Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-12-16
CHATTER VI.


~eMarry us here, DOCTOR" Stanton
said, gathering himself together.
= sit could be DONE" replied the clergy
man, easily entering again into the
worldly wisdom of the transaction.
b no one is aft on this side. Not soul |
need be the wiser. have two friends I
aboard who viii stand as witnesses. !
But to think of my marrying John |
Olmstead's nephew on ferryboat!
And hold on, Robert. How about the
license? This is New York, and the
permit is for Brooklyn. You know the
Importance of the case and whether
there's any law to conflict"
LIT wouldn't matter, but this is for
New York" Stanton replied, calmly
enough so long as he was upon point
of law, at the same time handing the
clergyman his third paper.
GOOD boy, Robertl" the white-haired
saint exclaimed, slapping his friend on
the shoulder. "Trust a lawyer for do
ing the thing brown. Just take your
wife back to the most quiet corner you
ian find, and III join you with my
friends in no time"
Again Stanton was trembling so that
no could scarcely move or speak; but
there was little need, for the clergy
man was well alive, now, to the world
" wisdom of the case. The witnesses
were hardly introduced when he be-
gan, from memory, the marriage cere-
monv, holding his watch before him
as though it were his Book Of Prayer,
while his lips flew with the second
hand.
The wheels started, but his lips only
moved the faster, under the fun sense
that millions of money hung upor
them. and he cut and abridged the Ger
emonv without consideration for any
thing but the law. He hardly waite'
50 catch the srst faint sounds OF re
spouse, much less to judge from then
rshat of doubt or fear or uncertaint.
The voices might portend.
In thinking of it afterwards, Stantol
often shuddered as he realized wha
she result must have been had tn
clergyman been in his own quiet hom'
Even If the matter could have bee
brought so far, as the ceremony, Star
ton himself would have failed Their
over and again, under any circun
stances but the present, with the a
and excitement and demoralizing has
that obliterated every feature by Il
<>Vay in the struggle for the end.
The awful meaning of those wore
rapidly and almost unintelhgibIy
tzhey were spoken, came to him ev
NOW with overwhelming force, a
struck him dumb with terror.
-eNow join hands," DR.. Borden repe'
nd, and, hardly giving them time
sS6ey, he continued: "Those whom G
hath Joined together let no man I
s&sunder. I pronounce you man 8
~Eife.''
Then came the repetition of the
cred names, followed by a moment
reverential silence, broken by the g.
aaoctor's CHEEKY voice, devoid of
rfaintest professional accent, excla
Eng:
~Gentlemen, your watches. The
act time is a matter of the gravest
portance."
Three minutes of12."
1.-TWO and half is all, I think"
1.-TWO, gentlemen. Two. Preci
stwo. Rely upon my watch. 1t is
rsoinutes before 10, this 9Th day of
eesmber, 1892. Two minutes is emo
sszsatlemen. 1t is enough. And le'
1gN YOU that this is the second
that one and the same fortune has
rescued, as by miracle, by the S
of two minutes one side or the oth'
~ o'clock. But bless my soul, Mr.
Mrs. Stanton, forgive me. My heaI
congratulations and best wishes.
you"
Fortunately the boat struck the
and the good doctor had all thu
could do to keep his feet. Stanton
not have listened to much more.
AS they parted in the waiting
the clock struck 10, and for his
words DIR. Borden repeated;
'eTwelve o'clock, and all is vel
From the moment when the
znony began, Stanton had acted
mechanically. He had heard thu
Ryman say: 'Join hands," and in
4arily extending his own, whic
cold and trembling, he saw q
hand come from under the cl'
meet Il. he saw diamond fash
,sn7e Of the fingers. He even sa'
rxhe diamond was beautifully
s1earls. He felt strange thrill
Swarm, firm hand touched his ov
Then he heard those words