Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-09-26

yet TO atop Lord Fylingdalc.
II does not take long to dross. You
may imagine that I did not spend time
in powdcring my hair. IN quarter OF
nm hour was over the side Of the ship
and in my dugaY.
BY the clock in the Common Stath 1t
was five minutes to 9 when I landed
and made her fast | climbed the
stairs aud ran as fast ms my legs could
carry Inc TO the Crown inn. AS |
reached the door the clock struck 6.
Was Lord Fylingdalc in his room? |
was too late. He had left the house
only five minutes before and had been
carried in his chair across the market
place.
followed IT was already five min
utcs past the hour ! should find him
in the church chatting at the delay. |
! should give him the letter and retire.
The market place was filed with the
/ market people and with the townspeo-
/ pie who came to buy. pushed across
stepping over n basket and iostlcd by a
woman with poultry and vegetables.
! 1t was seven or eight minutes aft
or when ] arrived ut the chuych.
The doors of the south porch were
open. Within | heard the sound of
voices or at least of one voice. | look
ed in.
Heavens. What had happened? Not
only was | late with my letter, but -
but could I believe my eyes? Molly
herself stood before tho altar. Facing
her was Lord fylingdalc, who held her
hand. Within the rails stood the Rev.
| Benjamin Purdcn. beside him the clerk
to make the responses. and the minis
ter. when arrived. was actually say
ing the words which the bridegroom
repeats after the minister, completing
in effect the marriage ceremony.
81. Ludovic, take thee, Mary, to my
| welded Wife" and so on, according Ia
the form prescribed. and again the
words beginning:
"With this ring I thee we'd
I stood and listened, lost in wonder.
Then came the prayer prescribed
after which the clergyman joined their
hands together, saying:
"Thosc whom God hath Joined to-
gether let no man put asundcr.'
| heard no more. sat down on the
nearest bench. What was the mean
Ing of this sudden change? Remember
that | had left Molly only a few hours
before this fully resolved that she
would demand an inquiry into tho
statements and charges made in the
two letters-rcsolvcd that she would
not keep the engagement, her admira
ton for the proud. brave. noble crea
ture, her lover, turned into loathing.
And now, now, in the early morning
with her letter in my pocket STATING
her change Of purpose, I found her al
the altar and actually married.
Whom God hath joined together Lei
not man put asunder."
What if the man Purdcn was all that
he was described? The priestly oflic,
confers rights and powers which ar,
independent Of the man who holds that
office. Whatever his private wicked
ness. Purdcn was clergyman, an,
therefore he could marry people
Molly stood before the altar, as ha,
been arranged. She wore a black sill
domlno; she mad on pink SILK cloll
with n hood drawn over her head, s..
that she was quite covered up and con
ccalcd. But knew her by her stature
which was taller than the common
and by her dress which had beer
agreed upon.
Then the bridegroom offered lii
hand and led the bride into the vestry
They were to sign the marriage regis
ter.
And here rose and skunk away.
say that | skunk away. If you like +
: better, crawlcd away, for | wa
sick at heart. The thing which mos
dreaded, the marriage of our girl to
= rake and a gamestcr, lad been actual
= ly accomplished. Misery and ruiz
would be her lot. And in my pockc