Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-04-05

nv hills and carpeted with short grass
which showed green even In December.
Near the center, amid clump OF oaks,
stood aquaint, picturesque stone church,
with pointed windows and ivy covered
walls. 1t was inclosed by stone fence,
and the space inside was evidently used
for q burying ground Under the trees,
outside the Enclosure, spring guShed
forth, near which were racks Ior horses
and a 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,
according as their dispositions were Sc
date or nervous.
Spotswood drove round to a side gate,
and negro came and took the horse.
He looked smiling and important, and
bowed affably TO Royal, half extending
his hand. which Royal grasped and cor
daily shook, not knowing him, Of course,
but assembling.
MANY folks inside, Uncle Jeff" the
boy questioned, indicating az the same
moment by gesture to his companion
the spot where Miss Royal had been
buried.
"Tol'r'blc smart, sir; dc body's fullin'
up, an dar's right smart Sprinklin' in
de galrry. Oar come mo folks now.
Dey been practi>in de music over, sir,
an hit soun' mighty pretty an conSol-
in"
This last was addressed to Royal, who
dumbly felt that before he should get
through with the affair he might be in
need of consolation.
In the vestry they were received by
two gentlemen who were introduced by
Spotswood as his brother Tom and the
Rev. Carter Braxton. Both men shook
hands with Royal with enthusiasm, and
Tom Brandon helped him of with his
overcoat, remarking that he Cooked
trfe off color, but on the whole hitter
than they had expected. "
Royal, who felt that twenty-four
sleepeSS hours, two sketch and INSULT
cient meals and a tremendous strain OF
anxiety and excitement lay between his
present self and the man who boarded
the train so tumuluonsly the day before.
did not wonder that he should look his
part at least sufficiently 10 pass muster.
With the climax so close upon him
strange, still, all powerful excitement
seized on Royal and thrilled through
every nerve and tissue like an electric
current. His pulse quivered, his heart
beat thick and rapidly and the blood rose
to his brain. He replied TO their inquiries
like a man in a dream, and was con-
scious of a vague sense of confused
identity. As he stood before the mir
ror, placed in corner for clerical con
venience, he caught himself simply
questioning his own existence as apart
from the existence of that other John
Royal, dimly seeking to Identify his own
features with those Of the man from
whose sick bed he had come. Life and
circumstance for the time became I'M
real TO him, and he accepted the Sc
quence of events as impersonaliy as
somnambulist could have done. lndi-
vidual will seemed as it were, in abey-
ance, held under and dominated by Il
force with which ii was powerleSS to
cope. He seemed himself, and yet
other than himself, more than himself.
The minister in his robes stood, book
in hand, within the chancel rail; the
wedding march burst forth with Joyous
invitation; a group OF black coated men
and maidens all in white came up the
aisles, crossed each other and ranged
themselves about the chancel. And
Royal, still like man in a dream, ad-
vanced from the vestry door with Tom
Brandon at his side, and received from
the hands of white haired gentleman
the lace enveloped figure OF his un-
known bride. Her hand lay on his arm,
the folds of her shining robes brushed
| against him, the lace which covered her
dropping head almost touched his shout
der. but he did not look at her nor mani
! fest by 50 much as the culver of mus
Gle consciousness of her proximity. His
individuality seemed lost. merged in
that of the man whose part he had as
sumed. His Imagination was strained,
his pulses beat with excitement, but his
BRAIN was clear, his perceptions prefer
naturally acute. He could hear the snap
of a watchcaSe somewhere among the
audience, and the stamping OF the horses
outside directly through the rhythm OF
the music. The interest Of the specta-
tors thrilled him. but failed to renew
recognition of being other than he
seemed.
Then, amid the hush which followed
the cessation of the music, came the
minister's solemn statement OF the pur-
pose for which the people were there as
sembled, and his impressive charge to
them that If any man knew aught which
should prevent their union he should set
it forth, followed by the pause which Is
so seldom broken. Then, in tones that
sounded in his ears as the voice OF an
other man, Royal found himself repeat
ing words which, with the strange sense
of duality watch oppressed him, seemed
to bind him, as well as that other, TO
the woman beside him as with bands OF
steel; and when, her answering vow
breathed forth, he received the ring, 1t
was as though another hand was with
his hand, guiding it as he placed the
circlet on her finger. And terrible
sense Of irrevocability and powerless-
ness for a moment overwhelmed him,
turning him faint and sick, as one on
whom a heavy blow has fallen.
Then he realized that everything was
over, and that the people had glanced at
their watches for the last time and were
pressing forward with congratulations.
He moved aside and Involuntary took
out his own watch and noted the time.
1t wanted ten minutes to II.
TO BE CONTINUED.
Samples of Natures Handiwork.
The body of every spider contains four
little masses pierced with multitude OF
holes, imperceptible to the naked eye,