Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-06-11


day Mr.. Byron felt no par
ocular interest. The contracting par
lies we're almost strangers to him, as
we're also the guests, with the exception
of Willis Howard, school chum OF
days gone by, and friend ever since
of the young clergyman.
Owing to the illness of the brides
mother the ceremony was. performed at
home. It was pretty wedding, the
bride graceful, sweet, and pale as a
lily in her sheeny feecy drapery; and
among the guests was the subdued
merriment which prevails when the
entertainers exhibit unreservediy 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
engaged letter was handed him with
the word Immediate" written conspic-
uously on the envelope. The contents
were as follows:
MARROW HALL Thursday. 18th.
eff the Reverend julius Byron could find it
this afternoon at MARROW Hall, he would confer
a great favor on the undersigned. Mr.. Byron
is requested to pardon the apparent abrupt
ness of this notice. as the case is urgent. The
2 P. M, train stops at Portland Station, where a
carriage will be in waiting.
s'STANFIELD NARROW"
"You will go, I suppose?" said Willis
Howard, to whom Mr.. Byron presently
showed his note.
"Of course. One cannot refuse such
a summons. It is probably question
of life and DEATH"
CT am due at Uxmore tonight =
rather different errand from yours
a masquerade party. [ am sorry we
are not travelling in the same direc-
ton"
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, good by, old fellow. My traps
are all slowed away in the train, and I
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 mis-
laid; but he presently caught sight of
the familiar object on a distant table,
and felt inwardly thankful for its un-
calmly proportions and the huge brass
diamond which made it SO easily recog-
nized.
At Portland a respectfully dressed
man in charge of 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 re-
joicing there; but within the past TWEEN
ty-four hours their Joy had been turned
to mourning by a dispatch summoning
the newly-made father to the death-bed
Of his only sister, In Germany. The
young mother seemed to feel PRESENT.
ment of misfortune, and she had insist
ed upon the baby's being baptized be-
fore the departure of it's father. The
clergyman of the parish was temporari
ly absent; hence Mr. Byron's hasty
summons. The ceremony would be
performed in the chapel connected with
the hall, and would be very quiet, be-
ing witnessed only by the father and
grandfather of the child, with possibly
one or two guests.
After lunching in sombre, richly
decorated dining-hall, Mr.. Byron was
shown to a bedroom, with the intima-
ton that his services in the chapel
would be required in an hour, if con-
venient to him.
There was something strange and in
teresting about the fine old mansion,
so lately a scene of rejoicing, and now
silent as an empty church. No mem
bers of the family8were 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-rocm. To make sure that
everything was in readiness, ne opened
his satchel, when to his CONSERVATION,
instead of drawing forth neatly fold
ed surplice, he held up before his as
tonished gaze a doublet and hose of
scarlet ard gray satin, such as might be
seen on the stage in CAS- You Like It."
Alas for the veracity of Messrs.
Piper and Tipson and the credulity of
the worthy Mrs. Minis! The so-called
unique bag had many duplicates, and
Mr.. Willis Howard had bought one that
very morning in which to stow away his
fancy ball costume.
Here was predicament, indeed, for
the Reverend julius Byron! In
desperation he flew to the wardrobe in
the vestryroom. Vain hope! Not a
shred of the other clergyman's vest
ments hung there. What was to be
done? Even if in extreme cases the
church rules permitted the clergy to
oficiate- and for the moment Mr.. By
ron was too bewildered to think