Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-04-12

richness and color. The sun was shin
ing full upon it, and great patches 0!
purple and crimson, Of orange and
blue, Of violet and green, lay on the
floor, on the carved oaken seats, on
chancel and nave.
There were figures of triumphant
saints on the window-saints with
Dalm-branches and golden crowns. In
after-years she found each one i'm
pressed upon her memory.
There was a silence-a stiIlness-a
holy calm that seemed TO be breathed
from heaven; it was broken only by
the song of the birds outside and the
rustllng Of the leaves in the wind.
Ethel knelt down, her heart beating
last with emotion. What she had said
was perfectly true; she had not reflect
ed upon the solemn aspect Of marriage
and it came to her like a shock.
Revenge upon Helen Digby! No such
thoughts could live in that holy calm;
they fed from her, leaving the one fact
bare, that she was about to become
Laurie Nugent's wife.
Even then, late as it was, she would
have abandoned her project, she would
have given up all idea OF revenge and
OF marriage. Something Of this Laurie
Nugent must have read in her face. for
ne grasped her hand, whispering:
IL is too late now; we must go on
with it, my queen"
She looked at the pictured faces of
the saints with golden crowns. A wild
idea took possession Of her to cry out
TO some one to save her; that she had
been entrapped, over-persuaded; that
she did not love the man she was going
to marry; and again the keen instinct
OF his passionate love told Laurie Nu-
gent the nature of her thoughts.
You are filled with nervous fancies.
my dear Ethel. Hark! The very birds
seem to sing more joyfully because it
is our wedding-day."
While he was saying the words a
Whlte-haired minister entered, and
Laurie Nugent and Ethel went up to
the altar together-the altar that was
beneath the great eastern window
from which the strange mystical lights
were falling.
Two witnesses were there, but Laurie
Nugent never even saw them; they
were servants from the rectory. whom
the rector had told to be present
Laurie Nugent never saw them. for
his whole attention was engrossed bv
his young bride,
For the first time he noticed her
dress, a soft, shining violet silk; and
just where she stood and the lgiht from
the stained-glass window fell full upon
ner; one great dash of purple lay at
her feet, bar of crimson quivered on
her dress, and on the beautiful head
there shone a glow Of gold Her lovely
face was pale with emotion, vet il
shone like a fair flower amid the mysti-
cal lights-fairer than the pictured
faces of saints; and in her hand she
still held the deWy passion flowers.
No artist ever dreamed of a picture
more fair. Laurie Nugent's eyes
fingered upon her, and then the solemn
beautiful marriage service commenced.
Wilt thou have this man to be thy
welded husband?"
AS she gave one glance at the golden
crowns OF the saints, and one at the
Whlte-haired minister whose head was
so reverently bent, the impulse again
seized her to cry out; but Laurie Nh
gent looked at her, and held her hand
tightly, and she said the words that
made her his wife.
She bent her head when the rector
uttered the blessing; and at that mo-
ment sudden CLEAN of the sun threw
a crimson light over the bowed head,
filling the young husbands heart with
dread.
Come away from that window,
Ethel he said. Il cannot bear to see
you IN the midst OF those changin G
lights
She obeyed him, and then IN a few
minutes the ceremony was ended He
left her kneeling there, while he gave
the rector such fee as astonished him
and one to each of the witnesses.
He went into the vestry, and Mr.
Brian shook him by the hand.
Il wish you every happiness he
said; land | must ask you to pardon
my saying that l have never seen q
more lovely bride. Be kind and loya-
to her.
Then he went away, but for long af
terward the rotor remembered the fail
young girl as she stood amid the hang
ing lights, with the passion flowers il
her hand
To be continued.