Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-06-04

NOu stlb ucNcI ~ AHpM' ipNt you tlN 10
hold yourself in readiness 10 appear at
any time before justice, and swear
that on the night OF December 9th,
1S-, you were, TO the best of your be-
lief legally married TO the lady whom
we shall for convenience call Mary
Marston. And in return You are 10 re-
ceive the sum of one thousand pounds;
and you are never, on any account, TO
mention what has transpircd tonight
until you are called TO do so by some
one, who shall bring YOU the other half
of this ring" and he placed in my hand
the broken half of chased gold rinc.
bowed. Indeed. if | had felt any
misgivings touching the strangeness OF
this proceeding was too much under
the spell of my mysterious surroundings
to draw back.
LET the ceremony proceed" said the
man who acted rs spOkesman; and out
from the drapery which covered the
windows issued Il clergyman with his
face hidden in coWl, and arraycd IN
the full robes of his order
The woman to whom was to be mar
ried advanced a step at his bidding and
laid her hand in mine. Heavens. what
thrill ran through me ut the touch! |
closely clasped the soft, warm white
hand, and forgot that had ever known
false base woman by the name of Az
nes Her hand trcmblcI little, but the
touch on mine was firm. ! felt that she
was doing what she did willingly
The ceremony proceeded
AT the solemn words, y. Arthur, take
thee, Mary" | started. How did these
people know my name? How did they
know that WAS called Arthur Daven-
portP
1t was over. | had signed tho register
presented 10 me- had kissed the hand
of the woman who was my wife, and
my two companions. who had brought
me thithcr, Were alone with me.
Your part of the business IS accom-
plishcd," said the man who acted rs
spokesman. 1--WE viii do our part"
He handed me package. and babe
me examine it. did so, and found ten
hundred-pound notes.
I'VE viii take You home now," ho
said and in the same quiet and mys-
tcriQus manner WAS conducted out OF
the house, into Il carriage, and driven
away
They left me just where they had found
me. on the rivcr-bank, and without an
swering a single question put to them,
they vanished away in the darkness.
The first faint streak of the breaking
day shot up in the eastern sky rs
stood there lost in wonder. The whole
thing was like 4 nightmare. Indeed, [
should have been inclined to look upon
it as only dream, had il not been for
the package of notes in my breast-pock-
ct. That at least, was Il reality, and a
very agreeable one.
| went back to my lodgings with
new sense of Importance. Life was
worth living. After all. there is moth
ing makes man more satisfied with
his lot than plenty Of ready money.
resolved to begin anew. | kept my
resolution When editors found tEat /
could live without them, they were ready
to buy my productions at my own price.
Ny style became the style. | had all
the work could do. | wrote success
full book, and speedily the time came
when | was welcomed in the very high
est circles, and smiled on by managing
| mothers who would have set the dogs
on me Il year before if | had admired
| their Angelnas and Seraphinas.
But | no longer cared Tor the smiles Of
women. Ridiculous n it may seem. |
was in love with my unknown wife.
The word MARY held for me all that
| this world could offer OF the sweetness
| of love.
In vain sought to trace hcr-in vain
| spent all my leisure time in wander
| inc around the country, trying to idcn-
! tifv some old mansion as the one which
had been the scene Of my midnight
bridal.
At length. one day took passage on
| an excursion boat bound for one OF thc
many places OF interest on the river |
| had half-a-dOzcn friends with me, bound
| for Just day, outing.
| How it happened nobody could tell
| nobody ever can tell how these dreadful
accidents do happen-but four or five
| miles out. our boat collided with an
other boat. and The usual scene Of terror
| and confusion followed.
| The boats were unfit for use. and if
they had been in order, nobody would
| have been cool enough TO launch them,
and after few moments of widest dis
may. il WAS evident that cur boat must
90 down.
And while men were rushing hithcr
and thithor for the women Of their par
| ty. and women and children were
screaming in mortal terror the boat
settled to the waters edge. and /, being
an expert swimmer. decided to take TO
the water and make for the shore. rs /
threw off my coat and boots my eye fell
on solitary girl standing close by,
evidently all alone. spoke to her
MADAME, have you any friends on
| board?'
mo, am alone" she said, in the
! sweetest voice had ever heard. My
friends went yesterday. | was to join
them there today
thought she looked nj me strangely,
tina she blushcd and trcmbled rs She
spoke, but il was no time for critical
analysis
/ viii you trust yourself to me? lam
good swimmer; if we both keep cool,
! can easily swim with you TO yondcr