Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-06
bonnet, and hope you will wear 1t at

| < women have been living with so long," continued Rhena. Her great eyes filled with tears. "I can't bear to have them think that because am go- 1 ing to be the wife of the mine owner and live in his house I am going to be l lifted so far away from them that they will Stuart, you know what mean. If didn't believe so completely in you and your thought of stewardship of l Gods property, I would never dare marry you, a man with all this money and master of such a house. l cannot even think of the selfish surroundings of my life without shudder.
 ''We need great wisdom to use Gods blessings. It will be a joy to us to work out the problem together, won't it!"
 | Stuart said something so softly that, with the exception of Rhena, only snowbird on fir tree near by heard it, and the snowbird never told.
 They talked for awhile about their approaching marriage. It was to be the following week.
 Louise and Aunt Royal are going to New York the first of the week. My only regret, Rhena, is in being unable to reconcile them to us. We move in | different world from theirs.''
 '.You have done all you could, I am sure, Stuart,' replied Rhena gently. She was thinking of another matter. ! Finally she asked, almost tiuidly: "The army has asked me If I expected to be married in the church. Would you 1 mind, Stuart, if we were married in the old hall?"
 ''No," said Stuart. He was and all ways had been indifferent to the particular forms and ceremonies Of life, even the old life from which he was now emancipated, and he under stood Rhena's reason for this request i She belonged to the army, and the little squad of officers and privates was very dear to her. She longed to as sure them in every way possible that her marriage had not in any way re- moved them from her in sympathy.
 So one evening about week after | the departure of Louise and Aunt Royal Stuart went down to Fries cottage and met Andrew and the doe | tor there. Together they went over to Rhena's lodging, and presently she came out dressed in the army costume, that Stuart said was the best and most becoming for her to wear. She took his arm, and, with Erie and the doctor and Andrew marching behind, they stepped over to the hall.
 The army was in great excitement. It had paraded the streets, held it's outdoor meeting and was back at the hall to welcome the bride and groom. The little band stood just outside, and 1 yvb bG in 1n in muscle. The big drum had never received such q vigorous beating as it received that night. The tambourines would certainly have been knocked in- to small pieces if they had not been made of very tough material. And "Scaly Joe," now known as "Witness- ing Joseph" would surely have blown himself through the holes of his flute l if he had not been possessed of pair of lungs that could be almost in- definitely expanded.
 Outside the hall, standing about in q great crowd, were the miners of Cham pion. They greeted the little bridal party with hearty cheers as it came up, and as soon as the band had finish ed and Stuart and Rhena, Andrew and Eric and the doctor had gone in they crowded after, filling up the old room until it could not hold another person.
 There were a good many brief prayers and several rousing songs as the army took its place on the plat | form. The major, also carried away by the greatness of the occasion, made a rattling speech, punctured with ire quent amens and halleluiahs from the rest of the army. The collection was not forgotten, and as it was an occa- sion out of lifetime and the men were getting wages again the tam bourines were heavy with silver, and the major began to think of putting bup suitable headquarters at once. Finally the noise ceased, and Andrew read the marriage service, Rhena and Stuart standing in the middle of the | platform, Eric and the doctor a little one side and behind Stuart. This part | of the ceremony was not strictly ac cording to Salvation Army rules, but | everything goes tonight" as Wit messing Joseph" said in q few remarks after the collection. Andrews prayer l was full of beauty and power. That was almost as good prayer as some we have here in the hall confession 1 nights" said the major afterward. The I
 whole ceremony was very impressive | to Stuart in spite of the surroundings and the army exercises that accompa- nied them, for he felt in it all that this | woman standing by his side in this 1 costume, which had become dear to a sin sick and body suffering humanity, | was the woman who was to walk hand | in hand with him through life with all these people now crowded into the hall, the largest factor in both their | experiences, and it seemed to him | specially appropriate that they should solemniZe the most sacred event of | their lives in the presence of those l whom they had begun to help and re- | gard as truly belonging to the great brotherhood,ll the family which is one | in Cod the Father.
 1 They had planned to remain some time after the service was over to shake hands with the men. But the | frowd outside was clamoring to get in,