Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-04-12
CHAPTER XVIII.
AT the Altar.

tered she seemed to bring with her the
fragrance of the lines and the wild
flowers
At first it seemed as though the
church were filed with a gray, soft
. gloom; and then, Ethel saw a great
stained-glass window, very marvel of
richness and color. The sun was shin
ing full upon it, and great patches OF
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
palm branches and golden crowns. In
after-years she found each one i'm
pressed upon her memory.
There was a silence-a stillness-a
holy calm that seemed to be breathed
from heaven; it was broken only by
the song of the birds outside and the
rustling of the leaves in the wind.
Ethel knelt down, her heart beating
fast 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 Digbyl No such
thoughts could live in that holy calm;
they fled 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
he grasped her hand whispering:
, 1T is too late now; we must go on
with it, my queen"
, She looked at the pictured faces of
7 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 fancles,
, 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
White-halred 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; thew
were servants from the rectory. whom
the rector had told to be present.
Laurie Nugent never saw them, for
MS whole attention was engrossed by
his young bride.
tor the first time he noticed her
dress, soft, shining violet silk: and
Just where she stood and the Light from
the stained-glass window fell full upon
her; one great dash of purple lay at
her feet, bar of crimson quivered on
her dress, and on the beautiful head
there shone 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
stili 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
white-haired minister whose head was
, SO reverently bent, the impulse again
1 seized her to cry out; but Laurie Nu-
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 a sudden CLEAN of the sun threw
5 crimson light over the bowed head.
hlling the young husbands heart with
dread
t Come away from that window.
Ethel he said Il cannot bear to see
4 you in the midst of those changing
= 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.
4 and one to each Of the witnesses.
lie went into the vestry, and Mr..
Brian shook him by the hand.
> I wish you every happiness" he
= said and must ask you to pardon
e my saying that have never seen a
more lovely bride. Be kind and loyal
to her"
Then he went away but for long af-
u terward the rotor remembered the fair
young girl 5 she stood amid the hang
7 ing lights with the passion-aowers in
her land.
To be condnuei