Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-05-21
A Masked Marriage.
 QS JOHN E. BARRETT,
pY JOHN E. BARRETT,

isShe is shy and bashful. and does not desire word on this subject until the ceremony is over Besides she does not want the judge. or any one else, to see her face during the ceremony, because she fears that they might tell her friends, md she believes that for the present secrecy Is the best for both of you"
 Well, that's all right said Carson, gleefully. She is entitled 10 her feel inrs in this matter as well as the rest of lis. Eh Dick;
 Quite so, Suppose you see the judge Rr once,
 Clarence Carson then went to see the judge. the Hon Gilbert Ransom, who was snoring soundly on n ionnge in the main gambling room. where the lights were low, the excitement havin" died out.
 At first the judge was bewildered. A dash or champagne frightened his dull understanding, and he soon comprehend ed the situation.
 It is a Trnnway match. your Honor" s;ia Carson, "anl We are both of age, and So forth. there can be no objection"
 " Capital, Clarence, capital" said the judge. Bring on the bride, and we'll tie the nuptial knot
 To Clarence Carson'S surprise, the bride awaited him iu the hall. She was heavily vailed, shy and silent, but she nodded assent, and taking her by the hand, Char ence led her before the somewhat sleepy dignitary who was to perform the eere- mony,
 The responses of the bride were almost sl~lN cut the ceremony short Ia please the groom, who remarked at the outset that he was ill q hurry to catch a train. When the ceremony was ended, Clarence in- sisted on the judge writing out mar riage certificate, 50 that tue couple might be armed against any enemies who might desire to interrupt their journey on the preteXt that they were not lawfully welded. The judge consented to finish the document, and while he was engaged in making it ont in an exceedingly prini- tive form, the bride withdrew her arm from that of Clarence Carson, and eXcus- ed herself saying sine would be back shortly
 The marriage certificate was made out m due form and contained the names of Clarence Carson and Edith Edwards, with the date Of their marriage by Judge Gilbert Ransom. When il was complet- ed, Judge Ransom passed it over to Clar- ence Carson, and received n handsome fee for his trouble The document was not a picturesque one, but it contained the elements of a storm whose wrath was 10 break upon young Carson's head much earlier than he expected.
 The young man placed the certificate carefully iu his pocket aud paced up and down the gambling room, awaiting the return of his bride, but she did not come back.
 Fifteen minutes elapsed, then twenty, then thirty Judge Ransom was snoring soundly on his couch once more, and Clarence Carson kept looking eagerly toward the door, expecting to see Edith Edwards, but she did not appear.
 Then he resolved on ascertaining for himself why she did not come, and he went into the hallway. where he met her face 10 face.
 Edith Edwards started back in fear on seeing him, and, noticing her alarm, he said:
 "Why do you shrink from me. Edith
 
 further cause tor alarm or distru>t on your part. Come to your husbands arms, and let Us plan the golden future that awaits Us across the Atlantic, when we shall have left Grimsby and it's griefs far behind.'
 She looked at him in startled wonder, and retreated before his steady gaze. She recollected that Dawson had told her that the place was a hospital. Could it be that she was in a lunatic asylum She had read a good deal about sane persons being confined in such inStit,l- tions, and ii might be possible that she had been thrust into one during a tenn porary delirium incident to her trouble She had seen this man before, and she feared and hated him, Why did he con tinue to annoy her with his unwelcome attentions?
 Clarence noticed her consternation and could not understand it.
 Why. Edith. he said in a tender tone. why do you shun me? Did you not pledge me the VOWS of a wife but few minutes ago and can it be possible that regret has turned affection into terror and loathing? Come my own sweet girl banish those foolish fears and fancies, and think only of the bright future that lies before us."
 Now know he must be mad!" she thought, and turning about she ran along the hallway with all her might, Clarence Carson following in close pursuit, until she met Alice Dawson and appealed to her for protection.