Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-25

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head seemed whirling round, and the
people near me looked dim and misty.
Tom turned shortly to me.
'You take Bet" he said in hoarse
whisper.
Before could recover from the strange
ness of the arrangement and obey, that
wonderful young person had slipped her
arm quietly into mine and said, with
tremor in her voice:
Thanks, dear Mrs. Lindsay, but we
prefer the marriage first, and then we'll
all feel more comfortable to enjoy your
nice things"
Feel more comfortable! Could she
inel more comfortable? l didn't wonder
any longer that Tom had yielded when
''she planned the whole affair" Such
coolross would overcome any man. But
l couldn't but admire her pluck, though!
The rector tucked his wife under his
arm and led the way over the crisp path.
We followed into the side door of the
church, where two candles blinked upon
the reading desk and threw the rest of
the building into still more dismal dark
ness
just before we reached the door, Miss
Blythe pressed my arm half nervously,
and looked into my face with more of
hesitation than she had yet shown at
anything.
81 ought TO explain" she said softly
"Tom told me how you"-
l looked at that girl. There was no
need for speech-that look was enough!
With a sort of half sob her face dropped
in her hands in what I could only feel
was becoming shame.
In the aisle Tom stopped, turned
CHASTITY face to me, while his white lips
moved in a soundless effort at speech.
He extended something in hand that
shook plainly. Miss Blythe held ont
hers-it was steady us that of practiced
duelist-took the something and pressed
it into my fingers
"The ring" she whispered
l took it passively. By this time was
completely conquered. A young person
who could plan an elopement, arrange
every detail herself, choose her avowed
lover for sole witness, and finally wake
the groom at midnight, had power to
startle me 70 further.
AS we approached the chancel let go
the brides arm mechanically and ranged
up at Toms right side. Forbearance
was leaving me fast. Ny boasted
strength had all gone long ago; was
wandering in my mind and weak in my
knees. was dead beat But for pure
shame should have rushed from the
church and wallowed abjectly in the
snow without. When we all dropped on
our knees could not strangle down the
sob that burst from my heart, and the
bitterness Of my spirit found vent in
anything but the utterancc of the prayer
the time and place called for. How long
we knelt l have no idea. 1t might have
been seconds, it might have been hours.
Somehow found myself again standing
up, clutching the chancel rail for sup
port, while the tall form of the rector
seemed miles away, and his words came
dulled to my ears through boom in
them like that of angry surf.
l could think, hear, feel nothing.
had but one consciousness, that l was
wretched-wretched!
Toms tremulous responses fell mean
ingless upon my ear, and yet, through
all my agony, listened with strained
intensity for the words in which she was
to speak herself his.
Those words never came-only a soft,
murmur, as of the spring breeze. Even
in that supreme moment of agony felt
a tender, yearning pride that all the
woman in her was not dead-that it had
at last been touched. even in the depths,
by the solemnity of the sacrifice at which
she held a part.
The doctors hands were laid upon the
welded pair.
1t was done!
I staggered alone into the glaring sun
light on the church yard snow.
AS we dashed down the main street of
Piketon at 10 a. IN. that day, our sleigh
bells screamed with rollicking jollity
that brought many face to door and
window.
Mrs. Lindsay's wedding breakfast had
been of the very best, and the bridal
party, plucking appetite out of the inev-
table, enjoyed it hugely. Even after
the clear coffee and feathery waffles
could tempt no longer, they had lin
gered to listen to the rectors genial flow
of talk.
Mayor Blythe was just mounting his
sober old horse as we dashed into his
avenue at slashing trot
"Hellon' he cried, arresting one foot
half way over the beast "Back so soon?
And you, too, Anna? Why, we will
have our Christmas dinner here, after
all, them"
"Oh, darling papa! You'll forgive us?
Now promise you willT' and Bette
bounded from my side and threw her
arms round the chief magistrate of Pike
ton.
Forgive you, puss! Why, of course
will But for what"
''Oh, papa, he's just the dearest fellow
in the world. And he couldn't help it.
Twas all my fault. wasn't it now?" She
turned to me-
mot for the life of him!" cried, slap
ding Tom on the back with wild hila1ity.
"He deserves the very best wife in the
land, Mr.. Blythe, and I'm sure he's
found herw Here | kissed the brides
hand with fervor that smacked again
in the frosty air.
"Wife! What do you mean?" cried
tla -,,ovo, &c., L.