Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-08-07

In Inc WtuuluE W ldht place Ob tht
following day Mr. Byron felt no par
ticular Interest. The contracting par
ties were almost strangers to him, as
were also the guests, with tho excep-
ton of Willis Howard, a school chum
of days gone by, and friend ever
since of thesyoung 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
lilly in ker shecny, heecy drapery;
and among the guests was the sub
dued merriment which prevails when
the entertainers 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 o dressing-room to
fold his surplce and replace it in the
satchel chosen by Mrs. Minis. While
so engaged a letter was handed him
with the word Immediate" written
conspicuously on the envelope. The
contents were as follows:
"MARLow HALL. Thursday, 18th. -
If the Rev. Julius Byron could find it
convenient to ofliciate at private
baptism this afternoon at MARROW
Hall, he would confer a great favor
on the undersigned Mr.. Byron is
requested to pardon the apparent
bYlSquerie Of this.notice as the case is
urgent. The ? p. m. train stops at
Portland Station, where a carriage
viii be in waiting.
STANFIELD MARROW"
"You will go, ! SUPPOSE said
Willis Howard, 70 whom Mr.. Byron
presently showed his note.
"Of course one can not refuse such
summons. 1t IS probably a ques-
ton of life and death. "
II am due at Uxmore tonight
rather a different errand from yours
"a masquerade party. I'm sorry we
are not travelling in the same direc-
ton.
Il am sorry also. Do you know
anything Of the people at NARROW
Hall. Howard2'
"Never heard Of them before. Are
they strangers to youT
Entirely so. %
"Now, goOd-by, old fellow; my
traps are slowed away in the train,
and / had better follow them. Take
care of yourself among those mys-
ferrous strangers"
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 distant table
and felt inWardly thankful for its UNI
calmly proportions and the huge brass
diamond which made it so easily rec
ognized
At Portland a respectfully dressed
man I'm charge of a wagonette came
forward to meet Mr.. Byron, and dur
ing the drive to the Hall the former
discoursed freely upon the existing
state of affairs there, A son and heir
to the fine estate had arrived and
there had beeR great rejoicing, but
within the past twenty-four hours
there joy had been turned to mourn
ing by a dispatch summoning the
newly made father to the deathbed of
his only sister in Germany. The
young mother seemed to feel presen-
timent of misfortune, and she insisted
upon the baby being baptized before
the departure of its father. The
clergyman of the parish was temper
arily absent, hence MIR. Byrons hasty
summons The ceremony would ba
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 one or two guests
After lunching in a somber, richly
decorated dining-hall, Mr. Byron was
shown to a bedroom, with the inti-
nation that his services in the chapel
would be required il an hour il con
venlent to hlm.
There was something strange and IN
terestIngabout the fine old mansion, so
lately a scene of rejoicing, and now
silent as an empty church, No mem
bers Of the family were visible, and
the great house seemed deserted, save
for few silent-footed servants.
AS the time for the baptism grew
near, Mr. Byron asked to be conduct
ed to the yeshy- To make sure
that everything was in readiness he
opened his satchel, when, to his con
sternation, instead of drawing forth
a neatly folded surplice, he held up
before his astonished gaze douhlet
and hose of scarlet and gray satin,
such as might be seen on the stage in
las You Like Il.
Alas for the yeracity of Messrs.
Piper a Tipson and credulity of the
worthy Mrs. Minis! The so called uni
que bag had many duplicates, and Mr..
Willis Howard had bought one that
very morning in which to stow away
his faucy-ball costume
Here was a predicament indeed for
the Rev. julius Byron In despera-
ton he flew to the wardrobe IN the
vestry-room. Vain hope Not a
shred OF the other clergyman's vest
menf hung there. What was to be
doAe3 Even if in extreme cases the
church rules permitted the clergy to