his
satchel, when, to his CONSERVATION,
instead Of drawing forth sn~eatiy.foIded
surplice he held up before his astonish-
ed gaze a doublet and hose of scarlet
aud gray satin, such as might be seen
on the stage in As You Like IT,
Alas for the veracity Of Messrs, Piper
and Tipson and the credulity Of the
worthy Mrs. Nimsl The so-called
unique Dag had 80 many duplicates, and
Mr.. Willis Howard had bought one that