The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1896-08-08
CHAPTER xxi


ed As It was an evening affair, all the
girls were present Their collective en-
thusiasm charged the atmosphere with
u vague thrill of agitation. There was
a sensible throb in the air rs Huldo en-
tered on tho bridegroobI's arm, for
there was no one TO give her away
Though she was plainly dressed a long
drawn ah-h n of admiration rose from all
parts Of the room. The remarkable cir
cumstancos attending the affair had,
with various distortions, been surmised
by all, aud fow authentic facts had
been supplied by the matron.
Tho bridegroom held himself smartly
erect and looked very happy There was
a light bravado on his face, and his in
tercsting pallor gave him an air Of dis
tiuctiou corresponding well with the
romantic hctious Of which he had been
made the hcro He had managed by his
gift of persuasion TO get credit for new
wedding suit from a trustful Norwegian
tailor, and he wore II with the beauti-
ful indifference of one 10 whom good
clothes are matter of course. The
transformation he had undergone since
Huldas visit in Halstead street was SO
startling that even she. TO whom he
seemed bat to have ueen restored to his
old self, could not help marveling at its
completeness, for. truth to tell, in spite
of his gentlemanly Gnaggressiyeness
there was something in his bearing
which suggested the quiet insolence Of
prosperity
just as the Rev Or. Trump began
with rotund and sonorous voice to
read the service the doorbell rang in
the hall, and Hulda gave little start,
as if the bell wire had been attached to
her person The maid whose duty it
was to answer the bell was standing ON
tiptoo on the outskirts Of the crowd,
and she was too interested in watching
the ceremony to have any pity ON the
soiomner on the front steps The rain
was beating against the window panes,
and there wore spasmodic roars in the
chimney which added to the impress
iveuoss Of tho solemn words In the
sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat bread,
and thy desire shall be for thy husband,
and he shall rule over thee. With
sorrow shalt thou bear thy children.
- Thou shalt be subject unto thy
husband etc.
DR. Trump was Of the old fashioned
kind Of clergyman, who would scorn to
emasculate the service in order to spare
the sensibilities of the bride. No, there
il was in all its uncompromising naked
ness-the stern, divine command-and
80 - 4 Il f1rf
and in no modern spirit Of rebellion
Nay, in her loving self effacement she
gloried even in its noble austerity and
vowed to be faithful, ever faithful, in
good and evil days, to the promise of
this hour
The wind in the chimney gave howl
ing shrek, and the maid, who was
breathlessly intent upon the ceremony,
failed to hear the second ringing Of the
doorbell But Hulda heard it, and a
strange light Of apprehension kindled in
her eyes There was something ominous
--fateful--in the sound of il. A tremu-
lous shiver stole over her which she
could not master
IF any one here present knows OF
any reason why this man and this WON
an should not be welded, let him speak
now or forever hold his peace, " cried
the clergyman, and he paused impress
! lively as if to give any obiector due
time to consider. In the pause the door
1 bell rang for the third time, and every
one in the room except DR.. Trump fel;
a nervous shocked and looked, some
with annoyance and some with anxiety,
/ toward the door. which the maid had
/ gone to open.
Then pronounce you man and wife.
What God hath joined together let nc
man put asunder. "
Before the words were out of hi:
mouth n loud, anxious voice was heard
in the hall inquiring for Hulda She die
not start this time, but a flush of excite
ment sprang TO her checks, a glow OF
resolution burned in her eyes, and sigl
/ Of infinite relief escaped from her bosom
as the last syllable of the fateful for
mula was spoken And at that very iu
stant a strange looking man with a hag
gard face and dripping wet was pushing
his way through the throng. As She
/ turned about with her husband 10 re
ceive the congratulations Of the girl
his were the eyes she met
"Oh, Hulda, he cried in Norwegian
with voice that shook with emotion
Il have found you at last
NO. Mr. Falck; you have lost me a
last. she replied sternly 81 ann mar
ried to Mr. Brun
He stood staring in abewildered way
as if he did not quite comprehend wha
she was saying
Married." he repeated with a gasp
ing. breathless staccato. "And TO thi
mann
Yes Aud please, Mr.. Falck, do no
trouble me It is quite useless "
Il have your fathers command 4
bring you back.
Il am sorry to disobey him, but
shall stay with my husband.
The company needed no explanation
as to who this importunate visitor Nigh
be Only a discarded lover would nav
disregarded appearance 20 the extent o
risking such a scene. IN the gray, syent
less blank Of their lives so stirring al
incident. so fraught with romantic sen
timent. simply thrilled the girls to tn
marrow Of their bones. They seize
upon il with hungry avidity; they gloat
ed over IL and slowed it away for end
less discussion in the long, empty even
ings 70 come. Though they admire
Hulda and thought her husband 'stuI
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