The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-04-24
Ten Minutes TO TH6IV6.
BIZ Il. G. MCLELAND.
puyynsht by American Press Azsociasioa.l
CoNTINCn.

CONTINUE.
Helooked ar ms watch. -z,1-ee-gaarterS
Of an hour TO e1Dound his.scaeme. com
bat objections. satisfy curiosity. allay
sc-uples and get through me marriage
ceremony. L cogll not BE dora. Nc
thought OF aDSH3o1li-g his plan crossed
his mind; ne Simply realIussed IL lie
would marry the Young lady first and
make the explanation ;IzESrTs.r1 So fan
he had been accepted IS Joaa R0yal'
self instead Of John R5yal's representa-
uve-any changes IN appearance apDsr
emily accounted for by the lapse OF SIX
years in Intercourse. ae must carry OUT
the deception until the ceremony should
have been performed. a1,1r which. OF
course, must cone the explanation. The
spirit of adventure WIS strong Ia him.
and he was conscious Of the thrill an
actor knows when MS cast is on the
razor edge between success and failure
and may be made or marred by an ex-
preston or gesture.
The lad. busy with his horse and III
tent on speed, was silent. The road left
the woods and emerged on TO a lovely
plateau, gently rolling and studded with
groups OF superb trees-oak. hickory.
maple and sweet gum II was sheltered
by hills and carpe1ed with short gras.
which showed green even IN December
Near the center. amid a clump OF oaks,
stood quaint, picturesque stone church,
with pointed windows and ivy covered
walls. II was inclosed by stone fence.
and the space inside was evidently used
for burying ground. Under the trees
outside the inclosdre, a spring gushed
forth, near which were racks for horses
and place where the animals might
drink Royal noticed several vehicles,
spring wagons mostly, standing about
and horses, a dozen or so, some tied TO the
racks and some to swinging limbs. &C
cording as their dispositions were sedate
or nervous.
Spotswood drove round TO side gate
and negro came and took the horse.
He looked smiling and important, and
bowed afably TO Royal, half extending
his hand, which Royal grasped and cor.
daily shook, not knowing him, OF course.
but dissem bling.
Many folks inside, Uncle Jef?" the
boy questioned, indicating at the same
moment by a gesture TO his companion
the spot where Miss Royal had beer
buried.
-'Tolr'bl smart, sir; de body's fuIIin
UP, an dars right smart sp-inklin' in
de gan'ry. Oar come mo folks now.
Dey been practisin' de music over, sir.
an hit SCUM mighty pretty an con-
solin'."
This last was addressed 20 Royal. who
dumbly felt that before he should get
through with the affair he might be In
need of consolation.
In the yeStry they were received by
two gentlemen VINO were introduced by
Spotswo0d a. his brother Tom and the
Rev. Carter B-axton- Both men shook
hands with Royal with enthusiasm. and
Tom Brandon helped him OF with mis-
Overcoat, remarhng that he looked a
lrihe OF color, but on the whole filter
than they had expected"
Royal. who felt that twenty-four sleep
less hours. two sEetcEy and insufficient
meals and 2 tremendous strain OF aux-
isty and excitement lay between his prss-
suT self and the man VINO boarded the
train 50 unanimously the day before.
did not wolos- that ne should look Lie
part ct least sufficiently ID pass muster.
With the climax 50 close upon him I |
strange, still, I'll powerful excitement
seizs1 On ROYAL and thrilled through |
every nerve and tissue like En electric
current. Lis pulses Quivsrej. lis heart
beat thick and rapidly aad the blood -ose
% ms BRAN. L-5--. J-lG1 = Ia2-r inquiries |
Ike man II q dream, and yy2s conscious |
Il vague sense OF confused identity. |
IL he stood baf0-e the mirror. placed in |
/ corner Tor clerical convenience, ne |
,aught himself 6iniy questioning his
,wn existence rs apart from the existence |
# that o1her john Royal, dimly seeking
70 identity his own features with those
IF the man from whose sick bed ne had |
,Ome. Life and circumstance for the |
line became unreal 10 him. and he ac-
,epted the sequence OF events as impar-
;Onaly as a sounambulisr could have
lone. InGiTidaa.l VIII seemed. as il were,
n allegiance. held under and dominated
Dy a force with which II was powerless
70 cope. He seemed himself, and vet
Jther than himself. more than himself.
The minister IN his robes stood. book
n hand, within the chanceI rail: the
march burst fJrJh with JOYOUS
invitation; a group of black coated men
md maidens al IN white came up the
isles, crossed each other and ranged
themselves about the chancel And /
ROYAL, stil Ike man in dream. ad-
ranced from the vestry door with Tom
Brandon at his side. and received from